Disease management in horses encompasses the strategies and practices employed to prevent, control, and treat diseases affecting equine populations. This field involves understanding the etiology, transmission, and clinical presentation of various equine diseases, as well as implementing biosecurity measures and therapeutic interventions. Common diseases in horses include equine influenza, strangles, and equine herpesvirus. Effective disease management relies on accurate diagnosis, vaccination protocols, and the use of antimicrobials and other treatments. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, challenges, and advancements in managing diseases in equine health.
McMonagle EL, Taylor S, van Zuilekom H, Sanders L, Scholtes N, Keanie LJ, Hopkins CA, Logan NA, Bain D, Argyle DJ, Onions DE, Schijns VE, Nicolson L.Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a key cytokine in the development of cell-mediated immune responses. Bioactive IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of disulphide linked p35 and p40 subunits. The aim of this study was to verify biologically activity of the products expressed from equine interleukin-12 (IL-12) p35 and p40 cDNAs and to establish whether equine IL-12 could be expressed as a p35/p40 fusion polypeptide, as has been reported for IL-12a of several mammalian species. We report production of equine IL-12 through expression of p35 and p40 subunits in mammalian and insect cells and of a p...
Charleston W, McKenna P.Abstract A general review of the epidemiology, significance and control of nematode parasitism of sheep, goats, cattle and deer in New Zealand, the emergence of anthelmintic resistance and its effects, and the search for parasite control strategies that reduce reliance on anthelmintic use, is provided. The research that has formed the basis for present levels of understanding of this complex and important topic is summarised and sources of further information are indicated. Aspects of nematode infections of horses, pigs, dogs and cats, and the history of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, in ...
Buchner HH, Obermüller S, Scheidl M.The body centre of mass (BCM) is a key factor in the analysis of equine gait, as its position and movement determines the distribution and magnitude of loads on the limbs. Changes in the BCM movement are proposed to be important factors in the lameness management of horses. In this study, changes in the position and the 3-dimensional (3-D) movement of the BCM in horses with induced forelimb lameness were studied using a kinematic, segmental method. The kinematics of 30 markers representing 20 body segments were recorded in 12 horses while trotting (3.9 m/s) on a treadmill using a high speed vi...
Murray MJ, Eichorn ES, Jeffrey SC.The objective of the study reported here was to characterise the microscopic appearance of peptic-injured equine gastric squamous epithelium in relation to the duration of peptic injury. Erosions and ulcers were induced in equine gastric squamous epithelium using a feed deprivation protocol that results in prolonged increased gastric acidity. Specimens of normal gastric mucosa and mucosa with lesions created after 48 and 96 h of feed deprivation were compared for characteristics associated with angiogenesis and mucosal proliferation. Fifteen mature horses, 9 geldings and 6 mares, age 3-20 year...
Chan WW, Chen KY, Liu H, Wu LS, Lin JH.Since the International Society of Veterinary Acupuncture (IVAS) was founded in 1974, acupuncture (AP) has received greater acceptance by veterinary professionals throughout the world. This article introduces some important animal diseases that respond well to AP therapy. These include resuscitation of small animals, treatment of anoestrous gilts and sows, bovine reproductive disease, canine vertebral problems and equine backpain, etc. Conventional medicine considers these to be difficult cases to treat. Veterinarians have become more aware of the benefits of AP especially for those diseases, ...
Dynon K, Varrasso A, Ficorilli N, Holloway S, Reubel G, Li F, Hartley C, Studdert M, Drummer H.To develop rapid (< 8 hour) tests using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3; equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 (EHV2) and EHV5, equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV1), EAdV2, equine arteritis virus (EAV), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV; formerly equine rhinovirus 1) Methods: Either single round or second round (seminested) PCRs were developed and validated. Methods: Oligonucleotide primers were designed that were specific for each virus, PCR conditions were defined and the specificity and sensitivity of the assays were determined. The a...
Farkas R, Képes G.A survey was carried out in three stud farms with grazing animals, in order to gather data on the prevalence and clinical manifestation of, and the fly species involved in, traumatic myiasis of horses in Hungary. This parasitic disease was recorded in each farm. On the whole, 9.0% (14) of the inspected horses were infested with fly larvae. The affected horses had one infested lesion only, located at the mucosa of the vulva or the vaginal vestibule. The clinical symptoms depended on the age of infestation. Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was the only myiasis-causing fly species i...
Jose-Cunilleras E, Kohn CW, Hillier A, Saville WJ, Lorch G.To compare responses to a variety of intradermally injected allergens among healthy horses and horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent urticaria (RU), and atopic dermatitis-insect hypersensitivity (allergic dermatitis [AD]). Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 86 horses. Methods: Results of intradermal testing for horses with COPD, RU, or AD were compared with results for healthy horses. Results: Compared with healthy horses, horses with COPD, RU, and AD were significantly more likely to have positive (> or = 3+) reactions to intradermal allergens (molds, weeds, t...
Harman J, Ward M.Equine Cushing's syndrome, a relatively common and complex condition, is difficult to treat with conventional medicine. Cushing's syndrome involves a hyperplasia or adenoma of the anterior pituitary gland. Biochemical alterations include increased endogenous cortisol, insulin resistance, elevated adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and decreased thyroid hormone levels. Symptoms include hirsutism with no loss of the winter coat in summer, refractory laminitis, weight problems (over- or underweight), polyuria/polydipsia (Pu/Pd), frequent infections, lowered immunity to intestinal parasites, decreased ...
Ostlund EN, Crom RL, Pedersen DD, Johnson DJ, Williams WO, Schmitt BJ.After the 1999 outbreak of West Nile (WN) encephalitis in New York horses, a case definition was developed that specified the clinical signs, coupled with laboratory test results, required to classify cases of WN encephalitis in equines as either probable or confirmed. In 2000, 60 horses from seven states met the criteria for a confirmed case. The cumulative experience from clinical observations and diagnostic testing during the 1999 and 2000 outbreaks of WN encephalitis in horses will contribute to further refinement of diagnostic criteria.
Martin-Downum K, Yazwinski T, Tucker C, Fincher M, Ralph J, Hamilton J.Commercial preparations of fenbendazole (Safe-Guard, Intervet), ivermectin (Eqvalan, Merial) or moxidectin (Quest, Fort Dodge) were administered once to horses scheduled for routine parasiticide treatment. In total, 93 horses from six cooperating farms were used in the study. Computer generated, random allocation of horses to treatment group was conducted at each farm. Fecal egg counts were determined for all horses on trial days 0, 56, 84 and 112, with corresponding calendar dates that were unique to each farm. Only strongyle egg counts from animals which were positive at day 0 were used for ...
Faye D, Pereira de Almeida PJ, Goossens B, Osaer S, Ndao M, Berkvens D, Speybroeck N, Nieberding F, Geerts S.In a study of the prevalence and incidence of trypanosomosis in horses and donkeys in two regions of the Gambia, surveys were carried out at Niamina east and Bansang south with a high and low to moderate tsetse challenge, respectively. Eleven horses and 67 donkeys were sampled monthly from August 1997 to September 1998. Blood samples were examined for trypanosomes using the buffy-coat (BC) method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three primer sets were used, specific for either Trypanosoma vivax (TVW), Trypanosoma congolense (GOL) or Trypanosoma brucei (ORPHON5J). The BC results showed that...
Hadler J, Nelson R, McCarthy T, Andreadis T, Lis MJ, French R, Beckwith W, Mayo D, Archambault G, Cartter M.In 1999, Connecticut was one of three states in which West Nile (WN) virus actively circulated prior to its recognition. In 2000, prospective surveillance was established, including monitoring bird deaths, testing dead crows, trapping and testing mosquitoes, testing horses and hospitalized humans with neurologic illness, and conducting a human seroprevalence survey. WN virus was first detected in a dead crow found on July 5 in Fairfield County. Ultimately, 1,095 dead crows, 14 mosquito pools, 7 horses, and one mildly symptomatic person were documented with WN virus infection. None of 86 hospit...
Murgue B, Murri S, Zientara S, Durand B, Durand JP, Zeller H.On September 6, 2000, two cases of equine encephalitis caused by West Nile (WN) virus were reported in southern France (Hérault Province), near Camargue National Park, where a WN outbreak occurred in 1962. Through November 30, 76 cases were laboratory confirmed among 131 equines with neurologic disorders. The last confirmed case was on November 3, 2000. All but three cases were located in a region nicknamed "la petite Camargue," which has several large marshes, numerous colonies of migratory and resident birds, and large mosquito populations. No human case has been confirmed among clinically ...
Dutra F, Schuch LF, Delucchi E, Curcio BR, Coimbra H, Raffi MB, Dellagostin O, Riet-Correa F.A disease named locally as churrío or churrido equino (i.e., equine scours) has occurred for at least 100 years in Uruguay and southern Brazil in farms along both shores of the Merín lake. This report describes cases of churrido equino and provides serologic, pathologic, and DNA-based evidence indicating that the disease is in fact equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Potomac horse fever). Results of an epidemiological investigation conducted on an endemic farm are also presented. Clinical signs in 12 horses were fever, depression, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes colic and distal hind limb ed...
Re G, Badino P, Odore R, Galaverna D, Girardi C.To determine the concentration and binding characteristics of alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes in smooth muscle cell membranes of equine ileum. Methods: Segments of longitudinal and circular smooth muscle from the ileum of 8 male and 8 female adult horses. Methods: Distribution of alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes was assessed by use of radioligand binding assays incorporating [3H]-prazosin and [3H]-rauwolscine, highly selective alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists, respectively. Characterization of adrenoceptor subtypes was performed by use of binding inhibition assays. Results: On the basis of b...
Jose-Cunilleras E, Hinchcliff KW.Listeria monocytogenes rarely causes disease in horses
(Emerson and Jarvis 1968; McCain and Robinson 1976; Clark et
al. 1978; Welsh 1983; Wallace and Hathcock 1995; Larochelle et
al. 1999; Wilkins et al. 2000). It is described as a cause of
abortion, septicaemia in equine neonates, mature horses and
ponies and neurological disease in a foal (Emerson and Jarvis
1968; McCain and Robinson 1976; Clark et al. 1978; Welsh
1983; Wallace and Hathcock 1995; Larochelle et al. 1999;
Wilkins et al. 2000). Most cases of listeriosis in other species
arise from the ingestion of contaminated food and...
Kindig CA, McDonough P, Fenton G, Poole DC, Erickson HH.The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of an equine nasal strip (NS), furosemide (Fur), and a combination of both (NS + Fur) on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) at speeds corresponding to near-maximal effort. Five Thoroughbreds (526 +/- 25 kg) were run on a flat treadmill from 7 to 14 m/s in 1 m x s(-1) x min(-)1 increments every 2 wk (treatment order randomized) under control (Con), Fur (1 mg/kg iv 4 h prior), NS, or NS + Fur conditions. During each run, pulmonary arterial (Ppa) and esophageal (Pes) pressures were measured. Severity of EIPH was quantified via b...
Wang E, Bowen RA, Medina G, Powers AM, Kang W, Chandler LM, Shope RE, Weaver SC.Following a 19-year hiatus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) reemerged in western Venezuela in December 1992. This outbreak is important in understanding VEE emergence because phylogenetic studies imply that sympatric, enzootic, subtype ID VEE viruses mutated to generate the epizootic/epidemic. Although the 1992-1993 strains belong to subtype IC, a serotype implicated in extensive outbreaks during the 1960s and in 1995, relatively small numbers of human and equine cases occurred in 1992-1993. We, therefore, evaluated the pathogenicity of these Venezuelan enzootic ID and epizootic IC viruse...
Seidl AF, Moraes AS, Silva RA.The impact of three treatment strategies for Trypanosoma evansi control on horse mortality in the Brazilian Pantanal based on four size categories of cattle ranches is explored. The region's 49,000 horses are indispensable to traditional extensive cattle ranching and T. evansi kills horses. About 13% of these horses would be lost, annually, due to T. evansi if no control were undertaken. One preventive and two curative treatment strategies are financially justifiable in the Pantanal. The best available technology for the treatment of T. evansi from a horse mortality perspective is the preventi...
Pearson H, Weaver BM.The paper reports 6 cases of priapism with subsequent protrusion and paresis after neuroleptanalgesia and anaesthesia in horses. Five were ultimately treated by amputation of the penis but the sixth horse is responding satisfactorily to conservative treatment at the time of writing. Causative factors, preventive measures and possible methods of treatment are discussed.
Boussauw BH, Domingo R, Wilderjans H, Picavet T.Six of eight horses with caecocolic intussusception were treated successfully by jejuno- or ileocolostomy. The other two horses were euthanased during surgery. Four of the six horses survived long term, but two died within two-and-a-half months, of problems related to the surgery. Compared with other techniques for treating caecocolic intussusception, jejuno- or ileocolostomy reduces surgical time and decreases the risk of abdominal contamination.
Aitken MR.The following article provides an overview of the last 5 years of research and innovation within the field of equine colic surgery, focusing on new techniques, new or recently described lesions, prevention of lesion recurrence or postoperative complications, and updates in prognoses. Early surgical intervention is an important factor in horse survival.
Badial PR, Oliveira-Filho JP, Winand NJ, Borges AS.Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is a genetic disorder that occurs in the American Quarter horse (AQH) and is caused by a c.115G>A missense mutation in the peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB) gene. Using a quantitative real-time PCR high resolution melting analysis genotyping assay for the PPIB mutation, the estimated HERDA allele and carrier frequencies in a sample of Brazilian AQHs were 2.9% and 5.8%, respectively.
Strootmann T, Spitzbarth I, Della Tommasa S, Brehm W, Köller G, Troillet A.Research and provision of data on macrophages by cytological synovial fluid analysis and light microscopy in horses with septic arthritis MATERIAL AND METHODS: Records of 167 synovial fluid samples were evaluated and subdivided into different groups: (1) non-septic, (2) haematogenous septic arthritis in foals and (3) traumatic/iatrogenic septic arthritis. The effect of joint lavage on synovial fluid cytology and on the occurrence of macrophage phenotypes was investigated. Results: Regardless of aetiology and age of the horse, macrophage concentrations in synovial sepsis are decreased to a medi...
Huskamp B.The paper considers the general principles of intestinal surgery in the horse and illustrates a theatre layout suitable for this purpose. The problems of locating and reducing obstructions of the small and large intestine are discussed, with particular emphasis on incarcerations of the small bowel and the techniques of jejunal and ileal re-implantation after bowel resection.
Dawson FL, Durrant DS.Seventy-three samples of serum, from 69 horses and one zebra, were subjected to the Rose Bengal Plate, serum tube agglutination, complement fixation, and anti-equine globulin (Coombs') tests for brucellosis. Fifty-one of the samples, from 48 horses, were submitted by practising veterinary surgeons; of these, 22 samples were associated with clinical conditions which might have been due to brucellosis. Fourteen samples were from healthy horses known to have been in contact with infected cattle, and six were from horses which were known not to have been exposed to brucellosis. More reactions at a...
Geiser DR, Walker RD.The pathophysiology and histopathology of thermal burns in large animals is very similar to that in humans. Burns are classified as first degree, superficial and deep second degree, third degree, and fourth degree, depending upon the depth of thermal injury. Most severe burns will produce a local and a systemic response--both of which must be properly treated to increase the patient's chances for survival. The systemic response is mainly characterized by hypovolemia, fluid and electrolyte loss, protein loss, pulmonary edema, increased caloric requirements, and depressed immune responses. The l...
Kaiser A, Meier HP, Straub R, Gerber V.Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a reportable, eradicable epizootic disease caused by the equine lentivirus of the retrovirus family which affects equids only and occurs worldwide. The virus is transmitted by blood, mainly by sanguivorous insects. The main symptoms of the disease are pyrexia, apathy, loss of body condition and weight, anemia, edema and petechia. However, infected horses can also be inapparent carriers without any overt signs. The disease is diagnosed by serological tests like the Coggins test and ELISA tests. Presently, Switzerland is offi cially free from EIA. However, Switz...
Barr B.Diarrhoea is a common problem in the neonatal and suckling foal. In certain circumstances supplemental nutrition is necessary depending on the age of foal, severity of diarrhoea and presence of other systemic manifestations. Nutritional supplementation can be provided either enterally or parenterally. Enteral nutrition is superior to parenteral nutrition because it is the most natural and physiologically sound means to provide nutritional support. Parenteral nutrition may be warranted if the foal is unable to receive or tolerate enteral nutrition. Dextrose alone or with amino acids and lipids ...
Eastman TG, Honnas CM, Hague BA, Moyer W, von der Rosen HD.To determine long-term prognosis for horses with laminitis treated by deep digital flexor (DDF) tenotomy and to identify factors affecting success of the surgical procedure. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 35 horses with laminitis treated by DDF tenotomy between 1988 and 1997. Methods: Information was obtained from individual medical records and follow-up telephone interviews with owners and referring veterinarians. Cumulative proportions of horses that survived 6 months and 2 years after tenotomy were determined. Effect of Obel grade of lameness on 6-month and 2-year survival and effec...
Rantanen NW.Ultrasound examination offers important diagnostic and prognostic information in renal disease of the horse. Differentiation between acute nephrosis and chronic renal disease can usually be made because of the advanced degree of morphologic change usually prevalent in chronic conditions. Dilatations of the recesses and pelvis (hydronephrosis) as well as the relative thickness of the renal cortex and medulla are readily determined. Mineral densities (calculi) are recognizable by their characteristic acoustic shadowing.