Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in a Foal - A case report

Anamnesis: a 4 month-old creole filly was presented to the Universidad Nacional's Large Animal Clinic with a history of respiratory signs. Clinical and laboratory findings: on clinical examination, the filly presented bilateral thick muco-purulent nasal discharge and increased both laringo-tracheal sounds and coughing reflex response. On lung auscultation it showed increased bronchial sounds and crackles. The diagnostic rule outs included abscess bronchopneumonia by R. equi, pulmonary dyctiocaulosis and pneumonia by Streptococcus equi subesp. zooepidemicus. Tracheal wash culture was positive for R. equi. Treatment approach: the filly was started on IV sodium penicillin and once R. equi was isolated, therapy was switched to oral combination of TMS plus rifampin during 27 days. Conclusion: this could be the first report of R. equi bronchopneumonia in the scientific veterinary literature in Colombia.