Infection of internal umbilical remnant in foals by Clostridium sordellii.
Authors: Ortega J, Daft B, Assis R A, Kinde H, Anthenill L, Odani J, Uzal F A
Journal: Veterinary pathology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Clostridium sordellii Infection in Foal Umbilical Remnants Whilst *Escherichia coli* and *Streptococcus zooepidemicus* are well-established causes of omphalitis and subsequent septicaemia in foals, *Clostridium sordellii* has not previously been documented as a pathogen in umbilical infections despite being implicated in perinatal disease across other species. Ortega and colleagues examined eight cases of perinatal mortality in foals aged 12–21 days, using culture, fluorescent antibody testing, and immunohistochemistry to definitively identify *C. sordellii* within infected umbilical remnants and associated tissues. All affected foals developed acute peritonitis characterised by thickened urachus and umbilical arteries showing oedema, haemorrhage, fibrin deposition and leukocytic infiltration, alongside serosanguinous fluid accumulation in the pericardial and pleural cavities. Gram-positive bacterial rods consistent with *C. sordellii* were identified in the subepithelial layers of the urachus and surrounding connective tissues. For practitioners managing foals with clinical signs of sepsis or failure of passive transfer, this work emphasises the importance of considering anaerobic pathogens in differential diagnoses of umbilical infection, particularly where standard bacterial culture yields no growth or antibiotic response is poor, and highlights the value of rigorous post-mortem investigation to identify emerging aetiologies in neonatal disease.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Add C. sordellii to your differential diagnosis when investigating perinatal foal deaths with omphalitis or internal umbilical remnant infection, rather than assuming only E. coli or Streptococcus
- •Request specific bacterial culture and identification of umbilical remnant tissues in necropsy investigations to ensure appropriate organism detection
- •Implement strict foaling hygiene and umbilical cord management protocols to minimize risk of pathogenic bacterial colonization of umbilical structures
Key Findings
- •Clostridium sordellii identified as causative agent in 8 cases of internal umbilical remnant infection in foals aged 12-21 days
- •All affected foals presented with acute peritonitis and thickened umbilical remnants with edema, hemorrhage, and fibrosis
- •Histopathology revealed gram-positive bacterial rods in subepithelial areas of urachus and umbilical arteries with leukocytic infiltration
- •C. sordellii should be included in differential diagnosis for umbilical infections in foals, expanding beyond previously recognized E. coli and S. zooepidemicus causes