Rotaviruses are the most common cause of diarrhea in foals. They are widespread among horses and highly contagious. However, they only cause symptoms in young foals.
Rotaviruses occur worldwide. Outbreaks of the disease occur mainly in farms with large numbers of foals. During the foaling season, infection spreads quickly. This is particularly the case in hot and humid weather. Foals are most commonly affected in their first month of life, especially between the eighth and 15th day of life.
Rotaviruses are ingested orally via food contaminated with feces. They colonize and destroy the surface cells of the small intestine, where they multiply. Infected animals excrete large amounts of viruses in their feces. The damage to the small intestine often leads to additional infections with various bacteria that damage the intestine (secondary infections).
Typical diarrhea is watery to creamy, foul-smelling, and initially yellow. On the second day, the color changes to gray. It then resembles thin concrete. The foal is weakened by the diarrhea and may become lethargic. In severe cases, it is too weak to suckle. This quickly becomes life-threatening. A secondary bacterial infection leads to further fluid loss. The foal's condition deteriorates rapidly. In the worst case, this can lead to blood poisoning, which can cause shock and ultimately death.
The severity of the disease depends on the age of the foal and its immune status. Young foals develop more severe symptoms than older animals.
Your vet will make a preliminary diagnosis based on the preliminary report and a general examination. The practice team will confirm this diagnosis with a rectal stool sample, which can be used to detect rotaviruses and bacterial pathogens.
A stay in an equine clinic with intensive care is often necessary. There is no medication for rotaviruses themselves. The body fights the viruses on its own, but needs support: an infusion is used to balance fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base levels. In addition, medication to relieve intestinal cramps is used. The practice team treats secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics.
The prognosis for pure rotavirus infection is good. If secondary bacterial infections are already present, the prognosis worsens depending on the age of the foal and the pathogen.
Optimal hygiene management and avoiding overcrowding in the foaling areas are top priorities. Manure from rotavirus-positive farms must not be used as fertilizer under any circumstances.
For their initial immune protection, foals must consume sufficient colostrum (first milk) within six to 12 hours after birth. They must also drink their mother's milk regularly thereafter.
In herds with rotavirus infections, vaccination of the dam is recommended. To this end, pregnant mares are vaccinated in the eighth, ninth, and tenth month of each pregnancy and develop antibodies against rotavirus. The foal then absorbs these antibodies via the colostrum. This reduces the risk of developing rotavirus diarrhea. If the foal does become ill, the antibodies mitigate the course of the disease.
Your vet can send you a personalized vaccination schedule for your mare via petsXL. You will then automatically receive notifications when you need to make another appointment.
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