Distribution of Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens from equine feces in Jeju

Abstract

A precise cause of diarrhea can be established in less than 50% of cases. Therefore, treatment of most diarrhea is similar in horses and thus allows supportive therapeutic management in spite of the lack of a precise diagnosis. Multiple bacterial agents have been reported as potential causes of acute diarrhea in horses, including Salmonella, Neorickettsia risticii, Clostridium difficile, and C. perfringens. Salmonellosis is one of the most commonly diagnosed infectious causes of diarrhea in adult horses. C. perfringens are common causes of enterocolitis in horses and foals. It is important to detect the presence of a toxin-producing strain. The purpose of this study is to know about distribution of Salmonella spp. and C. perfringens and toxin types of C. perfringens in fecal samples of normal horses in jeju. C. perfringens was found in 82 samples (79.6%) by selective media culture and all isolated bacteria were identified as C. perfringens by PCR amplification. Of 82 isolates, 26 (31.7%) C. perfringens were harboring only α-toxin and other toxins were not detected, indicating that all the bacteria were C. perfringens type A. Salmonella spp. were isolated only 2 samples (2.0%), including 6-10 age group and 11-18 age group. C. perfringens were found in 12 (100%) of 2-5 age group, 38 (74.5%) of 6-10 age group and 32 (80.0%) of 11-18 age group. Although Salmonella was estimated in 2%, it can not be underestimated. A long term, wide scale research and detection is required for a deeper understanding of Salmonella spp. in Jeju, because foal diarrhea is common in some locations of horse husbandries. Isolation rates of C. perfringens were much higher than other studies, in while only low toxigenic C. perfringens Type A were isolated.