How is Rhodococcus equi transmitted?
How is Rhodococcus equi transmitted?
Rhodococcus equi infection in human patients is thought to be acquired by inhalation, inoculation into a wound or mucous membrane, or ingestion. The soil is believed to be the most common source of infectious organisms.
Why is it called Rhodococcus?
Called Rhodococcus because of its ability to form a red (salmon-colored) pigment, R equi can be weakly acid-fast and bears a similarity to diphtheroids. R equi was previously called Corynebacterium equi and is currently grouped with the aerobic actinomycetes.
How is Rhodococcus equi diagnosed?
How is Rhodococcus equi diagnosed? Rhodococcus equi is diagnosed based on known history of cases on the farm (indicating presence of the bacteria on the grounds), ultrasound and/or x-ray evidence of abscesses in the lungs, bloodwork, and identification of the bacteria by culture and/or PCR testing.
Is Rhodococcus equi intracellular?
Rhodococcus equi is a facultative intracellular bacterium that can escape from bactericidal mechanisms associated with phagocytosis. Virulence-associated protein A (VapA), encoded on a virulence-associated plasmid, is essential for intracellular survival in macrophages, but its function is not known.
How is Streptococcus equi transmitted?
Strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection of horses caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi). It is transmitted by inhalation of respiratory particles or direct contact with contaminated surfaces (for example horses sharing water buckets).
Is Streptococcus equi zoonotic?
Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is a zoonotic pathogen for persons in contact with horses.
What is Rhodococcus equi in horses?
Rhodococcus equi is a bacterium that lives in the soil and can cause pneumonia in young (1 to 6 months old) foals. Infection progresses slowly and foals often do not begin to show clinical signs until the disease has become severe.
What is the mortality rate of Rhodococcus equi infection?
Mortality can be as high as 50%. Among people with healthy immune systems, infections may only affect a small part of the body and are commonly associated with wound sites. What are the clinical signs of Rhodococcus equi?
How do you test for Rhodococcus equi?
Rhodococcus equi is diagnosed based on known history of cases on the farm (indicating presence of the bacteria on the grounds), ultrasound and/or x-ray evidence of abscesses in the lungs, bloodwork, and identification of the bacteria by culture and/or PCR testing. How is Rhodococcus equi treated?
What is the best antibiotic for rheumatoid arthritis in horses?
Antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin can be used to treat R. equi infection in horses, but they can also result in potentially serious side effects such as diarrhea and overheating (hyperthermia). Resistance of the bacteria to some antibiotics (macrolides) has also been reported.
