Abortion in donkeys associated with Salmonella abortus equi infection.
Authors: Wang H, Liu K J, Sun Y H, Cui L Y, Meng X, Jiang G M, Zhao F W, Li J J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Salmonella abortus equi–Associated Abortion in Donkeys *Salmonella enterica* subspecies *enterica* serovar *abortus equi* has long been recognised as a significant cause of abortion in horses, yet its involvement in donkey reproductive disease remained undocumented until this investigation. Wang and colleagues examined a substantial outbreak of 61 donkey abortions through combined pathoanatomical, bacteriological, serological and molecular investigation, isolating *Salmonella abortus equi* from tissue samples of nine aborted foetuses using culture and PCR-based diagnostics; notably, all isolates were serologically identical (B group, O antigen 4, 12) and genetically classified as sequence type 251, whilst concurrent testing excluded equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 and equine arteritis virus as causative agents. The consistent isolation of *S. abortus equi* as the sole pathogenic agent across multiple foetal tissues, coupled with negative results for other major equine abortigenic pathogens, establishes this Salmonella serovar as a genuine risk to donkey pregnancies. Equine veterinarians and practitioners managing donkey breeding populations should now consider *S. abortus equi* within their differential diagnosis for abortion and implement appropriate biosecurity and screening protocols, particularly given that the pathogenic mechanisms and potential for cross-transmission between species remain incompletely understood.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Add S. abortus equi to your differential diagnosis list for abortion in donkeys, not just horses; this bacterium should now be considered a donkey pathogen
- •Implement diagnostic protocols including bacterial culture and serotyping when investigating abortion outbreaks in donkey herds, as this infection appears to spread within populations
- •Consider biosecurity and quarantine measures similar to those used for equine salmonellosis, and be aware that infected donkeys may pose a risk to co-housed horses
Key Findings
- •S. abortus equi was isolated as the single infectious agent from all 9 aborted foetuses examined in a 61-case abortion outbreak
- •All 9 Salmonella isolates were serotype B with O antigen 4,12 and sequence type 251
- •EHV-1, EHV-4 and EAV were negative in all tested samples, ruling out viral causes of abortion
- •This is the first documented report of S. abortus equi-associated abortion in donkeys, previously only described in equines