Clinical symptoms and laboratory data in newborn foals with sepsis - a retrospective analysis

146 newborn foals aged 12 hours to 14 days with varying manifestations of s epsis were retrospectively analysed, based on a modified sepsis-scoring sys tem with respect to historical data, clinical findings and laboratory data (IgG, glucose, number of neutrophilic granulocytes in the blood). The overa ll cure rate was 13% (19/146). The majority of foals (60%) presented to the clinic were highly depressed (34/146) or comatose (66/146). Foals with ear ly signs of sepsis, but still able to stand and with a positive suckling re flex (46/146) had much better survival rates (30%), whereas recumbent patie nts with positive suckling reflex had lowered prognosis quood vitam (15%). The foals which entered the clinic in a comatose status could not be cured in any case. With respect to history and results of the clinical examinatio n immature and/or underdeveloped septic foals had the poorest prognosis. Ob viously one of the main reasons for septicaemia was an inadequate intake of colostral immunoglobulins: 60% of the foals showed a hypogammaglobulinaemi a with IgG-concentrations <400 mg/dL. Their survival rate was <10%, whereas foals with IgG levels >400 mg/dL had improved cure rates (24%). Foals with granulocytopenia (<2000/mm(3)) or granulocytosis (>12.000/mm(3)) as well a s hypoglycaemic foals (<40 mg/dL) showed reduced cure rates. Most infection s occurred post natum: Common environmental bacteria like E. coli, A. equul i, Klebsiella spec., Sc. zooepidemicus, Salmonella spec. and Staph. aureus were isolated most frequently.