Risk factors associated with fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate prevalence of and identify risk factors for fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized horses with signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
465 hospitalized horses with gastrointestinal tract disease.


METHODS
Horses were classified as positive or negative for fecal Salmonella shedding during hospitalization by means of standard aerobic bacteriologic methods. The relationship between investigated exposure factors and fecal Salmonella shedding was examined by means of logistic regression.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of fecal Salmonella shedding was 13%. Salmonella serotype Newport was the most commonly isolated serotype (12/60 [20%]), followed by Anatum (8/60 [13%]), Java (13%), and Saint-paul (13%). Foals with gastrointestinal tract disease were 3.27 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease. Adult horses that had been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization were 3.09 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses that had not been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization. Adult horses that underwent abdominal surgery were 2.09 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses that did not undergo abdominal surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that a history of exposure to antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization and abdominal surgery during hospitalization were associated with Salmonella shedding in adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease. Foals with gastrointestinal tract disease were more likely to shed Salmonella organisms than were adult horses with gastrointestinal tract disease.
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
Nicolas S
NS
Ernst
Jorge A
JA
Hernandez
Robert J
RJ
MacKay
Murray P
MP
Brown
Jack M
JM
Gaskin
An D
AD
Nguyen
Steeve
S
Giguere
Patrick T
PT
Colahan
Mats R
MR
Troedsson
Gregory R
GR
Haines
Iva R
IR
Addison
Ben J
BJ
Miller
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D006762:Hospitals, Animal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents