Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Disease Etiology
Disease etiology in horses refers to the study of the causes and development of diseases within equine populations. It encompasses various factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental influences, infectious agents, and nutritional imbalances, that contribute to the onset and progression of diseases in horses. Understanding disease etiology is essential for identifying risk factors and implementing preventative measures in equine health management. This topic includes research on pathogen-host interactions, the impact of management practices on disease incidence, and the role of genetic and environmental factors in disease susceptibility. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, contributing factors, and implications of disease etiology in horses.
Multiple pathways to osteoarthritis and articular fractures: is subchondral bone the culprit? Osteoarthritis and articular fractures are commonly responsible for early retirement from athletic performance. The subchondral bone (SCB) in those conditions is being recognized as an integral component in their pathophysiology. Early recognition of these potentially career-ending diseases may require understanding of the progression of changes occurring in SCB with time and exercise.
The California Postmortem Program: leading the way. The California Postmortem Program studies disease surveillance, discovers new causes of death, and develops new diagnostic methods for disease detection. It also informs directions for research focused on elucidating the etiopathogenesis of, and risk factors for, catastrophic fractures and other causes of death. Because most fatal injuries seem to be the acute culmination of a more chronic process, intervention and prevention of injuries is possible with enhanced knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of injuries and risk factors for injuries. These advances also would facilitate development of man...
Identification of hyperendemic foci of horses with West Nile virus disease in Texas. To determine whether West Nile virus (WNV) disease hyperendemic foci (hot spots) exist within the horse population in Texas and, if detected, to identify the locations. Methods: Reports of 1,907 horses with WNV disease in Texas from 2002 to 2004. Methods: Case data with spatial information from WNV epidemics occurring in 2002 (1,377 horses), 2003 (396 horses), and 2004 (134 horses) were analyzed by use of the spatial scan statistic (Poisson model) and kriging of empirical Bayes smoothed county attack rates to determine locations of horses with WNV disease in which affected horses were consiste...
Management of a gunshot wound in a mare. A 5-year-old, Quarter horse mare was treated for severe cellulitis secondary to a gunshot wound near the right humerus. The bullet was not retrieved due to the risk of damaging the radial nerve or elbow joint. Despite the presence of the bullet, the mare resumed athletic soundness once the infection had resolved. Traitement d’une blessure par balle chez une jument. Une jument Quarter horse âgée de 5 ans a été traitée pour une cellulite sévère à la suite d’une blessure par balle près de l’humérus droit. Le projectile n’a pas été retiré par crainte de léser le nerf radial o...
Epidemiology of racetrack injuries in racehorses. This article describes the development of epidemiologic analyses of racetrack injury in racehorses. The risk or rate of fatal and nonfatal injury in racing and training around the world is examined. The focus is on the importance of global collaboration and the identification of modifiable risk factors. In particular, exercise-related risk factors for injury are evaluated and the potential impact of interventions discussed.
Biomechanical and mechanical investigations of the hoof-track interface in racing horses. The aim of this article is to review current knowledge of kinetic variables of the hoof-track interaction and track properties relevant to the objective of minimizing injuries to horses at racing tracks. In each phase of the stance--primary impact, secondary impact, support, and breakover, the hoof experiences different combinations of force and acceleration. The role of each combination, and of measured track properties, in causing catastrophic and chronic injuries to the limbs of racing horses is unknown. Limited data of this type have been provided in previous epidemiologic studies of risk ...
Association of soil concentrations of Rhodococcus equi and incidence of pneumonia attributable to Rhodococcus equi in foals on farms in central Kentucky. To determine whether soil concentrations of total or virulent Rhodococcus equi differed among breeding farms with and without foals with pneumonia caused by R equi. Methods: 37 farms in central Kentucky. Procedures-During January, March, and July 2006, the total concentration of R equi and concentration of virulent R equi were determined by use of quantitative bacteriologic culture and a colony immunoblot technique, respectively, in soil specimens obtained from farms. Differences in concentrations and proportion of virulent isolates within and among time points were compared among farms. Resul...
Formation of the arterivirus replication/transcription complex: a key role for nonstructural protein 3 in the remodeling of intracellular membranes. The replication/transcription complex of the arterivirus equine arteritis virus (EAV) is associated with paired membranes and/or double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) that are thought to originate from the endoplasmic reticulum. Previously, coexpression of two putative transmembrane nonstructural proteins (nsp2 and nsp3) was found to suffice to induce these remarkable membrane structures, which are typical of arterivirus infection. Here, site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the role of nsp3 in more detail. Liberation of the hydrophobic N terminus of nsp3, which is normally achieved by c...
Polyneuropathy associated with forage sources in Norwegian horses. Cases of hindlimb digital extensor weakness of unknown etiology have been observed in Norway since 1995. Objective: We hypothesized that the observed bilateral extensor weakness was attributable to neuropathy of the distal nerves and that this was related to environmental factors, possibly dietary. Methods: Seventy-five horses with digital extensor weakness occurring from 1995 to 2004 are described. Methods: Eleven horses were examined at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, and the medical records of 64 horses seen in ambulatory practice were reviewed. Results: There was no apparent se...
Pheromone trap for the eastern tent caterpillar moth. The discovery that the eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum (F.) causes mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), and thus has the potential to continue to result in major economic losses to the equine industry of Kentucky, has resulted in an intensive effort to identify practical means to monitor and control this defoliator, including these experiments to optimize a sex pheromone trap for this pest. A pheromone-baited delta trap with a large opening, such as InterceptST Delta, was more effective than other tested traps. Orange delta traps caught more moths than other tested colors. ET...
A case of equine abortion caused by Encephalitozoon sp. A Lippizan mare aborted a male fetus a few days before the expected foaling date without showing any clinical sings. Focal lympho-histiocytic hepatitis in the foal and multiplex focal lympho-histiocytic villitis accompanied by villus necroses and marked hypertrophy of chorionic epithelial cells in the arcades were observed. Elongated nucleated organisms were seen in groups in vacuoles or solitarily located in the cytoplasm of the chorionic epithelial cells. The organisms were in large numbers and often extracellularly in areas of villitis and villus necroses. They were Gram-positive, stained w...
Factors associated with vesicular stomatitis in animals in the western United States. To identify factors associated with development of vesicular stomatitis (VS). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 138 livestock premises and 118 horses suspected of having VS in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Methods: Premises with >or= 1 animal with clinical signs and laboratory confirmation of infection were classified as case premises. Premises where laboratory confirmation results were negative were control premises. Among equine premises, case and control horses were selected on the basis of premises status. A survey was conducted to identify factors associated with VS for premises an...
Abortions in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) caused by equine rhinitis A virus. A virus was isolated from aborted dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) fetuses during an abortion storm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Laboratory investigations showed the causative agent to be indistinguishable from equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV), a picornavirus. Two pregnant dromedaries experimentally infected with the camel virus isolate both aborted and an identical virus was reisolated from both fetuses, thus confirming the diagnosis. The extremely high prevalence of antibody (>90 %) and the high titres recorded against ERAV in the dromedary herd clearly showed that ERAV does infect dromedari...
The composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in three cases of polyneuritis equi. Polyneuritis equi (PNE) is a rare neurological disease in the horse. Because of the suspicion in PNE of a T-lymphocyte mediated immune response against the myelin, the objective of this study was to determine the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in the involved nerves of 3 horses with PNE, studied retrospectively. T-lymphocytes were demonstrated in the lesions, which suggests a T-lymphocyte mediated immune response against myelin. In addition, the presence of B-lymphocytes indicated a local production of antibodies. More research, involving a prospective study, is needed to determine...
Cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein in equine synovial fluid from healthy and diseased joints. More sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for early detection of changes in the joint cartilage are needed. Cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP) is a potential marker of cartilage synthesis and regeneration. This is the first study on equine CD-RAP. Objective: To evaluate the ability of a commercially available human sandwich ELISA assay to detect equine CD-RAP in synovial fluid from healthy and diseased joints. Methods: Synovial fluid was collected from 28 horses with no signs of joint disease and from 5 with induced inflammatory arthritis. CD-RAP concentrations wer...
Risk factors for epiploic foramen entrapment colic: an international study. Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is one of the most common causes of small intestinal strangulation in the horse. Identification of risk factors would generate hypotheses about causation and may suggest preventive strategies. Objective: Horses exhibiting certain behavioural patterns and those exposed to particular management practices are at increased risk of EFE. Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted on EFE cases admitted to hospitals in the UK, Ireland and USA. Data on 109 cases and 310 control horses were obtained by telephone questionnaire and conditional logistic regression...
Equine rhinosporidiosis in United Kingdom. We report 4 cases of equine rhinosporidiosis in the United Kingdom. These cases provide evidence of spread of infectious agents from rhinosporidiosis-endemic areas to nonendemic areas by increased international movement of livestock. Surveillance should continue for this infective agent of potential relevance for numerous species, including humans.
Free radicals and antioxidants in inflammatory processes and ischemia-reperfusion injury. This article discusses the current understanding of the role of free radicals and antioxidants in inflammatory processes and in ischemia reperfusion injury. It begins by describing the manifestations of acute inflammation and outlining the cellular events that occur during inflammation. It then describes the biochemical mediators of inflammation with special attention to nitric oxide. It details the process of hypoxia reperfusion injury, the enzymes involved, its treatment, and studies involving specific hypoxia reperfusion injuries in various animal species.
Developmental orthopaedic disease in limbs of foals: between-breed variations in the prevalence, location and severity at weaning. Developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) affects all breeds and is a common cause of pain and lameness for horses in sports. A thorough knowledge of between-breed variations for the prevalence of DOD, for its distribution among the various joints and for its severity at earlier stages in the disease process is needed in order to improve the relevance and the cost-effectiveness of DOD screening protocols. However, no prevalence study for DOD simultaneously performed on several breeds with similar farming systems and based on radiographic findings (RF) on quite a large number of joints and views,...
[Notifiable animal diseases diagnosed at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology of the University of Zurich between 1988 and 2004]. One of the essential tasks of veterinary pathology is the gross and microscopic examination of animals post mortem. Frequently requests are made for the cause of disease or death in the absence of a precise history or an otherwise specific assignment e.g. whether a notifiable disease is involved. The general examination is supplemented by a spectrum of additional examinations depending on the case whereas attempts are made to keep the costs within limits and to answer the client's request with justifiable effort. 36,365 necropsy cases and 9192 organs submitted between 1988 and 2004 were analys...
Chlamydophila spp. infection in horses with recurrent airway obstruction: similarities to human chronic obstructive disease. Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses is a naturally occurring dust-induced disease mainly characterized by bronchiolitis which shows histological and pathophysiological similarities to human chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In human COPD previous investigations indicated an association with Chlamydophila psittaci infection. The present study was designed (1) to clarify a possible role of this infectious agent in RAO and (2) to investigate the suitability of this equine disorder as a model for human COPD. Methods: Clinico-pathological parameters of a total of 45 horses (25 ...
Associations between candidate gene markers at a quantitative trait locus on equine chromosome 4 responsible for osteochondrosis dissecans in fetlock joints of South German Coldblood horses. A previously accomplished whole-genome scan for osteochondrosis (OC) and OC dissecans (OCD) in South German Coldblood horses using 250 microsatellite markers identified putative quantitative trait loci (QTL). A chromosome-wide significant QTL for fetlock OCD was found on Equus caballus chromosome (ECA) 4q at a relative position of 70.0-73.3 cM. The aim of this study was to analyze associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes for OC in this region. The association analysis included 32 affected and 64 unaffected horses. Three SNPs located in intron 8, intron 9, and 3...
Myeloperoxidase assay in plasma and peritoneal fluid of horses with gastrointestinal disease. Gastrointestinal disorders, especially strangulating intestinal obstructions, are still a major cause of illness and death in the horse. Circulating lipopolysaccharides may activate both neutrophils and monocytes. The activated neutrophils release myeloperoxidase (MPO), a specific enzyme with strong oxidative activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPO concentrations in the plasma and peritoneal fluid (PF) of horses with colic and to check the hypothesis that these concentrations would be higher in a case of strangulating obstruction than in cases of nonstrangulating disease. By using ...
