Salmonella typhimurium abscess as a postoperative complication in a horse with colic

An 11-year-old, 430-kg fox-trotter stallion was referred for evaluation of colic. A right-sided inguinal hernia was diagnosed. At exploratory laparotomy, the ileum was found to be herniated through the right inguinal canal. Compromised small intestine was resected, jejunocecal anastomosis was performed, and the horse was castrated. Three days after surgery, the stallion would not bear weight on the left hind limb. The musculature of the left thigh region became swollen. Aspiration of the left thigh region yielded serosanguineous fluid from which Salmonella typhimurium was isolated. Ultrasonography of the left thigh revealed multiple hypoechoic areas suggestive of abscess. The left medial thigh region was surgically incised, and a large abscess was drained. Bacteriologic culture of feces yielded S typhimurium. The owner elected to have the horse euthanatized.