A Study on Causes of Pathogenic Diarrhea in Foals in Punjab, Pakistan

Foal diarrhea in working equines is reported as the most common cause of mortality. In the present study, 400 foals (318 horse foals and 82 donkey foals) that showed manifestation of diarrhea were selected from Lahore and Sahiwal districts of Punjab. Fresh fecal samples from diarrheic foals were collected for isolation of bacteria, detection of virus (Rotavirus), and helminth parasites. Bacteria were isolated and confirmed through polymerase chain reaction. Rotavirus was detected by ELISA and helminth parasites by microscopic examination of fecal samples. The common pathogens detected in fecal samples of diarrheic foals were helminths parasites, isolated from 85% of the samples followed by bacteria (55%) and Rotavirus (17.75%). The most prevalent bacteria were Escherichia coli (48.75% of the samples) followed by Salmonella enterica (18.25%) and Clostridium perfringens (18%). Results showed that 371 (92.75%) fecal samples (298 horse foals and 73 donkey foals) were positive for one or more than one infectious pathogens. Mixed infection with more than one pathogens were observed in 59.03% (177 horse foals and 42 donkey foals) foals followed by helminths in 33.96% (98 horse foals and 28 donkey foals), bacteria in 5.66% (19 horse foals and two donkey foals) and the lowest recorded pathogen was Rotavirus in 1.34% (four horse foals and one donkey foal) of the diarrheic foals. This study is the first evidence of bacterial and viral causes of foal diarrhea in Punjab, Pakistan.