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.
Lee CL, Zandrew F, Davidsohn I.One hundred infectious mononucleosis and the same number of non-infectious mononucleosis sera were studied to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of horse erythrocytes in the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. Titres of horse agglutinins in infectious mononucleosis sera ranged from 28 to 7,168 with a geometric mean of 550, whereas the corresponding sheep agglutinin titres ranged from less than 7 to 3,584, with a geometric mean of 126. Horse agglutinin titres of non-infectious mononucleosis sera ranged from less than 7 to 896, with a geometric mean of 59. Infectious mononucleosis sera ...
Nieto JE, Snyder JR, Vatistas NJ, Spier SJ, Van Hoogmoed L.To describe the insertion technique, efficacy, and complications associated with the use of an active (closed-suction) abdominal drain in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Animals-Sixty-seven horses with abdominal contamination treated by abdominal lavage and use of a closed-suction abdominal drain. Methods: Medical records of horses (1989-1996) that had a closed-suction abdominal drain were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone interviews with owners. Results: Sixty-eight closed-suction abdominal drains were used in 67 horses that had abdominal contamination, peritonit...
Wang T, Xi C, Yu Y, Liu W, Akhtar MF, Li Y, Wang C, Li L.Equid herpesvirus 8 (EHV-8), also known as asinine herpesvirus type 3 (AHV-3), can cause severe respiratory disease, abortion in mares, and neurological disorders. There is limited information on the prevalence of EHV-8 in donkeys in China. In this study, we investigated EHV-8 infection in donkeys using PCR, resulting in the identification of a field strain, termed EHV-8 SD2020113, which was isolated using RK-13 cells and characterized by high-throughput sequencing and transmission electron microscopy. Our data indicated that 38.7% (457/1180) of donkeys showed the presence of EHV-8 in blood sa...
Stannard AA, Cello RM.In a study of Onchocerca cervicalis infection in a sample of 100 horses from the western United States, 48 were infected. Infection was more common in older horses and occurred in both sexes equally. Data about the distribution and the concentration of microfilariae within the skin are presented. The only cutaneous pathologic change that could be attributed to microfilariae was minimal perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate. Invasion of the eye with microfilariae occurred in 60 percent of the infected horses. An attempt was not made to relate microfilarial invasion of the eye with ocular pa...
Kloock T, Pickles KJ, Roberts V, Uhlendorf F, Twele L, Wilkens HL, Stehle E, Feige K, Niebuhr T.In horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS), clinical signs are likely to be expression of neuropathic facial pain. Currently, subjective assessment of disease severity is used as measure of compromise of animal's welfare. Objective: To develop and validate a precise scoring system for TMHS: History, Rest and Exercise Score (HRE-S). The HRE-S consists of three subscores: history score (H-S), resting score (R-S) and exercise score (E-S). Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Seven masked observers with different experience used HRE-S to score 40 video recordings taken d...
Nielsen MK.Anthelmintic resistance is reported in equine nematodes with increasing frequency in recent years, and no new anthelmintic classes have been introduced during the past 40 years. This manuscript reviews published literature describing anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins, Parascaris spp., and Oxyuris equi with special emphasis on larvicidal efficacy against encysted cyathostomin larvae and strongylid egg reappearance periods (ERP). Resistance to benzimidazoles and pyrimidines is highly prevalent in cyathostomin populations around the world, and macrocyclic lactone resistance has been docume...
Xie J, Tong P, Zhang A, Yan Y, Zhang L, Song X, Chen J, Zhai S, Shaya N, Wang D, Su Z, Kuang L.In May 2018, a 8 year old thoroughbred mare died at an equestrian club in Changji, Xinjiang, China. The horse had been imported from the United States in 2013. She became pregnant in December 2016 but, after foaling, gradually lost weight and died in May 2018. This study aim to identify the pathogen, who cause of horse death, using virome. Results: We have identified an Equ1-like virus from the fecal virome of a dead thoroughbred mare in China. Full genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the virus, tentatively named "kirkovirus Cj-7-7", showed that it was closely related to kirkovirus...
Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Caldwell Barker A, Adams A.Identifying intake levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) that limit the postprandial insulinaemic response in the insulin dysregulated (ID) horse may help reduce hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL) risk. Objective: To determine if ID horses have thresholds for pure sources of starch and sugar, above which there is an augmented insulin response. Methods: Randomised crossover experiment. Methods: Fourteen adult horses (6 ID and 8 noninsulin dysregulated, NID; matched for bodyweight) were randomly fed eight dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were formulated using a base of low...
Giancola S, Hart KA.Blood culture is considered the gold standard test for documenting bacteraemia in patients with suspected bacterial sepsis in veterinary and human medicine. However, blood culture often fails to yield bacterial growth even though the clinical picture is strongly suggestive of bacterial sepsis, or contaminating organisms can overgrow the true pathogen, making accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of this life-threatening condition very challenging. Methodology for collecting blood cultures in equine medicine, and even in human hospitals, is not standardised, and many variables can affec...
Madigan JE, Pusterla N.Equine granulocytic and monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia equi and E. risticii, respectively, are seasonal diseases in horses that occur throughout the United States E. equi is transmitted by lxodes ticks and causes high fever, depression, anorexia, limb edema, petechiation, icterus, ataxia, and stiffness in gait. E. risticii, also known as the agent of Potomac horse fever, causes a febrile illness with a colitis of variable severity. Its occurrence is associated with aquatic habitats. The natural route of transmission is oral, through the ingestion of E. risticii infected trematode s...
Stepnik CT, Outerbridge CA, White SD, Kass PH.This retrospective study reports on the clinical presentation of equine atopic skin disease and evaluates response to treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) based on intradermal testing and/or serum testing. Computerized medical records from January 1991 to December 2008 yielded 54 horses included in the study. Presenting clinical signs (CS) included urticaria (n=28), pruritus (n=8) or both (n=18). Forty-one of 54 horses received ASIT, and response to ASIT (n=32) was evaluated via telephone survey. Eighty-four per cent (n=27) of owners reported that ASIT reduced their horse's CS...
O'Connor M.Zoonotic diseases are those which originate in animals but are transmitted to humans often through an intermediate host such as a wild animal. In Australia Hendra virus (HeV) is a disease of horses with occasional human fatalities and which is spread by the fruit bat. This article explores the lessons learnt from managing the Queensland outbreak of HeV in 1994. The legal framework for the notification and management of prohibited matter including zoonotic diseases in Queensland and New South Wales has been strengthened by provisions in the Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW) which create strong penalti...
Kibler ML, Pendell DL, Costanigro M, Traub-Dargatz J.Equine injury and disease cause two types of costs for those financially responsible for treating and caring for the infected horse(s); direct costs of treating the horse and indirect cost of lost use of the horse for a period of time to the user of the horse (daily horse use). Indirect costs are more difficult to estimate but pose significant financial implications for equine-owners/caregivers. Additionally, there exists a gap in existing research regarding the valuation of infectious treatment options in horses. Objective: To estimate the value a US horse-owner/caregiver places on daily hors...
Rehbein S, Lindner T, Visser M, Winter R.Faecal samples of 250 horses from farms with a known history of tapeworm infection were examined comparatively for cestode eggs using a double centrifugation/combined sedimentation-floatation technique. From each faecal sample, three 5 g and three 15 g subsamples were processed, each using either saturated NaCl solution, specific gravity (sp. g.) 1.2 [NaCl]; concentrated sugar solution, sp. g. 1.26 [sugar]; or concentrated ZnSO4 solution, sp. g. 1.3 [ZnSO4] for floatation. In total, faeces from 187 horses ( = 74.8%) tested 'positive' for Anoplocephala eggs. Percentages of samples testing '...
Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Alves RS, de Cássia Vieira Faria R, Sarandy MM, Fonseca E Silva F, Gonçalves RV.Amblyomma sculptum is frequently observed parasitizing horses, responsible for economic losses, damage to the host''s skin and transmission of pathogens. The oxidative stress profile and inflammatory mechanisms involved in this parasitism remain poorly studied. Thus, this study aimed to assess the histopathological changes and oxidative profile responses of horses in the attachment site of A. sculptum to find variations that indicate resistance and susceptibility between the breeds to this tick, based on the hypothesis that resistant animals have a greater inflammatory response and lesser numb...
Smith CS, McLAUGHLIN A, Field HE, Edson D, Mayer D, Ossedryver S, Barrett J, Waltisbuhl D.Hendra virus (HeV) was first described in 1994 in an outbreak of acute and highly lethal disease in horses and humans in Australia. Equine cases continue to be diagnosed periodically, yet the predisposing factors for infection remain unclear. We undertook an analysis of equine submissions tested for HeV by the Queensland government veterinary reference laboratory over a 20-year period to identify and investigate any patterns. We found a marked increase in testing from July 2008, primarily reflecting a broadening of the HeV clinical case definition. Peaks in submissions for testing, and visitat...
Baerg SD, Russell DA, LeVan LM, Kirker-Head CA.A 22-year-old thoroughbred gelding was presented for evaluation and treatment of chronic dental disease. The horse had a history of quidding and abnormal bite behavior. Intraoral examination revealed signs of chronic generalized gingival inflammation and severe dental caries affecting the maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth. Treatment was provided on two separate visits over an interval of four months. The first visit consisted of the surgical extraction of three unrestorable incisor teeth and restoration of six carious maxillary incisor teeth. The second visit consisted of conventional end...
Cohen ND, Carey VJ, Donahue JG, Seahorn JL, Brown SE, Riddle TW.To characterize the temporality of dates of breeding and abortion classified as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) among mares with abortions during early gestation. Methods: 2,314 mares confirmed pregnant at approximately 28 days after breeding from 36 farms in central Kentucky, including 515 mares that had early-term abortions. Methods: Farm veterinarians and managers were interviewed to obtain data for each mare that was known to be pregnant to determine pregnancy status, breeding date, last date known to be pregnant, and date of abortion. Results: Mares bred prior to April 1, 2001, app...
Findley JA, Pinchbeck GL, Milner PI, Bladon BM, Boswell J, Mair TS, Suthers JM, Singer ER.The factors associated with outcome following solar foot penetration involving synovial structures treated using endoscopic lavage have not been described in the UK population. Objective: To provide descriptive data on horses with synovial contamination or sepsis following solar penetration in 4 UK equine referral hospitals and to identify specific factors associated with the outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from 4 veterinary hospitals. Follow-up data were obtained via a telephone questionnaire. Two multivariable logistic regression models were generate...
Franzén P, Aspan A, Egenvall A, Gunnarsson A, Karlstam E, Pringle J.Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects several mammalian species, and can persist in sheep, dogs, and calves. However, whether this organism persists in horses or induces long-term clinical abnormalities is not known. Objective: To evaluate whether A. phagocytophilum can persist in horses and to document clinical findings for 3 months after complete recovery from acute disease. Methods: Five clinically normal adult horses that had recovered spontaneously from experimentally induced acute disease caused by a Swedish equine isolate of A. phagocytophilum. Methods: Horses were monitored for up to 129 d...
Laha R, Sasmal NK.This study was undertaken to detect Trypanosoma evansi infection in clinically ill cattle, buffaloes and horses that were suspected of 'surra' infection. Various diagnostic tests were utilized in order to assess the prevalence of infection in the clinically ill and 'suspected' animals. Animals in the Eastern Region of India were systematically studied for T. evansi infection, which had not been tested for previously. Examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears detected 5.3%, 9.4% and 40.6% infections; the mouse inoculation test detected 18.4%, 15.6% and 46.9% infections whereas an in-house ELIS...
Ryan AD, Gerberich SG, Alexander BH, Renier CM.Working with animals on agricultural operations is hazardous for youths. This study evaluated the associations between activities and injuries related to specific animal types. A case-control study within the Regional Rural Injury Study II included 425 youths (less than 20 years of age) with injuries related to their operation and 1,886 controls (randomly selected youths). Exposures of interest were collected for the months prior to injury events for cases and randomly selected months for controls, based on an injury incidence algorithm. Multivariate logistic regression characterized associati...
D'Anza E, Buono F, Albarella S, Castaldo E, Pugliano M, Iannuzzi A, Cascone I, Battista E, Peretti V, Ciotola F.The Pony of Esperia is an Italian autochthonous horse breed reared in the wild on the Aurunci and Ausoni Mountains. Currently, it is considered an endangered breed, as its population consists of 1623 animals. It is therefore essential to identify all aspects that can improve the management and economy of its breeding, favoring its diffusion. In this paper, the effects of intestinal strongyle infection on the chromosome stability of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was evaluated through aneuploidy and chromosome aberration (gap, chromatid and chromosome breaks, and the number of abnormal cel...
Zhang J, Timoney PJ, Shuck KM, Seoul G, Go YY, Lu Z, Powell DG, Meade BJ, Balasuriya UB.In 2006-2007, equine viral arteritis (EVA) was confirmed for the first time in Quarter Horses in multiple states in the USA. The entire genome of an equine arteritis virus (EAV) isolate from the index premises in New Mexico was 12 731 nt in length and possessed a previously unrecorded unique 15 nt insertion in the nsp2-coding region in ORF1a and a 12 nt insertion in ORF3. Sequence analysis of additional isolates made during this disease occurrence revealed that all isolates from New Mexico, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma and Idaho had 98.6-100.0 % (nsp2) and 97.8-100 % (ORF3) nucleotide identity and c...
Karasu GK, Krabbenborg R, Einspanier A, Vervuert I.This study aimed to investigate the effect of a second meal of a fibre- or starch-enriched compound feed on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in healthy horses. In a cross-over design, horses were fed either a starch-enriched compound feed (SCF) or a fibre-enriched compound feed (FCF). On days of blood collection, test diets were fed in the morning (0800 h, first meal) and a second meal was fed 510 min after the first meal was finished (second meal). Significantly higher glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were associated with SCF compared with FCF. Feeding FCF for the second meal yiel...
Dixon PM, Railton DI, McGorum BC.Examination of historical and clinical details of 270 adult horses suffering from a variety of mainly chronic pulmonary diseases showed that the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group (median age 9 years) were the oldest, and that the COPD, chronic idiopathic hypoxaemia and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) groups had the longest duration of disease (median durations 7, 12 and 9 months, respectively) with a median disease duration of 2 months for the remaining horses. A history of antecedent respiratory infection was present in 24.3% of all horses. Six out of 12 horses ...
Gysens L, Vanmechelen B, Maes P, Martens A, Haspeslagh M.Infection with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 results in the most common skin tumor of horses, termed equine sarcoid. The persistent and recurrent nature of this tumor stands in contrast to the regressive nature of BPV-1/- 2 induced cutaneous papillomas in cattle. The circulation of horse-specific BPV-1/- 2 variants within equine populations has been suggested as a possible explanation for the difference in clinical presentation of BPV-1/- 2 infection between horses and cattle. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we identified 98 complete BPV-1/- 2 genomes using a Nanopore ...
Saqib M, Muhammad G, Naureen A, Hussain MH, Asi MN, Mansoor MK, Toufeer M, Khan I, Neubauer H, Sprague LD.Glanders is a contagious and fatal zoonotic disease of solipeds caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia (B.) mallei. Although regulations call for culling of diseased animals, certain situations e.g. wild life conservation, highly valuable breeding stock, could benefit from effective treatment schemes and post-exposure prophylaxis. Results: Twenty three culture positive glanderous horses were successfully treated during a confined outbreak by applying a treatment protocol of 12 weeks duration based on the parenteral administration of enrofloxacin and trimethoprim plus sulfadiazine, ...
Martin KH, Redding LE, Boyle AG.Although equine strangles is reportable in all states, synchronous reporting of this disease does not occur across the country. States have variable regulations on reporting (actionable, notifiable, and monitored) and no mandatory comprehensive databases exist for tracking prevalence. In this study, which is a companion to our recent publication on veterinarians' opinions on this topic, we solicited equine affiliates' (including horse owners, horse business owners/trainers, breeders, and barn managers) opinions on reporting of strangles and factors influencing their opinion. A total of 518 equ...
Hardy J, Minton M, Robertson JT, Beard WL, Beard LA.The clinical findings and outcome of 161 horses diagnosed with 174 episodes of nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE) were reviewed retrospectively. The median age at presentation was 5 years (9 months to 24 years), and duration of colic was 2-92 h. Nasogastric reflux was present in 49 of 113 horses (43.4%) and was significant (> or = 21) in 32 (28.3%) horses. The recurrence rate was 13/161 (8.1%). Thirteen horses (13/174, 7.5%) had other lesions including small intestinal obstruction (4), 360 degrees large colon torsion (5), gastric rupture (2), thromboembolic colic (1) and small colon infarction (1)...
Smith BP.The science of control of infectious diseases in hospitals was born in 1847 when Semmelweis, a physician, ordered his medical students to scrub their hands in chlorinated lime water between patients and demonstrated that this simple procedure resulted ina dramatic decline in patient morbidity and mortality. In the late nineteenth century came huge breakthroughs in the understanding that microorganisms cause many disorders, and methods to eliminate and control these microorganisms were attempted. By 1910, sterile instruments, gowns, masks, and gloves had become standard for surgical procedures ...
