Diseases in neonatal foals. Part 2: potential risk factors for a higher incidence of infectious diseases during the first 30 days post partum

Wohlfender, F.D.; Barrelet, F.E.; Doherr, M.G.; Straub, R.; Meier, H.P. (2009). Diseases in neonatal foals. Part 2: potential risk factors for a higher incidence of infectious diseases during the first 30 days post partum. Equine veterinary journal, 41(2), pp. 186-91. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell 10.2746/042516408X345143

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The development of clinical illness in foals is usually predetermined by perinatal history, management or stressful environmental conditions. OBJECTIVES: To determine potential risk factors for an increased incidence of infectious diseases during the first 30 days post partum. METHODS: The population consisted of Thoroughbred foals born on stud farms in the Newmarket (UK) area in 2005 (n = 1031). They were followed for their first 30 days. Factors suspected to influence the incidence of infectious neonatal diseases were examined in a logistic regression approach for each of the 3 outcomes (total infectious diseases, systemic disease with diarrhoea and total infectious diseases excluding diarrhoea). All 28 factors were either foal or mare or stud farm related. RESULTS: Several significant risk factors for a higher disease incidence, such as birth complications, colostrum intake by stomach tube and leucocytosis 12-48 h post partum were identified. The factor 'boarding stud' seemed to be protective against disease. CONCLUSION: Some factors, such as the mare's time at stud before foaling, the mare's rotavirus vaccination schedule and fibrinogen-values that empirically had been linked to the outcome previously were not confirmed as relevant. This included the reported useful prophylactic treatment with antimicrobial drugs. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Factors to be considered when evaluating newborn foals include: stud management, the birth process, route of colostrum intake, white and red blood cells, and the date of birth. These may help to detect foals at risk to develop an infection so that targeted prophylactic measures can be initiated.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > ISME Equine Clinic Bern > ISME Equine Clinic, Internal medicine 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > DVK - Clinical Research [discontinued] 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Experimental Clinical Research
UniBE Contributor:	Doherr, Marcus, Straub, Reto, Meier, Hanspeter
ISSN:	0425-1644
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:25
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:26
Publisher DOI:	10.2746/042516408X345143
Web of Science ID:	000263402000017
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/38256 (FactScience: 220775)