Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia

摘要

OAL PNEUMONIA, particularly that caused by Rhodococcus equi (also known as Corynebacterium equi), is a devastating disease that can become endemic to some breeding facilities. Technicians with a basic understanding of R. equi pneumonia and the environmental factors necessary for R. equi to thrive and spread can help clients develop husbandry practices that aid in the prevention of this disease. R. equi is a robust, soilborne, gram-positive, facultative, intracellular bacterium that is widespread within the environment. Optimal environmental growth is achieved at 86°F (30°C), and the organism's simple nutritional needs are easily met by common barnyard manure, such as that of swine, cattle, poultry, and horses. R. equi is commonly considered the most deadly respiratory pathogen to infect foals. All horse facilities are likely to be contaminated with this pathogen to some degree; however, healthy horses develop immunity to it by the time they reach maturity. Several strains of R. equi exist, but the strain that carries virulence-associated protein A has been found to be particularly pathogenic.