Craig W McShaffry, Class of 2015

Lisa L Farina, DVM, Diplomate ACVP

University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine

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 2 year old Thoroughbred colt

 The horse was normal and trained as usual the

previous day but did not consume all of his feed
overnight.

 Referring veterinarian examined at 11 AM.

 Hyperthermic (104.8°F)
 Tachycardic
 Reluctant to move

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 Treated with:
 Banamine (flunixin meglumine)
 Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim)

 Died spontaneously at 3:30 PM

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Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
Permission granted only for viewing on SEVPAC website
 Gram Stain

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 Embolic nephritis, suppurative, acute, multifocal to
coalescing, severe, with intralesional Gram-negative
bacilli and vasculitis.

 Microbiology:
 Aerobic culture of the kidney yielded heavy growth of
Actinobacillus equuli subsp. equuli.

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 From the family Pasteurellaceae
 Gram-negative
 Pleomorphic; rod-shaped
 Facultative anaerobe

 Commensal bacteria commonly isolated from healthy

horses:
 Oral cavity
 Gastrointestinal tract
 Reproductive tract

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 Actinobacillosis is the most common cause
of suppurative embolic nephritis in horses.

 A common cause of acute septicemia and

enteritis in the neonatal foal.

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 In neonates, also known as:
 “Sleepy foal disease,” “navel ill,” and “joint ill”

 Route of transmission: Clinical signs:

 Contaminated umbilicus Hyperthermia, tachycardia,
 Inhalation tachypnea, lethargy,
 Ingestion decreased suckle, diarrhea,
reluctance to move

 Lesions commonly associated with septic actinobacillosis:

 Embolic nephritis, embolic pneumonia, lymphoid necrosis,
multifocal hepatic necrosis, and septic arthritis

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 Actinobacillosis in adult  Associated lesions:
horses is uncommon to  Sepsis
rare.  Peritonitis
 May be associated with  Enteritis
stress or concurrent  Pleuropneumonia
disease.  Arthritis
 Most commonly seen in cases  Abortion
of suspected septicemia and  Periorchitis
respiratory disease
 In many cases of septicemia
 Pericarditis
was the primary pathogen
 Respiratory actinobacillosis
often a concurrent disease
 (Layman et al., 2014)

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 Dr. Lisa L. Farina, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
 UF Pathology Department
 UF Diagnostic Laboratories

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 Layman QD, Rezabek GB, Ramachandran A, Love BC, Confer AW. A
retrospective study of equine actinobacillosis cases: 1999-2011. J Vet Diagn
Invest. 1040638714531766, first published on April 17, 2014.
 Long MT, Sellon DC. Equine Infectious Diseases. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier
Saunders. 2007:70-78.
 Matthews S, Dart AJ, Dowling BA, Hodgson JL and Hodgson DR. Peritonitis
associated with Actinobacillus equuli in horses: 51 cases. Aust Vet J. 79(8): 536-
9, 2001.
 Maxie, MG, ed. Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals.
5th ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders. 2007:479-480.
 Patterson-Kane JC, Donahue JM and Harrison LR. Septicemia and peritonitis
due to Actinobacillus equuli infection in an adult horse. Vet Pathol 38(2): 230-2,
2001
 Radostits, O. M., C.C. Gay, K.W. Hinchcliff, and P.D. Constable. Veterinary
medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and horses. 10th
ed. New York: Elsevier Saunders, 2007. Print.
 Reed, Stephen M., Warwick M. Bayly, and Debra C. Sellon. Equine internal
medicine. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: W. B. Saunders, 2004. Print.

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