Salmonella is a leading cause of enterocolitis in susceptible horses. Clinical cases range from asymptomatic to acute and severe diarrhea to death. Further, it is possible for disease outbreaks and population epidemics to occur depending on the organism, host and degree of exposure. It is thus recommended that PCR be used for rapid and specific pathogen detection to maintain biosecurity.

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Salmonella can be isolated from a mat located in the colic surgery room. 18 of the 33 cases in this outbreak had surgery, and it is possible that some cases were infected during surgery. In other outbreaks in teaching hospitals, Salmonella has been isolated from a range of sites, including horse feeders and waterers, floor drains, stalls and stall mats, operating tables, recovery room mats and office floors.

The risk of Salmonella shedding more than doubled in patients with abdominal surgery versus non-surgical patients. Patients who underwent abdominal surgery were also eight times more likely to contract a hospital-acquired Salmonella infection.

To reduce fomite risk of Salmonella contamination, test nasogastric tubing and buckets, manure pitchforks, and ambulatory vehicle floor mats, tires and steering wheels, and tractor tires. Salmonella has been frequently isolated from reflux samples, so the risk of Salmonella environmental contamination and hospital-acquired infections is increased. Improved environmental monitoring allows for earlier detection and isolation, reducing environmental contamination.

Adult horses that had been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization were 3.09 times as likely to be shedding Salmonella organisms as were adult horses that had not been treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to hospitalization.

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4. Rothers, K. L., Hackett, E. S., Mason, G. L., & Nelson, B. B. (2020). Atypical Salmonellosis in a Horse: Implications for Hospital Safety. Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7062408
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