Disease features of equine coronavirus and enteric salmonellosis are similar in horses

Abstract

Background: Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is an emerging pathogen associated with fever and enteric disease in adult horses. Clinical features of ECoV infection have been described, but no study has compared these features to those of Salmonella infections. Objectives: Compare the clinical features of ECoV infection with enteric salmonellosis and establish a disease signature to increase clinical suspicion of ECoV infection in adult horses. Animals: Forty-three horses >1 year of age with results of CBC, serum biochemistry, and fecal diagnostic testing for ECoV and Salmonella spp. Methods: Medical records of horses presented to the North Carolina State University Equine and Farm Animal Veterinary Center (2003-016) were retrospectively reviewed. Horses were divided into 3 groups based on fecal diagnostic test results: ECoV-positive, Salmonella-positive, or unknown diagnosis (UNK). Time of year presented, clinical signs, CBC, and serum biochemistry test results were recorded. Data were analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, or Fisher's exact test with significance set at P