Download
the full report (PDF 200k). You can purchase the printed report online
Summary of full report Rattles in Horses
By Gary Muscatello, James
R Gilkerson and Glen F Browning
August 2006
RIRDC Publication No 06-097
RIRDC Project No UM-67A
Summary Rhodococcus equi
(R. equi), commonly referred to as rattles, is an important cause
of pneumonia in young foals. Recent findings have established that only
some isolates of Rhodococcus equi can cause rattles in foals. However
all previous studies on factors affecting the numbers of R. equi
in the environment of foals have assumed that all isolates are significant.
Limited studies in the laboratory have shown that virulent R. equi grow
less rapidly than avirulent isolates under particular conditions, suggesting
that the previous studies may not have established the most hazardous conditions
on studs for the development of rattles.
Last updated: August
2006
Copyright RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HOR/06-097sum.html
