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.
Ostlund EN.Two viruses, EHV-1 and EHV-4, are now known to be responsible for disease conditions formerly considered caused by "equine rhinopneumonitis virus." Although these viruses share several laboratory and clinical features, they differ in epidemiology and pathogenic potential. EHV-4 is primarily associated with clinical respiratory disease, whereas EHV-1 is more frequently isolated from aborted fetuses, sickly foals, and neurologic cases. Both viruses frequently establish latent infections, but the relevance of latency to clinical disease is unclear. Diagnosis based on identification of the pathoge...
Hagebock JM, Chieves L, Frerichs WM, Miller CD.The agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays were evaluated as supplemental tests to the complement-fixation (CF) test, the official US importation certification test for dourine in equids. The American stabilate (n = 10 animals) or the Canadian stabilate (n = 6 animals) of Trypanosoma equiperdum cultured in rat blood was administered by catheterization and infusion in the urogenital tract of 16 equids. To assess parasitemia and serologic responses by use of the CF, AGID, and IFA tests, a total of 787 serum and blood samples were obtained from equids befor...
Peyron JG.Viscosupplementation (restoring the rheological properties of a tissue matrix) by injection of hyaluronan into the joints has been in use for 2 decades, mostly for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, using doses of 20-25 mg of hyaluronan of 500,000 to 2,500,000 M(r), in sequences of 2 to 10 weekly injections. Pain relief appears in a few days, progresses over a few weeks, and often lasts several months. Some data suggest the benefit can last 6 months to one year. Tolerance is universally reported as very good. Those responding to hyaluronan are 65-80%, compared to 30-35% responding to control. Co...
Spier SJ.Salmonellosis is the most common infectious cause of diarrhea or colitis in horses. It can be associated with high fatality rates in patients with compromised host defenses. The increasing incidence of infection and antimicrobial resistance present a challenge for the practicing veterinarians. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of salmonellosis are reviewed. Diagnosis, treatment, and control of disease are discussed.
Philpott M.This review summarizes the major infectious diseases of the three major agricultural species (cattle, sheep and pigs) and horses, and presents the evidence for and against the possibility of infectious agents being transmitted between animals via the venereal route or by the use of semen or early embryos in commercial artificial insemination (AI) or embryo transfer (ET). Cattle feature most prominently in the widespread distribution of frozen semen, and national and international organizations have set out guidelines to work towards disease-free bull studs with semen free from potential pathog...
Holyoak GR, Little TV, McCollam WH, Timoney PJ.The relationship between stage of reproductive tract maturity and susceptibility to the experimental establishment of persistent infection with equine arteritis virus (EAV) was investigated in 21 prepubertal and 15 peripubertal colts. Five of six prepubertal colts inoculated intranasally remained infected in the reproductive tract from post-challenge day 28 to 93 and two of six from post-challenge day 120 to 180. No virus was detected in five of these animals killed on post-challenge day 210. Each of two peripubertal colts remained infected in the reproductive tract at post-challenge day 60 an...
Eckert J.Selected ectoparasitoses of animals are reviewed with special reference to the situation in Switzerland. The review contains information on the parasitoses leishmaniasis of dogs, parafilariasis of equines and cattle, onchocercosis of cattle and horses, ixodiosis, demodicosis of dogs and scabies of domestic animals, fly infestation, myiasis, and infestation with fleas and black flies (simuliidiosis). In addition to information on prevalence, biology and pathogenic effects of ectoparasites, the review provides indications on diagnosis and control.
Thein P, Essich G.An investigation was carried out upon occurrence and course of infectious and non infectious diseases as well as the mortality in foals born and raised at the State Stud Marbach/Lauter between 1982 and 1991. The foals have been investigated from birth to weaning, they consisted of 177 Thoroughbred Arabians and 285 German Warmblood foals (total 462 foals). The diseases were divided into pre-, peri- and postnatal according to their known or assumed cause and onset. There was a preponderance of prenatal diseases (11.25%) whereas the perinatal rate was 1.30% and the postnatal rate of diseases was ...
Herd RP.The need for improved parasite control strategies to conserve anthelmintic efficacy and to avoid drug-related problems are addressed. Recent surveys have revealed a trend for sole dependence on ivermectin by livestock owners in the USA, with little regard for epidemiologic-based strategies, or the annual rotation of unrelated anthelmintic groups. Innovative parasite control strategies for cattle, sheep, and horses in northern USA are presented. The importance of closer monitoring and more rational use of anthelmintics is stressed.
Dyke TM, Hinchcliff KW.Ceftiohr sodium was evaluated as a therapy for respiratory
infections in horses. This cephalosporin antimicrobial was
administered intramuscularly every 24 h and at a dose of 2.2
mglkg (1.0 mgllb) of body weight. The efficacy of ceftiofur
sodium was compared with that of a positive control drug,
ampicillin sodium (recommended dose of 6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb],
given every 12 h). Both treatments were continued for 48 h
after clinical symptoms were no longer evident (maximum of
10 days). Fifty-five (55) horses with naturally acquired
respiratory infections were included in the study; 28 were
...
Jaeschke G, Lange W.In this paper three outbreaks of equine influenza in Berlin (Germany) in the years of 1988, 1989 and 1991 are discussed, reporting mainly clinical, hematological, virological and some epizootiological aspects. We have detected variations from the traditional pattern of equine influenza, whereby the main clinical symptoms like cough or fever were absent in several cases. If cough was found, it was moist. Furthermore a mucous nasal discharge was present in a number of cases for a period of 4-5 days. Extreme neutropenia, lymphocytosis and predominantly an unchanged level of monocytes were observe...
Cohen ND.Neurologic evaluation should be performed in horses with diseases of the head. Although neurologic examination should focus on assessing behavior, mental status, and cranial nerve evaluation, evaluation of neurologic function of other body regions should be performed. Neurologic evaluation of the head can be performed expediently by practitioners to provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information. The numerous causes of dysphagia can be classified as obstructive, painful, or neurogenic. Common causes of neurogenic dysphagia are summarized, and methods for initial diagnosis and management ...
Aviles G, Bianchi TI, Daffner JF, Sabattini MS.It is shown here the WEE virus activity in ARgentina in 1983-1986 post-epizootic period. A surveillance system was established by the equine case notification and the sentinel animal method. Among the thirteen equine focus notified between September 1983-September 1985 in Córdoba and Santa Fe Provinces, 5 presumptive cases out of 16 sick horses were confirmed by the hemagglutination inhibition test for WEE epizootic virus. Twenty eight notified human cases were studied with negative results. The neutralizing antibody (Ac NT) prevalence among sentinel horses in Córdoba Province (4%) was lower...
Farrar WP, Bech-Nielsen S, Gordon JC, Reed SM, Pretzman CI, Kohn CW.The purpose of this work was to study the association of positive serological titers to Ehrlichia risticii, the causative agent of equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (EME) with gastro-intestinal disorders in hospitalized horses referred to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital (OSU VMTH). In addition, serological titers for E. risticii were monitored in two horse populations with endemic EME for one season to monitor temporal changes in titers. A statistically significant difference was found between the proportion of the total hospitalized horse population pres...
Carvalho M, Derse D.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus that causes a chronic disease of horses characterized by cyclic episodes of fever, anemia, and viremia. Although the genome and promoter of EIAV are much less complex than those of its relatives the primate immunodeficiency viruses, the cellular proteins that activate and regulate transcription of EIAV have not yet been identified. In this report, we show by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting that the EIAV promoter contains multiple binding sites for ubiquitous, cell type-specific, and inducible cellular proteins...
Holman PJ, Frerichs WM, Chieves L, Wagner GG.Culture of horse blood for Babesia caballi identified four carrier horses among nine previously infected horses. Three of the carriers had no detectable parasitemias on stained blood smears, and sera from two carrier horses were complement fixation test negative. Three cultures were continuously cultivated. Cryopreserved fourth-passage B. caballi was successfully reestablished in vitro. Blood from a 10th horse previously subinoculated with blood from a suspected carrier was cultured, with negative results.
Yoxall AT.This paper is an introduction to a series of commissioned articles on therapeutic medicine to be published in Equine Veterinary Journal under differing authorship, during the next 2 years. It presents an account of fundamental concepts common to the use of all drugs and introduces some pharmacokinetic principles to which reference will be made in later articles.
Goncarovs KO, Miskovic Feutz M, Perez-Moreno C, Couetil LL.One proposed nonmedical therapy for recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses is a handheld acoustic device that propels sound waves from the nose down the tracheobronchial tree where it is intended to dislodge mucous and relax bronchospasm, permitting clearance of mucoid secretions. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this device when used as per the manufacturer's recommendations as a treatment for RAO. Methods: Nine adult horses previously diagnosed with RAO. Methods: Prospective, cross-over clinical trial. Horses were exposed to a dusty environment until airway obstru...
Lazareva Y, Rayisyan M, Mironova E.Keratitis is a common cause of eye diseases in horses, often resulting in complete loss of vision. The purpose of this article is to study the features of the clinical picture of primary and secondary keratitis in horses, depending on the form of the course of the disease. The study was conducted in 2019 at 22 private horse breeding farms. The study involved 80 horses with keratitis, which were divided into two equal groups depending on the diagnosis of primary or secondary keratitis. The effectiveness of the therapies was compared 1, 3, and 6 months after the start of treatment. Following a 1...
Roberts SJ, Hillman RB.Various common problems encountered daily pleasure horse practice will be discussed covering diagnosis, treatment and prevention.