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.
Miller RI.Although 'phycomycosis' is a common disease of horses in northern Australia little is known about the causative fungi. In this paper the laboratory methods for diagnosis are described. These revealed 38 cases caused by Pythium sp. (Hyphomyces destruens), 6 cases caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus and 2 caused by Conidiobolus coronatus. Laboratory studies on the chemotatic behaviour of zoospores of Pythium sp. showed that they were strongly attracted to both animal hairs and plant tissue. Because of this behaviour a simple baiting method using human hair was used to trap the fungus from water s...
Okladnikov GI.The main clinical varieties of spinal cord and equine tail tumors are reviewed. Of 221 cases, the progressive course of the disease was recorded in 76,9%, slow-progressive course was observed in 68,1% and rapid-progressive in 8,8% of cases. It is stressed that in the presence of the progressive course of the disease there may occur different manifestations of the tumorous process of the spinal cord, the examination of which makes it possible to improve the diagnosis, particularly in the early stage of the spinal oncological process.
Tobin T.In general, blood is the only material on which a practical pre-race testing scheme can be based. Blood testing is not as sensitive as urine testing and detects only about 66 per cent of the drugs detectable in urine. Therefore, pre-race blood testing is always performed in conjunction with post race urine testing. Because blood is easily and rapidly drawn, the use of blood samples in all post race testing schemes is recommended. Pre-race testing is also a relatively expensive proposition, but it is the only method which actually prevents the running of an illegally medicated horse.
Hinshaw VS, Naeve CW, Webster RG, Douglas A, Skehel JJ, Bryans J.Influenza outbreaks involving viruses of the H3N8 subtype (equine 2) often occur in vaccinated horses. For this reason, a series of influenza viruses of the H3N8 subtype were examined to determine if antigenic variation could be detected in isolates during the period 1963-81. Antigenic analyses with post-infection ferret sera and monoclonal antibodies showed that the haemagglutinins of recent isolates were antigenically distinguishable from the prototype A/eq/Miami/1/63 and that antigenically distinguishable groups of equine 2 viruses co-circulate in the horse population. Based on these studie...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Swerczek TW, Tolliver SC.Cambendazole (CBZ) treatments (20 mg/kg) given at 8-week intervals were used for parasite control in a breeding band of ponies (n = 33 to 43) during the period July 1974 to August 1978. Pre- and posttreatment worm egg counts on feces were used to evaluate efficacy of treatments after every 2nd treatment interval by monitoring changes in strongyle egg counts. Initially, effective reductions (expressed as 92% to 96% fewer worm eggs) were lessened to 70% by the 9th treatment (18 months) and to 28% by the 12th treatment, and thereafter, they fluctuated between 0% and 38%. Critical tests on animals...
Pascoe RR.Within a group of 130 mares which, in the event, carried twin pregnancies, 29 (22.3 per cent) produced their twins following diagnosis of a single palpable follicle at service and a single pregnancy 42 days later. The whole group of 130 twin-pregnant mares gave birth to only 17 live foals (13 per cent). Breeding results for the following season were available for 102 of these mares, when 38 (37 per cent) produced live foals. Thus over the two seasons an average 23 per cent of this group produced live foals. In a second group, comprising 70 mares, twin pregnancy had been diagnosed in all of the...
Anderson IG, Hasslinger MA.The faeces of 34 horses of the "Bavarian main and state studfarm Schwaiganger" (Group I) and 10 ponies (Group II) from various regions of the Federal Republic of Germany, were examined and 4 834 small strongyles were identified. Three species Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus longibursatus and Cylicocylus nassatus, were found to be widely distributed. Although various modern anthelmintics with different effective components were used over the past 20 years, no remarkable change has been brought about in the composition of the parasitic species of the horses in the Federal Republic of Ger...
Fletcher MA, Caldwell KE, Saez L, Latif Z.A sialoglycoprotein from horse erythrocytes was isolated in essentially homogeneous form and found to contain the neuraminidase-sensitive determinant of the horse erythrocyte for Paul-Bunnell heterophile antibodies of infectious mononucleosis. This reactivity was retained after covalent coupling of the antigen to latex particles. The latex reagent has greater stability (greater than 3 years) than either fresh or preserved horse erythrocytes. It can be used in a direct slide test; no absorption of the serum is necessary. The new test compared favorably with some standard tests for infectious mo...
Trommershausen-Smith A.Dead or deformed foals produced by purebred parents represent an economic and emotional loss to the horse breeder. To avoid repeating production of such defective foals, the breeder may seek assistance in identifying the possible environmental or genetic causes for such animals. Only a few genetic diseases of the horse have been rigorously defined. Selected rare genetic diseases that prevent reproduction, cause the natural death or necessitate the humane destruction of a foal before it fulfills its intended purpose serve as examples for the definition of genetics of other deleterious diseases ...
Easley KJ.Infertility in the mare associated with VVR must be managed as a complex problem. A complete reproductive evaluation of the mare is required to establish the cause of VVR in order for proper therapy to be recommended. Establishing a prognosis for the mare's future breeding soundness is important to the horse owner and breeding manager. VVR is almost always associated with other reproductive problems and must be dealt with in view of this.
Baird AN, Scruggs DW, Watkins JP, Taylor TS.Sixteen horses were allotted to 4 groups of 4 horses each to evaluate the effect of tendon sheath lavage with 4 solutions (balanced electrolyte solution, 0.1% povidone-iodine, 0.5% povidone-iodine, and 0.5% chlorhexidine). The synovitis caused by 0.1% povidone-iodine lavage was not appreciably worse than that caused by balanced electrolyte solution lavage, but the 0.5% povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine lavages caused severe synovitis, and, therefore, should not be used for tendon sheath lavage.
Palmer SE.Lasers have become important tools for the equine surgeon in the treatment of upper respiratory tract disease in the horse. Multiple wavelengths and delivery systems are available. Indications for the use of lasers in the upper respiratory tract primarily include minimally invasive procedures not possible with conventional surgical instrumentation. New applications for the use of lasers to treat upper respiratory disease are likely to evolve with the development and introduction of new wavelengths and delivery systems.
White ME.A complete listing of the clinical signs and diseases of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats and swine in the CONSULTANT database for computer assisted diagnosis is presented, along with the codes used to record this data. This list may be useful to those teaching, researching or writing on the diseases of domestic animals, and is of particular use to those who need such a resource for developing diagnostic coding and computer-assisted information retrieval.
Brumbaugh GW.The goal of antimicrobial drug use is quite specific. Consideration of many microbe-related, host-related, and drug-related factors is necessary for appropriate selection and use of antimicrobial drugs in equine patients. The concepts and data presented in this article demonstrate that fact. At the risk of oversimplification, "The bug denotes the drug, and the horse directs the course."
Baird AN, Freeman DE.Rectal tears have important medicolegal implications, and severe tears have a poor prognosis. Prompt diagnosis, immediate application of first aid measures, early referral, use of appropriate definitive treatments, and aggressive aftercare will improve the prognosis. The grade of rectal injury will determine the definitive treatment, but there are few guidelines to determine which treatment is best in each case. Bypass procedures, such as colostomy and indwelling rectal liner, have their own advantages and disadvantages, but can facilitate healing and prevent life-threatening complications if ...