Coinfection by avirulent Rhodococcus equi and Klebsiella oxytoca as a cause of atypical abortion in a thoroughbred mare

Abstract

Introduction: The majority of abortions in mares are associated with placental infections caused by opportunistic bacteria. Rhodococcus equi is widespread in the environment of stud farms and Klebsiella oxytoca is found on the mucosal surfaces of horses. Both can occasionally cause placental infection and abortion in mares. To the best of our knowledge, however, there have been no reports of R. equi and K. oxytoca coinfection in mares experiencing placentitis and abortion. The present report describes an uncommon case of abortion caused by R. equi and K. oxytoca coinfection in a thoroughbred mare in Brazil, in which the virulence profile of R. equi was investigated. Case Presentation: A 6-year-old thoroughbred mare, in her first pregnancy, showed increased uteroplacental junction and suspected placentitis on transabdominal ultrasound. The mare aborted a 10-month-old female fetus. A field necropsy was performed and hydrallantois was diagnosed. Conclusion: Although we isolated an avirulent strain of R. equi, coinfection of R. equi and K. oxytoca in the placenta and uterus probably potentiated the pathogenic effect of these micro-organisms, resulting in abortion.