Retrospective analysis of factors associated with umbilical diseases in foals

Retrospective analysis of factors associated with umbilical diseases in foals

J Equine Vet Sci. 2024 Apr:135:105045. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105045. Epub 2024 Mar 11.
Authors
F Perina 1 , J Mariella 2 , N Ellero 2 , F Freccero 2 , C Castagnetti 3 , A Lanci 2
Affiliations

1 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Bologna Università, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia 40064, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.perina2@unibo.it.
2 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Bologna Università, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia 40064, Italy.
3 Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Bologna Università, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell’Emilia 40064, Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Bologna University, 40100, Italy.

PMID: 38471637
DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105045

Abstract

In neonatal foals, umbilical remnants can be affected by infectious and non-infectious diseases. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate historical, management and clinical factors that may be related to the occurrence of umbilical remnant diseases. Clinical reports of foals born or hospitalized within 24 h of life during the 2017-2021 foaling seasons were reviewed. Forty/183 foals (21.9 %) developed umbilical remnant diseases (URD group), while 143/183 foals (78.1 %) had normal umbilical remnants (NUR group). In the URD group, 24/40 (60 %) had a patent urachus, 16/40 (40 %) omphalo-arteritis, 4/40 (10 %) omphalo-phlebitis, 10/40 (25 %) urachitis, 9/40 (22.5 %) abscess, 3/40 (7.5 %) periumbilical hematoma and 12/40 (30 %) more than one condition. URD frequency was higher in foals hospitalized after birth than in those born at the hospital (17/46 vs 23/137; P = 0.0068), lower in those that had access to the paddock before three days of life (p = 0.0426) and higher in recumbent foals (P = 0.0001). URD occurred more frequently after dystocia (P = 0.0068), prolonged stage II parturition (19±20.51 min vs 13±6.41 in NUR group; P = 0.0279), traction at parturition (P = 0.0005), and in foals with lower APGAR scores (8±1.72 vs 9±0.86 in NUR; P = 0.0063). Sepsis (P = 0.0245), neonatal encephalopathy (P = 0.0014), meconium retention (P = 0.0241) and congenital flexural limb deformities (P = 0.0049) were the most common associated diseases. Umbilical cord (UC) coiling, abnormal UC rupture, umbilical hemorrhage and increased umbilical stump volume occurred more frequently in URD than in NUR group (P = 0.0329, P = 0.0191, P = 0.0007 and P < 0.00001, respectively). Recognition of the identified predisposing historical, management and clinical factors should prompt careful umbilical remnant monitoring in neonatal foals. Keywords: Dystocia; Neonatal foals; Paddock; Recumbency; Umbilical remnants. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.