Determination of risk factors associated with R. equi infection in foals

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi infection is considered as the most common cause of severe pneumonia in foals and has a substantial impact on equine breeding farms because of its high prevalence and case fatality rate. The present study was conducted to identify the risk factor associated with Rhodococcus equi infection in foals. Fecal swab samples were grown on Rhodococcus equi specific CAZ-NB media. Based on PCR results 100 foals screened from north western of Rajasthan, 18 foals were found positive for the Rhodococcus equi infection as these samples showed the amplification of Vap A and Vap C genes. It was found that foals below 6 months of age, born in July and August months reared at the equine farm, having large horse population, reared on sandy soil were at higher risk for getting R. equi infection.