Rhodococcus equi qPCR

Pathogen test The PCR test detects the genome (DNA) of the Rhodococcus equi, the pathogen responsible for Pneumonia. Sample 1 nasopharyngeal swab - dry swab Turnaround time 2...

€55.35

Sample Requirements

1 nasopharyngeal swab - dry swab

Send your sample by regular mail or express delivery to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

Turnaround Time

2 to 5 working days

About the test

The PCR test detects thegenome (DNA)of the Rhodococcus equi, the pathogen responsible for Pneumonia.

Rhodococcus equi, a Gram‐positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is one of the most common causes of pneumonia in foals. Rhodococcus equi is a very well recognized pathogen in horses – it is a common cause of pneumonia in foalsbetween the ages of 1-6 months, and infection is also sometimes associated with other problems such as diarrheas, swollen joints and abscesses in other parts of the body. The infection can be very difficult to treat because the bacteria are able to live inside white blood cells, which helps protect them from the body’s immune system, and because they often cause abscesses to form, which are difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. Rhodococcus equi infection in foals has been studied extensively, but there’s still a lot we don’t know how the body defends itself against this organism.

Why test?

Testing is recommended to:

Diagnose Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals.
Investigate respiratory disease and poor performance.
Support early treatment before severe lung damage develops.
Differentiate R. equi from other respiratory pathogens.
Improve disease management on breeding farms.

How it works

🛒 Purchase the Test: Select and buy the test online.

📧 Receive Instructions: After payment confirmation, receive instructions for sample collection.

✨ Sample Collection: Your veterinarian collects the nasopharyngeal swab.

📄 Download Submission Form: Download the printable submission form.

📮 Send Samples: Send your samples by regular mail or express delivery to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

📄 Receive Results: Get your laboratory report by email.

Clinical signs

Clinical signs commonly include:

Fever
Increased respiratory rate
Cough
Nasal discharge
Difficulty breathing
Reduced appetite
Lethargy
Poor growth or weight gain

Advanced cases may also develop joint infections, uveitis, diarrhoea or abdominal abscesses.

Transmission

Foals become infected primarily by inhaling dust contaminated with virulent Rhodococcus equi present in the environment. The bacterium is commonly found in soil and manure on breeding farms. Direct horse-to-horse transmission is considered uncommon.

Prevention

In the absence of an effective vaccine, control and prevention of the disease at farms endemic for infections caused by R. equi have relied on passive immunisation and screening to promote earlier recognition of the disease.
There are no isolation requirements for foals with this disease. Foals with pneumonia caused by R. equi shed higher numbers of R. equi in their feces than healthy foals or foals with subclinical lesions.
Therefore, pneumonic foals might be an important source of contamination of the environment with virulent R. equi but there is no evidence that R. equi infection is contagious among foals and exposure to virulent R. equi is widespread in the environment of foals.
Thus, currently no environmental management practice or biosecurity measure has sufficient evidence on which to base recommendations for controlling and preventing R. equi pneumonia.
Zoonotic Potential R. equi can occasionally cause severe pulmonary or systemic infections in immunosuppressed people. Infections with R. equi are extremely rare and typically less severe in immunocompetent individuals.

Results

The qPCR test reports one of the following:

Detected: Rhodococcus equi DNA was identified in the submitted sample.
Not Detected: No Rhodococcus equi DNA was detected.

Results should be interpreted together with clinical findings and veterinary examination.

Additional information

Rhodococcus equi is one of the leading causes of bacterial pneumonia in foals between 1 and 6 months of age. Because the organism survives inside immune cells, infections are often difficult to treat and may require prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Early diagnosis greatly improves the prognosis.

FAQs

Which horses should be tested?

Foals showing respiratory signs, fever, poor growth or suspected pneumonia.

What sample is required?

One dry nasopharyngeal swab.

Can healthy foals carry Rhodococcus equi?

Yes. The bacterium is widespread in the environment, so results should always be interpreted together with clinical signs.

How long does the test take?

Results are available within 2 to 5 working days after sample arrival.