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Infection with Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi is a well-recognised condition in foals that represents a consistent and serious risk worldwide. The condition manifests itself primarily as one of pulmonary abscessation and bronchitis, hence the terminology of 'rattles' derived from its most obvious clinical sign, frequently terminal when first identified. This review addresses the clinical manifestation, bacteriology and pathogenesis of the condition together with recent developments providing knowledge of the organism in terms of virulence, epidemiology, transmission and immune responses. Enhanced understanding of R. equi virulence mechanisms and biology derived from the recently available genome sequence may facilitate the rational development of a vaccine and the improvement of farm management practices used to control R. equi on stud farms in the future. Reliance on vaccines alone, in the absence of management strategies to control the on-farm challenge is likely to be disappointing.

Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria, including Anabaena species, which are neurotoxic, and Microcystis , which is hepatotoxic, are becoming increasingly common in potable water sources. Normal flocculation and chlorination processes do not remove the toxicity. The laboratory and pilot-plant experiments described in this article showed that the toxicity can be removed by both powdered and granular activated carbon, with and without chlorination, alum flocculation, and polyelectrolyte addition.