SUMMARY: Researchers will study a new treatment for foal’s pneumonia caused by R. equi.
THE PROBLEM: Kentucky’s economy and state image relies heavily on the horse industry, with roughly 1.74 million people working in the horse industry. Healthy foals help maintain the horse population and this industry, so horse welfare is very important in Kentucky and the US. Deaths in foals are commonly caused by pneumonia, which is the third most common cause of illness in foals aged 1-6 months and the second leading cause of foal death. Rhodococcus equi is the agent that is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in foals. R. equi can linger in the soil, providing a source for infection, and antiobiotic resistance is common. New treatment strategies are desperately needed.
THE PROJECT: The research team recently discovered new drugs originating from natural products that can kill R. equi but additional testing in the lab is needed before using them on sick foals. This study will benefit horses by reducing the amount of antibiotics used to treat the bacteria in foals and their side effects, as well as the spread of forms that do not respond to antibiotics.
POTENTIAL IMPACT: This research will impact the welfare of horses as well as the horse industry as a whole.
Projected End Date: 2/28/26
Study ID
D25EQ-820
Study Status
Active
Grant amount awarded
$20,000
Grant recipient
University of Kentucky
Study country
United States
Investigator
Yosra A. Helmy, PhD