title: Effect of hyperimmune plasma on the severity of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in experimentally infected foals.
abstract: This study evaluated the prophylactic effectiveness of hyperimmune plasma (HIP) as an aid in the prevention of pneumonia caused by experimental infection with Rhodococcus equi. Thirty neonatal foals were administered R. equi HIP or saline at 2 days of age and were infected with virulent R. equi at 7 days. All foals developed signs or symptoms of respiratory disease. Radiographic scores on day 28 and neutrophil concentrations on day 49 were significantly greater in control foals, and time to respiratory effort score of 2 or higher was significantly shorter for control foals. Three foals, all in the principal group, died or were euthanized before the end of the study, but there was no significant difference in mortality between groups. VapA titers were significantly greater in principal foals. Administration of R. equi HIP decreased the severity of radiographic lesions and prolonged time to increased respiratory effort due to R. equi-induced pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1250, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Caston
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: M Keith
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chaffin
authors.forename: Kristina G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Noah D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000662:veterinary*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial