27/02/2026
A disease we see occasionally in our caseload. Worth being vigilant and speak to us if you have concerns your foal may be at risk.
Hyperimmune plasma given in the first couple of days of life can help prevent the disease.
Now that foaling season is in full swing, here is some important information to know about Rhodococcus equi.
What is it?
Rhodococcus equi is a bacterium found in soil and manure, and it’s the leading cause of pneumonia in foals aged 3 weeks to 5 months.
How do foals get it?
Foals inhale dust containing the bacteria, usually in their first weeks of life. Farms with regular cases are called endemic (meaning regularly occurring within an area or community).
Signs to watch for:
Early signs are subtle: mild fever, increased breathing rate, and lethargy. As the condition worsens, foals may have rapid/labored breathing, fever, and poor appetite. Sometimes, abscesses form in the abdomen or joints. Foals with early disease can have no clinical signs.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis involves clinical signs, imaging (like ultrasound), and lab tests from airway samples.
Treatment:
Most foals with severe disease are treated with a macrolide antibiotic plus rifampin. Many with small lung lesions recover without antibiotics.
Prevention:
No vaccine exists. Some farms (generally those that have had previously affected foals) use hyperimmune plasma in newborns and screen foals with ultrasound to catch disease early.
Is it contagious?
It’s not directly contagious between foals but can rarely infect people with weak immune systems.
Overall, early detection and careful management are key to keeping foals healthy!
Learn more: https://equinediseasecc.org/handler/managedfilehandler.ashx?id=84&ext=pdf
