Equine neonatology

Question 1

What is the major risk factor for neonatal septicaemia?

Answer 1

Failure of passive transfer

Question 2

What is SCID?

Answer 2

Severe combined immunodeficiency

Failure to produce functional T and B cells

Question 3

What breeds are predisposed to SCID?

Answer 3

Arabs

Question 4

What is the most common type of infection horses with SCID get?

Answer 4

Respiratory

Adenovirus, Pneumocystis carinii

Question 5

How is SCID diagnosed?

Answer 5

Persistent lymphopenia

Post-mortem

Question 6

What is the prognosis for SCID?

Answer 6

Hopeless - fatal

Most die before 6 m/o

Question 7

What condition do ‘dummy foals’ have?

Answer 7

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome
AKA Perinatal asyphyxia syndrome
AKA Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy

Question 8

What causes ‘dummy foals’ or neonatal maladajustment syndrome? When do these clinical signs begin?

Answer 8

Hypoxic encephalopathy - interrupted supply of oxygen in utero or during birth
May present delayed - 12-24 hours old

Question 9

Dummy foals/neonatal maladjustment syndrome has different severities and the prognosis varies. If the foal has cerebral oedema and seizures, how are these treated/controlled?

Answer 9

Cerebral oedema - mannitol

Seizure control - diazepam, phenobarbitone

Question 10

What causes neonatal isoerthrolysis?

Answer 10

Aa + Qa negative mares

Mated to positive stallion

Question 11

Neonatal isolerythrolysis causes haemolytic anaemia from 24 hours old. How is it diagnosed?

Answer 11

Coombs tests - Abs on RBCs

Question 12

How can neonatal isoerythrolysis be treated?

Answer 12

If PCV <12-15% - blood transfusion

If PCV >15% - remove colostrum, supportive care (ABs, anti-ulcer meds, fluids, glucose)

Question 13

When does foal heat diarrhoea occur?

Answer 13

5-12 days old

Mares first oestrus

Question 14

What treatment can be given for foal heat diarrhoea?

Answer 14

Often self-limiting

Can give intestinal protectants/probiotics - kaolin, bisthmus

Question 15

Clostridial diarrhoea in foals causes necrotising enteritis and foal smelling faeces. Which species are most commonly isolated?

Answer 15

Cl difficiles
Cl perfringens
Both commensal - seen in septicaemic foals or outbreaks

Question 16

How is clostridial diarrhoea treated in foals?

Answer 16

Metronidazole, penicillin

Isolation

Question 17

Cryptosporidium is a potentially zoonotic protozoa in foals. How is it diagnosed?

Answer 17

Faecal oocytes by floatation

Or direct FA test

Question 18

What is the treatment for Cryptosporidium?

Answer 18

Supportive therapy - no specific drugs

Good hygiene/management

Question 19

What age of foals are affected by Rotavirus?

Answer 19

Foals up to 1 month old

Question 20

How is Rotavirus diagnosed?

Answer 20

Electron microscopy, ELISA

Question 21

How is Rotavirus treated?

Answer 21

Supportive therapy

Question 22

How can Rotavirus be prevented?

Answer 22

Vaccine pregnant mares?
Phenolic disinfectants (bleach ineffective)

Question 23

Diarrhoea in foals is often caused by Rotavirus, but can sometimes be caused by Adenovirus or Coronavirus. Which foals are affected by Adeno/Coronaviruses?

Answer 23

Immunocompromised only

Question 24

How can Rhodococcus equi affect the foals GI system?

Answer 24

Intra-abdominal abscesses
Cause fever and colic
(Less common than respiratory form)

Question 25

What pathogen causes Equine Proliferative Enteropathy?

Answer 25

Lawsonia intracellularis

Question 26

What age foals are typically affected by Equine Proliferative Enteropathy (Lawsonia intracellularis)?

Answer 26

3-11 months old

Question 27

How are foals with Equine Proliferative Enteropathy treated?

Answer 27

Antimicrobials

Erythromycin, rifampin, oxytetracycline