Toxic shock syndrome in a horse with Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia

Todd C Holbrook; John S Munday; Cathy A Brown; Betty Glover; Patrick M Schlievert; Susan Sanchez

doi:10.2460/javma.2003.222.620

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Journal article

Toxic shock syndrome in a horse with Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia

Todd C Holbrook, John S Munday, Cathy A Brown, Betty Glover, Patrick M Schlievert and Susan Sanchez

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol.222(5), pp.620-623+601

03/01/2003

DOI: 10.2460/javma.2003.222.620

PMID: 12619842

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Abstract

A 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was examined because of clinical signs of pneumonia and shock. Mucous membrane petechiation and ventral edema were observed and considered to be a result of vasculitis. Epidermal necrosis developed on the distal portions of the limbs. The horse had a persistent high fever that was unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory treatment, and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a nasal swab specimen and 2 transtracheal wash fluid samples. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and supportive treatment resulted in clinical improvement. However, resolution of the pulmonary infection required long-term (42 days) antimicrobial administration. Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from this horse were positive for the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene and were shown to produce toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, the causative factor in toxic shock syndrome in humans. The horse's clinical signs were attributed to toxic shock syndrome secondary to pulmonary S. aureus infection.

Horse Diseases - drug therapy

Staphylococcus aureus - genetics

Vasculitis - veterinary

Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification

Male

Treatment Outcome

Pneumonia, Staphylococcal - microbiology

Shock, Septic - microbiology

Vasculitis - microbiology

Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use

Enterotoxins - biosynthesis

Enterotoxins - genetics

Pneumonia, Staphylococcal - drug therapy

Animals

Time Factors

Bacterial Toxins

Pneumonia, Staphylococcal - veterinary

Superantigens

Shock, Septic - drug therapy

Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use

Horses

Horse Diseases - microbiology

Shock, Septic - veterinary

Staphylococcus aureus - metabolism

Details

Title: Subtitle: Toxic shock syndrome in a horse with Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia
Creators: Todd C Holbrook - Broad Forks Equine Clinic, 230 Sh Rd, Comer, GA 30629, USA
John S Munday
Cathy A Brown
Betty Glover
Patrick M Schlievert
Susan Sanchez
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol.222(5), pp.620-623+601
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.2460/javma.2003.222.620
PMID: 12619842
ISSN: 0003-1488
eISSN: 1943-569X
Language: English
Date published: 03/01/2003
Academic Unit: Microbiology and Immunology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984001229902771

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