Septicaemia by Dr Jennifer Stewart A severe condition that can rapidly lead to shock, septicaemia is the major cause of death in horses. lthough seen in many forms, the major cause of death in horses is the same – septicaemia or poisoning of the blood with germs (bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) and inflammatory products, leading to multiple organ infection and failure. Septicaemia describes a broad range of disorders with different underlying causes and outcomes – but all caused by infection. It is a severe, life-threatening condition that can rapidly lead to shock with falling blood pressure, reduced blood flow to organs and kidney failure. Septicaemia can occur followimng: abscesses, abortion, artificial insemination, bone infections, colic, colitis, dental disease, diarrhoea, gastro-enteritis, hepatitis, infections of muscles, joints and bones, joint-ill, laminitis, meningitis, orthopaedic surgery, osteomyelitis, periodontal disease, placentitis, pneumonia, premature birth, rattles, respiratory viruses, retained membranes after foaling, Salmonella, sinus infection, stomach ulcers, strangles, tick bites, uterine infections, viral infections, wounds and many others. Signs of septicaemia include those related to the original site of infection and fever, increased heart and respiratory rates, lethargy and loss of appetite. In foals and aged horses, these signs may not occur, making diagnosis more difficult and delayed. It is usually treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Infection by invading bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites is the most common cause of disease and death. Infections range from mild viruses to debilitating conditions like chronic liver failure, and life-threatening diseases such as tetanus and Hendra. Each invader uses a different tactic to infect horses and each is thwarted by different components of the immune system. First they must move past the body’s external armour - the skin, penetrable only through cuts or tiny abrasions; the gut with mucus and acid to entangle and destroy pathogens swallowed with food; and mucus, coughs and sneezes that eject and expel microbes attempting to enter via the respiratory tract. If the would-be invaders survive the body’s front-line defences, they must confront specific weapons of the immune system, tailored just for them - and when challenged by an invader, the immune system has many weapons to choose. Specialised white blood cells lie in wait to ‘eat’ the invaders, and natural killer cells, programmed to attack and kill, patrol the body. To read more click to purchase this issue or subscribe. A D r J ennifer S tewart B VS c B S c PhD D ip B E P MR C VS was an Official Veterinarian with N S W T horoug hbred R acing and S yd ney T urf C lub for over 2 0 years. S he sp eak s at ed ucational seminars and consults to racing , breed ing and end urance clubs, owners and trainers in A ustralia, the Mid d le E ast, S outh A frica, Philip p ines, S E A sia, H ong K ong , J ap an, N ew Z ealand and www.drjenniferstewart.com T urk ey. F or more information on E quine Veterinarians A ustralia ( E VA ) g o to: www.eva.org.au A nita N orris Photo