CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

J. Canton 1, M. Mascioli 2, M. Catena 11 Area of Infectious Diseases; 2 Area of Equine Production,veterinarian in the private practice. UNCPBA, (7000) Tandil,ArgentinaSalmonellosis is one of the main causes of chronic diarrhea inadult horses. Treatment is difficult and the prognosis is poor. Inthis work, a case of salmonellosis in an Argentinean polo race,castrated, 5 year-old horse, is reported. In July 2015 the horsearrives at a farm in Tandil District, in poor condition, with diarrheaand weakness. On August 24th, the veterinarian is consulted. Thehorse was sharing the farmyard with chickens; it was depressed,with edema of the four limbs and pale mucous membranes. It istreated with fenbendazole (10mg/kg/24 h for 5 days). For a betterfollow up, on September 13th, it is moved to a pension in the cityof Tandil. The horse had hyperthermia (40 C), pale mucousmembranes and profuse, watery diarrhea. It is treated with 1 mL/10-20 kg bodyweight/day of 20 g sulfadimidine, 4 g trimethoprimand 0.04 g loperamide-HCl for 3 days. Diet is changed to pellets,alfalfa and oats. Blood for blood-count is drawn on September15th (Table 1). Parasitological examination of stool samples isnegative. On September 30th, the horse is again depressed, withforeskin and ventral edema, hyperthermia (40.2 C), pale mucousmembranes, weakness and loss of appetite. Blood-count wasperformed (Table 1). Stools were collected for microbiological andparasitological tests. The coproparasitological results werenegative.On October 1st, hydration therapy and blood transfusion areperformed. Penicillin 30,000 IU/kg every 24 h, 6.6 mg/kg/IVgentamicin every 12 h and flunixin meglumine at endotoxic dosesfor 5 days are administered. Stool samples were subject to thesystematic processes for isolation and identification of microorganisms:stains, blood agar and McConkey cultures, pre-enrichmentin selenite broth and subcultures in SS agar in aerophilicconditions at 37 C. The 48 h subculture develops lactose negativecolonies with sulfhydryl of a Gram negative bacillus, which issubject to TSI, LIA, catalase, oxidase, nitrates reduction, IMViC,urea and motility. These tests allowed the identification of Salmonellasp. The isolated strain was sensitive to: enrofloxacin,gentamicin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfadiazine and ceftriaxone.On October 9th, the horse worsens, remains in recumbentposition and it is decided to perform euthanasia. Microbialisolation, signs and blood biochemistry are in agreement with acase of chronic salmonellosis. Transmission by carriers or otherco-habitant animals is possible. The determination of the speciesand serotype will allow further genetic studies.