Background: Gastrointestinal disease has been associated with shedding of Salmonella with previous studies demonstrating that horses with colic have a higher risk of acquiring and shedding Salmonella organisms.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with Salmonella shedding in a colic population at a referral clinic.
Study design: Retrospective case-control study.
Methods: For each colic case that was positive for Salmonella (n = 56), two colic cases (n = 112) that tested negative for Salmonella, were enrolled as controls. Associations between variables and Salmonella shedding were identified using logistic regression. Univariate and multivariable models were developed pertaining to (1) presenting clinicopathological data and (2) clinical variables that developed during hospitalisation.
Results: Of the equids presenting with colic, 1585/1917 had a sample submitted for Salmonella testing. Of these, 56 were positive for Salmonella yielding a prevalence of 3.5%. Equids shedding Salmonella were more likely to present in July (odds ratio [OR] = 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.63-32.13; p = 0.009) and present with a history of fever (OR = 53.5; 95% CI = 2.57-1113.03; p = 0.01), increased lactate (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.14-2.29; p = 0.007) and/or neutropenia (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.65-0.97; p = 0.02). Hospitalised equids shedding Salmonella were more likely to be febrile (OR = 4.8; 95% CI = 1.47-15.8; p = 0.01) and 10 times more likely to develop reflux (OR = 10.1; 95% CI = 1.67-61.43; p = 0.01) compared to colic controls.
Main limitations: Retrospective nature of the study and bias inherent to the retrieval of data from medical records cannot be discounted. Classifying Salmonella status based on a single sample may have resulted in misclassification bias.
Conclusions: The prevalence of Salmonella shedding in this colic population was low compared to earlier reports. Certain predictors such as the development of a fever or reflux in hospitalised colic cases were associated with Salmonella shedding and may help the clinician to promptly identify horses likely to shed; thus, helping institute effective use of barrier nursing precautions.
背景: 胃肠道疾病与沙门氏菌散播有关；先前的研究表明，有腹痛的马匹有更高罹患和散播沙门氏菌的风险。 目的: 本研究的目的是确定由于腹痛进入转诊医院马匹中，沙门氏菌散播的流行率和相关的危险因素。 研究设计: 回顾性病例对照研究 方法: 对每一例沙门氏菌阳性的腹痛病例(n = 56)，选两例沙门氏菌阴性的腹痛病例(n = 112)作为对照。各种变量与沙门氏菌散播之间的联系使用逻辑回归确定。建立单变量和多变量模型研究以下联系:(1)临床病理数据，(2)住院期间产生的临床变量。 结果: 在1917匹发生腹痛的马匹的样本中，1585匹完成了沙门氏菌检测。其中56例沙门氏菌阳性，患病率为3.5%。马属动物散播沙门氏菌常出现在7月份(OR = 7.2; 95% CI = 1.63-32.13; p = 0.009)。常伴随发热史(OR = 53.5；95% CI = 2.57-1113.03；p = 0.01)，乳酸升高(OR = 1.6；95% CI = 1.14-2.29；p = 0.007)和/或中性粒细胞减少(OR = 0.79；95% CI = 0.65 -0.97；p = 0.02)。住院马匹散播沙门氏菌的更可能发热(OR = 4.8；95% CI = 1.47 -15.8；p = 0.01)，和阴性腹痛对照组相比，发生胃返流的可能性增加10倍(OR = 10.1；95% CI = 1.67 -61.43；p = 0.01)。 主要限制: 回顾性研究的性质和从医疗记录中检索数据的固有主观性局限。基于单一样本对沙门氏菌状态进行分类可能会导致分类偏差和不合理。 结论: 与早期报道相比，该设计中马匹的沙门氏菌散播流行率较低。某些预测因素，如发烧或返流在住院腹痛病例中与沙门氏菌散播相关，可以帮助临床医生及时识别可能散毒的马匹，从而帮助建立有效的屏障以及护理预防措施。.
Keywords: biosecurity; colic; gastrointestinal; horse; infectious disease control; surgery.
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