Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

EQUINE PNEUMONIA

Equines

• Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi cause severe pneumonia and may be endemic on some farms. Also maybe secondary to viral diseases.
• Acute bronchointerstitial pneumonia affects foals 1 wk to 8 months old, and the etiology is unknown. R. equi and P. aeruginosa have been identified. Marked by acute or peracute onset, respiratory distress, cyanosis, reluctance to eat, septicemia, DIC, increased fibrinogen concentrations, radiographs showing increased alveolar and neutrophilic leucocytosis.
• Diagnosis: Culture of bronchoalveolar lavage or a tracheal wash (nasal swabs not recommended because of resident microflora). The diagnosis of respiratory infections is usually based on a combination of history and results from clinical, endoscopic, radiographic, and in some cases, ultrasonographic examinations.
• Treatment: Antibioticsbs (eg, penicillin, potentiated sulfonamide& bronchodilators.