Meningoencephalomyelitis in a foal due to Salmonella agona infection.
METHODS
A neonatal Thoroughbred foal was presented with rib fractures and left forelimb lameness secondary to dystocia.


RESULTS
The foal developed a head tilt, seizures and watery diarrhoea during hospitalisation and died at 7 days of age. Histological examination of the brain and spinal cord revealed a suppurative meningoencephalomyelitis with vasculitis, and numerous intralesional, gram-negative bacilli. Similar microscopic lesions were noted in the lungs, renal medullary interstitium, and umbilicus. Bacilli in the brain, spinal cord and umbilicus were identified immunohistochemically as Salmonella group B. Salmonella agona was isolated in pure culture from the brain, lung, liver, kidney, and intestine.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of meningoencephalomyelitis and septicaemia due to Salmonella infection in an equine neonate.
Patterson-Kane
J C
JC
Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, 1429 Newtown Pike, Lexington, Kentucky 40511-1280, USA. jkane@rvc.ac.uk
Bain
F T
FT
Donahue
J M
JM
Harrison
L R
LR