Rhodococcus equi (rattles)
Rhodococcus equi is a bacteria that infects foals from 2-6 months of age.
The bacteria can be eaten or breathed in and is most commonly seen in foals on dry paddocks with a large number of horses grazing. The bacteria lives within certain cells and then causes abscesses to form. The respiratory form is seen most commonly and causes the foal to be dull and depressed and have laboured breathing often with a characteristic ‘rattling’ sound. There is a less common intestinal form where few infected animals survive.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs can be very suggested but the only way to get a true diagnosis is to culture the bacteria from the respiratory secretions. A blood sample is usually taken to measure the extent of the infection the horse is fighting. Radiographs can show the presence of abscesses on the lungs.
Treatment
As with all bacterial infections antibiotic treatment is required. In the case of rhodococcus infection two antibiotics, erythromycin and rifampin, are used together.