The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website revised Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines to assist practitioners with clinical signs, risk factors, diagnostic sampling, biosecurity measures, and other considerations of the clinical disease that results from infection with Salmonella enterica ssp enterica. 

Clinically normal horses can transiently shed Salmonella. Shedding prevalence varies from less than one percent in the general horse population to upward of 13% among horses with gastrointestinal disease. Risk factors for development of salmonellosis in horses include poor environmental hygiene, immunosuppression, stress, commingling of horses, or antimicrobial administration.  

Clinical disease in horses is characterized by nonspecific signs, including fever, diarrhea, leukopenia, and colic. Infections might result in endotoxemia and laminitis. Foals are susceptible to more severe disease with profound systemic illness, including hemorrhagic diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis, physitis, and septic arthritis.  

“The updated Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines reflect the latest research with emphasis on items relevant to clinical practitioners: risk factors, diagnostic testing, biosecurity, and management of quarantined animals,” said guidelines author Brandy Burgess, DVM, MSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVPM. “They provide relevant information for equine practitioners managing cases in the field and communicating with horse owners.” 

The Salmonellosis Disease Guidelines were reviewed and approved by the AAEP’s Infectious Disease Committee and board of directors. View the guidelines or save them to your mobile device as a PDF for future reference at https://aaep.org/resource/salmonellosis.