Abortion due to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in a Mare

Abstract

The organs of an aborted equine fetus were examined histopathologically and microbiologically. Diffuse, mild cellular infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells was observed in the lamina propria of the intestine. In addition, bacterial colonies were seen in the intestinal content, wall of intestine and liver. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated in pure culture from all organs. This is the first report of the isolation of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus from an aborted equine fetus in Turkey.