Deb,
In case I missed you with this....
Several of you have posted about related diseases in goats and even humans.
I missed this at first because there is a fungal disorder that sounds very
similar
and I knew that this was a gram positive bacterial disease and not fungus.
Kyle S. just helped me hit the jackpot because he recognized the symptoms
from his goats.
There is very little information on this in horses.
This is a rare and often fatal bacterial infection that is known in
Icelandic
horses.
We have all speculated Whisper Syndrome is an import! Bingo
http://www.cavalor.com/nutritionitem.php?id=175
It was very prevalent in PMU horses which came from Canada.
It occurs in Winter from feeding grass silage on the ground! Bingo
It causes gastroenteritis and septicemia.! Bingo
It is gram positive (thus penicillin would not be effective but Naxcel
would) Bingo
Survival h
as been reported now with Tucoprim which is also effective against
both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Another survivor had was
treated with SMZ (Spectrim or Bactrim) which is also effective against gram
positive bacterium. Bingo!
It causes stiff necks in humans and similar symptoms in goats.
This explains the Whisper twist.
Interestingly, not a single case of Whisper syndrome was reported to me
as being diagnosed as Listerosis.
John Holland
PS: I am not a veterinarian, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn express last
night!
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 9:47 AM
Subject: whisper syndrome
> John,
> Please keep us posted as to the progress of research into this mysterious
> ailment. I have fed round bales for years with no adverse effects, but I
> gather them from the field immediately after baling, temp. and moisture
> test the
m, and, if they are in acceptable parameters for both, put them
> directly in my barn on a plastic moisture barrier. I never use round
> bales that have been stored outdoors (because of possible botulinium
> contamination, and other mold factors), and wonder if your info gathering
> could delineate on bale storage methods. I am president of Back Country
> Horsemen of America here in VA, and would appreciate being able to keep my
> membership informed about this.
> Thanx!
> Deb
>
>
