This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Foal Pneumonia: Rhodococcus »
  Discussion on Research Summary: Rhodococcus treatment with Streptolysin O
Author Message
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2011 - 6:45 am:

Streptolysin O (SLO) is not available for treatment at this time but is currently in the research stage but this initial research is encouraging for treating what is a common and difficult to treat disease. SLO is a naturally occurring bacterial toxin that may improve treatment outcomes by increasing the permeability of the abscess wall or the Rhodococcus cell membrane to the antibiotic. If not used carefully SLO can cause massive hemolysis in the foal.
DrO

Vet Microbiol. 2011 Jul 7.

The use of streptolysin O (SLO) as an adjunct therapy for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.

Horohov DW, Loynachan AT, Page AE, Hughes K, Timoney JF, Fettinger M, Hatch T, Spaulding JG, McMichael J.
Source

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
Abstract

Rhodococcus equi is a soil borne bacterium that causes severe morbidity and death in young foals. The economic costs of the disease include loss of life, treatment expenses, veterinary monitoring expenses and, perhaps most importantly, potential reduction in future athletic performance in horses that suffer severe lung abscess actions caused by R. equi. Current standard of care for pneumonia caused by R. equi is treatment with a macrolide antimicrobial and rifampicin. However, the hallmark of pneumonia caused by R. equi is severe formation of granulomas and a walling off effect that can prevent systemic antibiotics from reaching antimicrobial concentrations in lung tissues. It is hypothesized that streptolysin O (SLO) used as an adjunct therapy with antibiotics will reduce the duration and severity of disease caused by R. equi pneumonia compared to antibiotic therapy alone. Addition of SLO to the antibiotic enhanced clinical responses compared to the other groups, including the antibiotic alone group. Of particular significance were lower bacterial counts in the lungs and longer survival time in those foals treated with SLO and antibiotics.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC