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.
Wong D.The clinical signs of horses diagnosed with equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) and the events surrounding their diagnosis are described. This was the site of the first case of EI diagnosed outside of the Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station. The clinical data demonstrate the rapid spread of the disease after a sufficient viral load had developed from the initial cases within CPEC.
Frazer JL, Perkins NR, Pitt D.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak, infected horses were quarantined at Morgan Park Recreational Grounds (MPRG) near Warwick, Queensland. Some individuals caring for horses were reported to have made return journeys between MPRG and home properties containing other horses during the time there was active infection at MPRG. Objective: A retrospective cohort study to assess the biosecurity and hygiene measures undertaken and their outcomes. Methods: All individuals recorded as being responsible for caring for one or more horses at MPRG, and who were also recorded on entry and exit lo...
Garner MG, Cowled B, East IJ, Moloney BJ, Kung N.To use modelling and epidemiological analyses to assess the effectiveness of control strategies employed during the equine influenza outbreak and determine if early vaccination might have had a beneficial effect. Methods: Transmission of infection was modelled using stochastic, spatial simulation, based on data from 16 regions in New South Wales and Queensland over the first month of the outbreak. Results: The model accurately represented the spread of infection in both space and time and showed that vaccination strategies would have reduced new infections by ∼60% and reduced the size of the...
Happold J, Rubira R.This study included 10 large Thoroughbred horse studs in the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales and in southeast Queensland, Australia. The aims were to describe the EI epidemic in studs in the Special Restricted Area (Purple Zone) of NSW, to estimate seroprevalence among different groups of horses on these studs and to look for evidence of exposure to EI virus in horses on 'vaccinated' studs in southeast Queensland that were thought to have remained free of infection. As serology results from Queensland suggest that vaccination may have reduced the sensitivity of clinical surveillance to ...
Perkins NR, Webster WR, Wright T, Denney I, Links I.At the time of the initial notification of the occurrence of equine influenza (EI) in Australia in August 2007, vaccination was restricted to horses for which it was an import requirement and only with the approval of the state or territory Chief Veterinary Officer. This paper describes the complexities involved in the selection of a vaccine and its distribution. A combination of ring, predictive and blanket vaccination was implemented during the response. The specific vaccination programs, including its use in buffer zones and for movement of horses, the performance of the vaccine, any advers...
Smyth GB, Dagley K, Tainsh J.We estimate and describe the financial costs of the equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, including the costs of emergency response measures and lost income/assets to businesses, associations and private horse owners. Costs to associations, governments and industry are discussed. We identify a lack of reliable data about the financial costs of the EI outbreak to the non-racing sectors of the horse industry.
Bell IG, Drury-Klein C.To analyse horse event and horse movement registration data collected between September 2007 and December 2008 during the outbreak of equine influenza in New South Wales, Australia. Results: A total of 9356 events were registered, involving 504,382 horses and 242,952 riders. Registered horse movements totalled 224,084, involving 349,327 horses (excluding mobs) travelling 34.4 million km with an average of 154 km per journey. The number of recorded events and movements were low while movement controls were most stringent, then increased from December 2007 as restrictions were eased, to peak in ...
Kirkland PD.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, diagnostic laboratories and the use of appropriate tests played a pivotal role in the response to the crisis. This role began with the detection of EI virus in New South Wales (NSW) on the evening of 24 August 2007 and culminated in providing the final 'proof of freedom' from EI in March 2008. The tests that were used during the EI response were able to provide results quickly, and with high sensitivity and specificity. This section of the supplement describes the roles and functions of the Australian laboratories; tests used and the...
Brown L, Townsend W, Waltisbuhl D.The unique challenges that laboratories in Queensland and New South Wales faced during the response to the 2007 equine influenza outbreak and how these were managed are described.
Croft MG, Fraser GC, Gaul WN.A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) was used to manage the laboratory data and support planning and field activities as part of the response to the equine influenza outbreak in Australia in 2007. The database structure of the LIMS and the system configurations that were made to best handle the laboratory implications of the disease response are discussed. The operational aspects of the LIMS and the related procedures used at the laboratory to process the increased sample throughput are reviewed, as is the interaction of the LIMS with other corporate systems used in the management...
Webster WR.In August 2007 equine influenza (EI) was diagnosed in Australia's horse population following the failure to contain infection in quarantine after the importation of one or more infected horses. The response had many unique features, and addressed financial, social, economic, human and animal health, trade and recovery issues. The outbreak and the associated control measures had a vast impact on individual horse owners, the horse industry and associated sectors in both infected and uninfected states.
Morton JM, Dups JN, Anthony ND, Dwyer JF.The risk of individuals becoming infected during an epidemic of infectious disease can vary as the disease progresses. Monitoring this risk may provide information about the dynamics of transmission. This study describes the epidemic curve for an epidemic of equine influenza (EI) in a closed population of horses predominantly immunologically naïve to EI at a 3-day event at Morgan Park in southern Queensland, Australia. The hazard function suggested that a subset of horses were at reduced risk of becoming infected. This highlights the importance, when modelling infectious disease in population...
Moloney B, Sergeant ES, Taragel C, Buckley P.Equine influenza (EI) was first diagnosed in the Australian horse population on 24 August 2007 at Centennial Park Equestrian Centre (CPEC) in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. By then, the virus had already spread to many properties in NSW and southern Queensland. The outbreak in NSW affected approximately 6000 premises populated by approximately 47,000 horses. Analyses undertaken by the epidemiology section, a distinct unit within the planning section of the State Disease Control Headquarters, included the attack risk on affected properties, the level of under-reporting of affected pr...
Milner PI, Sidwell S, Talbot AM, Clegg PD.Primary lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) within the digit are an important cause of lameness diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but appearance of these lesions over time has not been documented. Objective: To determine whether the magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of different primary DDFT lesions alter over a 6 month period and whether lesion type is a determinant of these changes. Methods: Cases included had lameness attributable to a primary lesion involving the DDFT in the digit diagnosed on MRI. Lesions were typed into parasagittal, dorsal border and core le...
Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, McKane SA, Chandler KJ, Pinchbeck GL.Previous studies suggest that owners underestimate or incorrectly recognise or report health problems in geriatric horses. However, few studies have directly compared owner-reported and veterinary assessed disease. Objective: To compare the findings of veterinary clinical examination of geriatric horses with owner-reported clinical signs and disease. Methods: A total of 200 horses aged ≥ 15 years were randomly selected to receive a veterinary examination, from responses to a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey. Veterinary examinations were performed within 2 months of questionnaire r...
Suthers JM, Christley RM, Clutton RE.To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of two commonly used recovery quality scoring systems and compare them with those of a novel system based on a greater number of objective criteria. Methods: The video-recorded recoveries of ten client-owned horses selected from all recovery recordings taken between September 2005 and March 2006 at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Methods: A digital versatile disc (DVD) was produced using edited video recordings of ten horses recovering from general anaesthesia. Twelve experienced equine anaesthetists (raters) studied the DVD on thr...
Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, McKane SA, Chandler KJ, Pinchbeck GL.Geriatric horses (aged ≥ 15 years) represent a substantial proportion of the equine population, yet few studies have investigated the prevalence of diseases within this population in the UK. Objective: To describe the findings of veterinary clinical examination of 200 geriatric horses and ponies in north west England and north Wales, and to assess the effect of animal age and type (horse or pony) on the presence or absence of clinical signs and veterinary diagnosed health problems. Methods: From responses to a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey of owners of geriatric horses (n = 918...
Savini G, Afonso A, Mellor P, Aradaib I, Yadin H, Sanaa M, Wilson W, Monaco F, Domingo M.Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an infectious non-contagious viral disease transmitted by insects of the genus Culicoides which affects wild and domestic ruminants. The causative agent, the epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), belongs to the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus and shares many morphological and structural characteristics with the other members of the genus such as bluetongue, African horse sickness and equine encephalosis viruses. In recent years EHD outbreaks have been reported in countries bordering the European Union. They caused disease in cattle and severe r...
Wylie CE, Proudman CJ, McGorum BC, Newton JR.Equine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Great Britain (GB). The first nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS was developed to obtain information on the occurrence of EGS and to help facilitate future proposed intervention studies, such as vaccine trials. Objective: To collect both retrospective and prospective data on cases of EGS occurring in GB since 2000 and to assess potential risk factors for categories of EGS and survival after chronic EGS. Methods: Prospective data were collected using a nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS that was developed and in...
Smith KC.Respiratory disease is an important cause of wastage in the Thoroughbred industry and is a cause of welfare problems in all types of horse. This review concerns developments in our understanding of equine respiratory disease since 1998 and illustrates how strategic funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board has contributed to this understanding.
Roberts H, Lopez M, Hartley M.African swine fever in the Caucasus and Leningrad regions of Russia. Equine infectious anaemia in several EU member states. Foot-and-mouth disease in Bulgaria--the first in an EU member state since 2007. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in the Far East. West Nile virus in southern Europe. These are among matters discussed in the international disease monitoring report for October to December 2010, prepared by Defra's Food and Farming Group, Veterinary Science Team.
Jönsson L, Dalin G, Egenvall A, Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Philipsson J.Disturbances in skeletal development, primarily osteochondrosis (OC) and palmar/plantar osseous fragments (POF), have been commonly reported as problems in young horses. However, there are few reports of such findings for epidemiological analyses or breeding purposes. Objective: To evaluate equine hospital data as a possible source of information for genetic evaluations by estimating prevalence and heritability of OC in the stifle, hock and fetlock joints and of POF in the fetlock. Methods: Data on Swedish Warmblood (SWB) horses were obtained from a large equine hospital in south Sweden. Preva...
Silver IA, Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) was established in 1961 and launched the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) in 1968. This review outlines some of the major advances in equine science and practice that have occurred in that time and the role played by the Journal in facilitating those developments.
Menzies-Gow NJ, Young NJ.Enterococcus faecium, a major cause of potentially life-threatening hospital-acquired human infections, can be resistant to several antimicrobials, such that streptogramin quinupristin-dalfopristin (Q/D) is one of the few antibiotics still effective. Consequently use of the streptogramin virginiamycin as an animal growth promoter was banned in the EU in 1999 as some believed this contributed to the emergence of Q/D resistant E. faecium. Virginiamycin is advocated for preventing equine pasture-associated laminitis, but its effect on equine faecal bacterial Q/D resistance has not been determined...
Dunkel B, Chaney KP, Dallap-Schaer BL, Pellegrini-Masini A, Mair TS, Boston R.Intestinal hyperammonaemia (HA) has been infrequently reported in individual horses; however, there have been no studies describing clinical and laboratory data as well as short- and long-term outcome in a larger number of cases. Objective: To describe clinical and laboratory data and short- and long-term outcome in a large group of horses with intestinal HA. Methods: Multi-centred, retrospective study; case records of horses with HA were reviewed and any horse with a clinical or post mortem diagnosis of intestinal HA was included. Hyperammonaemia was defined as a blood ammonium (NH(4) (+)) co...
Kamath PL, Getz WM.Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes are central to vertebrate immune response and are believed to be under balancing selection by pathogens. This hypothesis has been supported by observations of extremely high polymorphism, elevated nonsynonymous to synonymous base pair substitution rates and trans-species polymorphisms at these loci. In equids, the organization and variability of this gene family has been described, however the full extent of diversity and selection is unknown. As selection is not expected to act uniformly on a functional gene, maximum likelihood codon-based models o...
Dong J, Liu G, Gao N, Suo J, Matthijnssens J, Li S, Yuan D, Du Y, Zhang J, Yamashita N, Haga T, Cook FR, Zhu W.In contrast to horses, the only evidence suggesting gastrointestinal disease in neonatal donkeys is associated with Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) is the detection of viral antigens by ELISA in just 1 of 82 symptomatic donkey foals. No additional, more comprehensive investigations have been conducted, and RVAs if circulating in donkey populations have not been molecularly characterised. Objective: To investigate if RVAs are associated with an outbreak of severe enteritis in neonatal donkeys and if associated determine the genotype(s) along with the phylogenetic relationship to RVA strains circulat...
Jago RC, Handel I, Hahn CN, Pirie RS, Keen JA, Waggett BE, McGorum BC.Objective criteria for predicting survival of chronic grass sickness cases are currently lacking. Objective: To determine whether the rate and/or magnitude of bodyweight change during hospitalisation of chronic grass sickness cases can provide an objective predictor of survival to discharge from hospital. Clinicians' recorded indication(s) for euthanasia were also reviewed. Methods: Single centre retrospective observational study. Methods: Case records of all horses admitted for management of chronic grass sickness to The Dick Vet Equine Hospital between 1998 and 2013 were analysed. Case backg...
Hanson RR, Schumacher J, Humburg J, Dunkerley SC.To evaluate clinical and laboratory findings for horses treated medically for ileal impactions. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 10 horses with primary ileal impaction that were treated successfully with medical treatment alone. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for all horses with naturally developing ileal impaction seen at our hospital between 1990 and 1994. Results: Transrectal palpation revealed an impaction in the midabdominal area in all horses. Generalized distention of the small intestine was evident in 6 horses, whereas 4 horses were examined early in the course of t...
Shah MH, Ijaz M, Ahmed A, Aziz MU, Ghaffar A, Ghauri HN, Naveed M.Theileriosis is an important disease of economic significance which badly affects the equine husbandry of developing countries. The present study was planned to investigate the molecular prevalence of theileriosis, associated risk factors, and alterations in hematological parameters of donkeys and mules from district Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. Blood samples from 150 equids (n = 75 donkeys; n = 75 mules) were examined microscopically, and the genomic DNA from each sample was processed for the amplification of the 18S rRNA gene of Theileria. The polymerase chain reaction confirmed isolates we...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC, Swerczek TW, Crowe MW.A total of 396 Thoroughbreds (86 males, 293 females, and 17 geldings) in Kentucky, 1 to 30 years of age, were examined at necropsy for presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata (2 female horses were not examined) in the cecum for lesions of Draschia megastoma in the stomach, during the 1-year period of Mar 1, 1982 through Feb 28, 1983. Prevalence of A perfoliata was 53% and of lesions of D megastoma was 63%. All lesions of D megastoma were partially or entirely in the glandular region of the stomach. Distances of the midpoint of these lesions from the margo plicatus varied from 0 to 290 mm. The cen...
Calloe K, Rognant S, Friis S, Shaughnessy C, Klaerke DA, Trachsel D.The voltage-gated K-channel K11.1 has a central role in cardiac repolarization. Blockage of K11.1 has been linked to severe cardiovascular side effects, such as acquired long QT syndrome (aLQTS), torsade de pointes arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death (SCD). K11.1 is susceptible to unspecific drug interactions due to the presence of two aromatic amino acids residing in the inner vestibule of the pore. These aromatic residues are also present in the equine orthologue of K11.1. This suggests that equine K11.1 may also be prone to high-affinity block by a range of different chemical entities, whic...
Garbin LC, Contino EK, Olver CS, Frisbie DD.Hemoderivatives such as autologous conditioned serum (ACS) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been used as potential disease-modifying therapies in musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis (OA). These therapies are based on the delivery of multiple growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are known to participate in inflammatory processes. The variability of cytokine content due to the autologous nature of the product, the non-availability for immediate use and need for storage at low temperatures are limitations for its use in the field. An allogeneic freeze-dried conditio...
Vlaminck LE, Huys L, Maes D, Steenhaut ML, Gasthuys F.To evaluate the effect of alveolar bone substitute on post-extraction drift of maxillary cheek teeth in ponies. Methods: In vivo longitudinal experimental study. Methods: Five ponies (5-7 years) with a healthy dentition. Methods: Both maxillary 4th premolar teeth (Triadan 08) were surgically removed. One alveolus was filled with a biocompatible non-resorbable bone substitute (Bioplant 24), whereas the other healed by second intention. A polyvinylsiloxane plug and spring wire isolated the bone substitute from the oral environment. Pathologic changes to dentition and adjacent soft tissue were re...
Gugliandolo E, Barbagallo A, Peritore AF, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R.Background: Four show jumping horses were evaluated for non-responsive lameness, which caused their withdrawal from show jumping competitions. The clinical evaluation was performed by radiographic examination, flexion tests, diagnostic anesthesia and lameness evaluation using the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale. The diagnoses were a case of navicular syndrome, a complicated case of chronic navicular syndrome and arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right anterior limb and two cases of distal intertarsal joint arthritis. Nutraceuticals are often an impo...
Blackburn NK, Swanepoel R.During the nine years from October 1972 to September 1981 African horse sickness (AHS) virus was isolated from 23 suspected cases of the disease in Zimbabwe and complement fixation antibody titres indicative of recent infection were detected in a further 49 horses. The 23 isolations belonged to seven of the nine known serotypes of AHS virus. In response to a questionnaire in 1980 the owners of 20% (1,654/8,000) of the horses in Zimbabwe indicated that they had recorded 207 cases of clinically diagnosed AHS with 107 deaths from 1975 to 1980. Fifty-six cases with 50 deaths had occurred in foals ...
Haerdi-Landerer MC, Habermacher J, Wenger B, Suter MM, Steiner A.The search for an effective treatment for septic arthritis is ongoing. Current therapies are expensive since they require repeated joint lavage and long term antibiotic treatment. Local application of antimicrobial drugs is advantageous because high concentrations can be attained at the infection site, although repeated injections increase the risk of superinfection of the joint. Thus, slow release formulations, which have the advantage of local treatment yet single application of the drug, are appealing. Antibiotics used in slow release formulations are selected for tissue compatibility, an a...
McDonough PL, Shin SJ, Timoney JF.The salmonella serotypes isolated during 1978 to 1983 at the diagnostic and clinical laboratories of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine from animal sources in New York state were reviewed and compared to earlier data from New York state animals and to national data for both human and animal sources. A total of 255 salmonella strains were studied from the six year period and included 33 serotypes. Salmonella enteritidis ser Typhimurium continued to be the most commonly reported serotype followed by serotype Anatum. Generally serotypes from New York state animals reflected nationa...
Malbon AJ, Dürrwald R, Kolodziejek J, Nowotny N, Kobera R, Pöhle D, Muluneh A, Dervas E, Cebra C, Steffen F, Paternoster G, Gerspach C, Hilbe M.Borna disease (BD), a frequently fatal neurologic disorder caused by Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), has been observed for decades in horses, sheep, and other mammals in certain regions of Europe. The bicoloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) was identified as a persistently infected species involved in virus transmission. Recently, BoDV-1 attracted attention as a cause of fatal encephalitis in humans. Here, we report investigations on BoDV-1-infected llamas from a farm in a BD endemic area of Switzerland, and alpacas from holdings in a region of Germany where BD was last seen in the...
Norred WP, Voss KA.Fumonisins are secondary metabolites of Fusarium moniliforme , Fusarium proliferatum and several other Fusaria that commonly contaminate corn. Only recently discovered in 1988, these mycotoxins appear to be the causative agents of several toxicoses in animals that result from ingestion of moldy corn or corn-based feeds. The syndromes observed vary considerably among the different species affected and include brain lesions in equids, lung edema in swine, and nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and hepatocellular carcinoma in laboratory rats. There is also evidence that suggests that F. moniliforme a...
Pusterla N, Leutenegger CM, Barnum S, Wademan C, Hodzic E.Equine respiratory viruses remain a leading cause of equine morbidity and mortality, with the resurgence of certain infections, an increasing population of elderly, more susceptible horses, the growth of international equine commerce, and an expansion in geographic distribution of pathogens. The focus of rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases has also shifted recently, with the appearance and increasing importance of nucleic acid amplification-based techniques, primarily polymerase chain reaction (PCR), at the expense of traditional methods such as clinical microbiology. While PCR is fast, rel...
Cook BR.Twenty-five years ago Williams and Sweatman suggested that in Great Britain there are two subspecies of Echinococcus granulosus--E. granulosus granulosus and E. granulosus equinus. Echinococcus granulosus granulosus does not mature either in foxes or in horses: E. granulosus equinus will mature in either. The prepatent period of E. granulosus granulosus in the definitive host is about 42 days while that of E. granulosus equinus is about 70 days. Each subspecies has a characteristic morphology. More recently, in the course of seven experiments, dogs, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes crucigera), arctic ...
D'Alessandro WB, Humber RA, Luz C.Two isolates of Beauveria bassiana and one of Purpureocillium lilacinum (=Paecilomyces lilacinus) were found infecting Amblyomma cajennense engorged females collected on horses (0.15% infection rate from a total of 1982 specimens) and another two isolates of P. lilacinum and one Metarhizium anisopliae detected in soils (2.1% from 144 samples) collected in typical pasture habitats of this tick in Central Brazil from October 2009 to March 2011. Fungi were isolated from soils with Rhipicephalus sanguineus as surrogate baits. No fungi were found in ticks or soils during the driest months (May to A...
Yang G, Zhou B, Chen K, Hu Z, Guo W, Wang X, Du C. () and () are the causative pathogens of Equine piroplasmosis (EP), a disease that has brought huge economic losses and great restrictions to the global equine industry. Rapid and accurate diagnostic methods are critical for the effective monitoring of the disease. In this study, we developed novel competitive ELISA methods and western blot assays based on the EMA1 or Bc48 proteins to detect antibodies against or , respectively. In the novel cELISA, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled monoclonal antibodies are used in place of enzyme-conjugated secondary antibodies, in order to speed up th...
Tamamura-Andoh Y, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Uchida-Fujii E, Arai N, Watanabe-Yanai A, Iwata T, Akiba M, Kusumoto M.Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae have become a cause for great concern. Although some studies have reported the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria and ESBL-encoding genes in horses worldwide, the genetic structure surrounding the ESBL gene has not been analysed in detail. In the present study, we isolated two ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains from diseased racehorses in Japan and demonstrated the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Two ESBL-producing E. coli strains (E148 and E189) were isolated from th...
Paré J, Carpenter TE, Thurmond MC.To determine whether clustering existed in the spatial or temporal distribution of horses that shed Salmonella krefeld in their feces during hospitalization. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records. Methods: 219 horses housed in the intensive care unit of a veterinary medical teaching hospital from October 1991 through May 1992. Methods: Bacteriologic culturing of fecal samples was used to identify horses shedding S krefeld. For affected horses, the scan statistic was used to analyze temporal clustering, and Knox's method was used to analyze temporal-spatial clustering. Results: 20 ...
Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ.A pigment retinopathy has been reported in adult horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) arising from chronic α-tocopherol (α-TP) deficiency. A pigment retinopathy has not been identified in horses with neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) that affects genetically susceptible young horses with α-TP deficiency. The objective of this report is to describe, for the first time, a pigment retinopathy in a family of α-TP-deficient Warmbloods (WB) with clinically apparent NAD/EDM or EMND. Unassigned: Twenty-five WB horses from one farm underwent complete ...
Dieckmann HG, Costa LRR, Martínez-López B, Madigan JE.To describe an animal health database used to facilitate effective disaster response and retrospective analysis of data concerning animals other than cats and dogs affected by the 2018 California Camp Fire. Methods: Veterinary medical entries (n = 206) for evacuated or rescued animals (151) of various species, including avian, bovine, camelid, caprine, equine, ovine, and porcine species, temporarily housed at the Butte County fairgrounds in Gridley, Calif. Methods: Case data were collected via a standardized form by volunteers with the University of California-Davis Veterinary Emergency Respon...
Glass K, Barnes B.When novel disease outbreaks occur in livestock, policy makers must respond promptly to eliminate disease, and are typically called on to make control decisions before detailed analysis of disease parameters can be undertaken. We present a flexible metapopulation model of disease spread that incorporates variation in livestock density and includes occasional high-mixing locations or events, such as markets or race meetings. Using probability generating functions derived from this branching process model, we compare the likely success of reactive control strategies in eliminating disease spread...
Huhmann R, Mueller RS.Topical application of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has shown satisfactory results in dogs and humans with allergic skin diseases. Urea and glycolic acid act as keratolytics and moisturizers. Culicoides hypersensitivity is the most common equine hypersensitivity disorder and only limited treatment options exist. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a cream containing topical PUFAs, humectants and emollients on clinical signs of equine Culicoides hypersensitivity. Methods: Privately owned horses (n = 28) with clinical signs of Culicoides hypersensitivity. Methods: For a period of four ...
Dipeolu OO, Adeyefa CA.Ticks of the species Amblyomma variegatum (Fabr.), Boophilus decoloratus (Koch), Boophilus geigyi Aeschl. et Morel, and Hyalomma rufipes Koch were detached from cattle, sheep and horses and the influence of these various hosts on the biology of ticks was investigated. No A. variegatum was found in horses. The parameters studied were preoviposition and oviposition periods, ovipositional capacity, eclosion period, hatching patterns, egg sizes and temperature effect. Although the preoviposition and eclosion periods were similar in each tick species irrespective of the host from which the adults w...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Swerczek TW, Crowe MW, Tolliver SC.At necropsy of 49 Thoroughbreds from farms with generally good parasite control programs in central Kentucky, examination was specifically made for presence of Strongylus vulgaris in all of the horses and of Parascaris equorum in 21 of them. None of the deaths of the horses was caused by infections of internal parasites. Visceral arteries were examined for specimens of S vulgaris and lesions related to migrating stages of this parasite. Contents of the small intestines were examined for P equorum. Specimens of S vulgaris were recovered from 19 (39%) horses, and arterial lesions were observed i...
Verney M, Grey F, Lemans C, Géraud T, Berthier D, Thévenon S, Rincé A, Hans A, Morrison L, Hébert L.Equine trypanosomosis comprises different parasitic diseases caused by protozoa of the subgenus Trypanozoon: Trypanosoma equiperdum (causative agent of dourine), Trypanosoma brucei (nagana) and Trypanosoma evansi (surra). Due to the absence of a vaccine and the lack of efficacy of the few available drugs, these diseases represent a major health and economic problem for international equine trade. Development of affordable, sensitive and specific diagnostic tests is therefore crucial to ensure the control of these diseases. Recently, it has been shown that a small RNA derived from the 7SL gene ...
Moloney B, Sergeant ES, Taragel C, Buckley P.Equine influenza (EI) was first diagnosed in the Australian horse population on 24 August 2007 at Centennial Park Equestrian Centre (CPEC) in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. By then, the virus had already spread to many properties in NSW and southern Queensland. The outbreak in NSW affected approximately 6000 premises populated by approximately 47,000 horses. Analyses undertaken by the epidemiology section, a distinct unit within the planning section of the State Disease Control Headquarters, included the attack risk on affected properties, the level of under-reporting of affected pr...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Collins SS, Drudge JH, Granstrom DE.Data are presented on the last 3 years of a 7-year study (1989-1995) on transmission of natural infections of internal parasites in horse foals (n = 27) born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. The foals were in a closed breeding herd of horses. Research on the first 4 years (1989-1992) of the study was published earlier (Lyons et al., 1991, 1994). Thirty-five species of endoparasites were identified, including 24 species of small strongyles. Monthly, seasonal, and host-age transmission patterns were elucidated for the parasites. Comparison of data betwee...
Ghoniem SM, ElZorkany HE, Hagag NM, El-Deeb AH, Shahein MA, Hussein HA.Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) biosensors can detect low viral loads and differentiate between viruses types, enabling early diagnosis and effective disease management. In the present study, we developed GNPs biosensors with two different capping agent, citrate-GNPs biosensors and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-GNPs biosensors for detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in multiplex real time PCR (rPCR). Citrate-GNPs and PVP-GNPs biosensors can detect dilution 10 of EHV-1 with mean Cycle threshold (Ct) 11.7 and 9.6, respectively and one copy as limit of detection, while citrate-GNPs and PVP-GNPs biosensors can de...
