Salmonella. Chicken/horse transmission???

[Hennypen]

My horse is at the vet school because of founder due to salmonella. Could she have gotten salmonella from the chickens? Can I test them for it?

 

[Hennypen]

anyone?

Can chicks hatched from eggs have salmonella? how can I test for it?

 

[justbugged]

Chickens are immune from Salmonella at about 2 weeks. I would wonder what the horse was doing, by being close enough to chickens to get enough contaminated food from the chickens to salmonella. Is the horse in a spot where the chickens are? Yes chickens can handle a lot of contaminated food, but it is not advisable to feed them clearly bad food. I just don't think that the only problem you have with the horse can be contributed to the chickens.

 

[redhen]

Yes.. you need to have your chickens checked!
Good luck!

 

[firefighting4u]

Hennypen I believe yes they can get it from chicken manure out in the pasture but the horse would probably have to be under stress and the immune system is weakened


I found this article it may help:

Salmonella

The bacteria Salmonella consist of many different varieties. Regions, animal hosts and environmental factors contribute to the varying strains but regardless of which strains are present an infection resulting from any salmonella is something that needs prompt medical attention.

Salmonella is most often passed to the horse from birds, rodents and infected horses. This hardy bacterium grows in an anaerobic environment and can last for close to a year. Freezing does not kill it but a dry and sunlit habitat can help to eliminate it. Because the usual transmission occurs from fecal to oral contamination keeping a clean environment can help reduce the risk of infection. Keeping water sources clean of bird droppings, all areas free of rodents and stalls and paddocks free of manure can all help to battle salmonella from taking control of your barn and yards.

Most horses that succumb to salmonella do so because of physical or environmental stress. Horses kept in over-crowded paddock areas, or that are trailered for long periods of time without a break, those that are suffering from other illnesses or immune deficiencies and foals are those animals that are most susceptible to an acute attack of salmonellosis.

Once infected horses display a wide range of symptoms. Colitis and diarrhea that is fetid, watery and green or black are both very common. Colic sometimes accompanies the diarrhea and in milder cases you might see just colic. Fevers, cardio-vascular shock, dehydration and some changes in the effected animals’ blood counts are all common symptoms. In severe cases secondary issues can arise. Laminitis, secondary fungal pneumonia, kidney failure and a host of other very serious side effects can all occur while fighting a salmonella infection.

A positive fecal culture (for salmonella) will confirm diagnosis. Once confirmed treatment is supportive until the body rids itself of the bacteria. I.V. fluids, electrolytes and other parenteral (not in the stomach) feeding will help maintain the horse throughout the infection. Treating horses with anti-biotics is currently in debate and not generally recommended. Once the diarrhea ends most horses recover without added consequence. Those that present with diarrhea for 10 days or more are in danger of too much damage to their intestinal mucosa to recover completely and may in fact never recover.

Ridding the environment of all potentially infected fecal material is paramount to ending any spread of contamination or re-infection. Organic material must be removed and all items that come in contact with infected animals and feces should be disinfected. Isolation of the infected animal(s) until the results of at least five consecutive negative cultures are obtained is also recommended.

Vaccines against Salmonella are available but the efficacy is undertermined.

Salmonella is common in the environment but with proper hygiene can be kept at bay. Any animal that has been under stress due to any reason and that then displays diarrhea should be attended to promptly to avoid serious consequences.


I have horses as well and worry about this alot hope this help I didnt know th answer you were looking for but I thought I would do some research for ya since I didnt see a reply

 

[firefighting4u]

this article may help as well:

http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2005/winter/equine-es.htm


not to say it was from chickens but it is a possibility!

 

[Hennypen]

Who can I call to check my chickens for salmonella? These are young birds. 5 months and younger.

I keep a pretty clean barn. The feed is in a hanging bucket and kept in a (human) food grade rubbermaid container. I always soak this horse's hay so the huge bucket is clean with fresh water before I put her hay flakes in for soaking. If she ate anything, it had to have been on the hay from the hay room or in the pasture, or it was the food.

I've also read lizards can carry salmonella and I've noticed more lizards than mice than mice this year. I'm having the vet school test my feed. After she got sick we noticed something funny with the feed (rolled oats) but just threw it out and got a new bag. That new bag also smelled really funny.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Yes, they can. Call your state agriculture department or state vet and ask about having your flock NPIP tested.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Chicks are not immune to salmonella; they can hatch with it, or acquire it at any age. However, that does not mean the salmonella was or was not acquired from the chickens. Mice or rats getting into the horse feed is a more likely cause. Of course, they could also have transmitted it to the chickens who then transmitted it to the horse. All the chickens would have to do would be to poop or lay eggs on hay that the horse later ate. It would really be difficult to tell exactly where the horse's salmonella came from without significant testing and matching of serotypes.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Are you sure it was salmonella and not mold? Moldy feed can be very toxic.