Bacteremia in equine neonatal diarrhea: a retrospective study (1990-2007).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bacteremia in sick foals is associated with survival, but the association of bacteremia and diarrhea is not reported. HYPOTHESIS: Neonatal foals with diarrhea will commonly be bacteremic. ANIMALS: One hundred and thirty-three neonatal foals. METHODS: Records of all foals <30 days of age presenting with diarrhea between January 1990 and September 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS: Sixty-six of 133 foals (50%) were bacteremic at admission, with 75 isolates from the 66 samples. The blood culture from a further 18 foals (13.5%) grew coryneform bacteria. Nine foals (6.8%) had 2 or more organisms grown on blood culture. One foal had 5 different organisms, interpreted as contamination. Forty-..