Bacteria isolated from field cases of equine amnionitis and fetal loss

Abstract

Although the predominant type of bacteria isolated from EAFL was environmental coryneforms, it is important to note that a variety of bacteria were associated with the characteristic histopathological changes outlined by the case definition. This highlights the importance of histopathology on both fetal membranes and fetuses, as well as culture to confirm EAFL and to exclude other possible causes of abortion.

Identification of non-Listeria spp. bacterial isolates yielding a β-d-glucosidase-positive phenotype on Agar Listeria according to Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA)

“…have thus far been isolated from a variety of sources including soil (Schumann et al, 2001;Yoon et al, 2007), human or veterinary clinical specimens (Brown et al, 2006;Todhunter et al, 2013), monkey feces (Macdonald et al, 2013) or even Antarctic snow (Antony et al, 2009). To our knowledge, the nine isolates reported in the present work constitute the first isolation of Cellulosimicrobium spp.…”

Attempts to induce nocardioform placentitis (Crossiela equi) experimentally in mares

“…Interestingly, field and experimental cases of equine amnionitis and fetal loss in Australia also present mucoid placentitis similar to nocardioform placentitis; however, equine amnionitis and fetal loss is associated with additional placental and fetal lesions. To our knowledge, neither C.equi nor Amycolatopsis spp.…”

“…Cellulosimicrobium sp., Cellulomonas sp.) and other nonspecific bacterial species have been associated with mucoid placentitis and fetal lesions in a condition known as equine amnionitis and fetal loss that is associated with ingestion of processionary caterpillars in Australia . However, the actinomycetes causing nocardioform placentitis do not infect the fetus in utero as is commonly seen in other types of placentitis.…”

In this issue – April 2013

“…A series of unusual abortions occurred in mares in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales between March and November 2004, and was termed ‘equine amnionitis and fetal loss’ (EAFL) …”