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Topic:Disease Prevention
Disease prevention in horses encompasses strategies and practices aimed at minimizing the occurrence and spread of infectious and non-infectious diseases within equine populations. These practices include vaccination programs, biosecurity measures, and regular health monitoring. Vaccination helps to stimulate the horse's immune system to protect against specific pathogens, while biosecurity measures, such as quarantine and sanitation, reduce the risk of disease transmission. Regular health monitoring, including physical examinations and diagnostic testing, aids in early detection and management of potential health issues. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various methods and their effectiveness in preventing diseases in horses, as well as the development and implementation of prevention programs in different equine settings.
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices for equine Endoparasite control among livestock owners in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. Endoparasites are a major health concern affecting equine productivity and welfare worldwide. Understanding farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward parasite control is critical for designing effective interventions. This study assessed KAP levels among farmers in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, and identified factors associated with good KAP. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 farmers. KAP scores were initially categorized into three levels (low, moderate, and high) and analyzed using chi-square (χ) tests to explore bivariate associations....
Molecular prevalence of equine herpesvirus type 1 and equine herpesvirus type 4 in thoroughbred and Arabian horse facilities in Türkiye. Equine herpesvirus-1 and -4 are contagious viruses causing respiratory disease and reproductive losses in horses. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in eight Turkish stud farms using RT-PCR analysis of nasal secretions, uterine fluids and aborted foal tissues. Deep nasal swabs were collected from 443 horses showing acute-onset fever and/or clinical signs of respiratory disease. Additionally, uterine swabs and tissue samples (lung, liver, spleen, thymus, kidney, heart) were obtained from 152 abortion cases. Among symptomatic horses, EHV-1 DNA was found in 2 cases (0...
Cross-protective effect of a multicomponent fusion protein vaccine during a natural episode of Streptococcus zooepidemicus respiratory disease in ponies. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is a highly diverse opportunistic pathogen of horses, associated with respiratory disease and endometritis. Objective: To characterise S. zooepidemicus isolates recovered from young ponies during a natural episode of respiratory disease, and to determine if vaccination with Strangvac®, a vaccine against Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, conferred cross-protection. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a double-blinded placebo-controlled study involving 32 ponies (16 vaccinates and 16 placebo controls) that experienced a natural episode of respiratory...
Pathology of sudden death in racehorses: a review. Sudden death (SD) is the second most important syndrome associated with death in racehorses. The cause of SD in a large number of horses remains undetermined, and, in many of these cases, causes are not found by gross or microscopic postmortem examinations. Among the known causes of SD are traumatic injuries, including fractures of skull, neck, and pelvis; intoxications (e.g., anticoagulant rodenticides); and others. For many cases of SD in which no significant lesions are found, heart failure, probably associated with arrhythmias, is suspected. Precise phenotypic characterization of SD in hor...
Estimating the economic value of working donkeys in Ethiopia. There is limited empirical evidence on the quantitative economic contribution of donkeys to livelihoods, leading to their undervaluation and exclusion from policy. Here an enterprise budget analysis is embedded within a stochastic dynamic population model for three production systems in Ethiopia to evaluate system inputs, outputs and the economic contribution of donkeys. The model was parameterised using data from household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews, supplemented by literature. The economic value of donkeys' (unpaid) homestead and agricultural services was e...
Evaluation of two point-of-care molecular diagnostic platforms for rapid detection of equine Hendra virus. Hendra virus (HeV) is a lethal zoonotic pathogen endemic to eastern Australia, posing significant risks to equine and human health. Rapid field detection of HeV enables timely intervention and outbreak management. This study evaluated candidate point-of-care (POC) molecular diagnostic platforms for HeV detection in equine samples: including a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (DARQ RT-LAMP) assay and real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Comparative analytical evaluation demonstrated that RT-qPCR exhibited superior analytical sensitivity relativ...
Integrative and conjugative elements carrying high-level gentamicin resistance genes in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis from horses. In streptococci, the acquisition of high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) abolishes the synergy with beta-lactams, constituting a medical concern for humans and animals. This synergy between gentamicin and beta-lactams is useful to treat severe infections like endocarditis, among others. HLGR has been characterized mostly in roup B Streptococci mediated by the bi-functional gene (6)-(2).HLGR- subsp. () (=27) were isolated from the uterus of mares during a routine screening before fecundation. One HLGR- was isolated from a lymph node of a mare. The mares resided in six different studs locat...
Surveillance of equine glanders in India (2019-2023): Prevalence estimate, risk analysis and future strategy. Equine glanders, a notifiable zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, continues to pose a significant health and regulatory challenge in India. This study summarizes the outcomes of a nationwide sero surveillance programme conducted between January 2019 and December 2023 to assess the distribution and temporal trends of glanders in equid populations. A total of 158,798 serum samples collected from 391 districts across 19 states and three union territories were screened using Hcp1-based indirect ELISA, followed by confirmatory testing through the complement fixation test. During the fiv...
Horse Welfare 12: A Human Behavior Change Framework for Improving Horse Welfare. To improve horse welfare do we need more science or a different scientific approach? For over 40 years researchers have called for change to improve horse welfare. During this time, publications have grown exponentially, improving our understanding of horse's needs and the need for change. However, the translation of science into practice is arguably too slow, and yet, there is scant industry-specific research to guide change efforts. To assist behaviour change research, this paper recasts an influential, highly regarded systems thinking framework, the Meadows 12, for the horse industry as the...
Investigation of Metformin Contamination in Horses: Implications for Environmental Exposure and Doping Control. Metformin is a diabetes medication with minimal therapeutic efficacy in veterinary medicine. However, recently there have been several adverse analytical findings in regulatory samples collected from racehorses. Metformin is commonly prescribed to humans, is excreted unchanged in urine, and is resistant to environmental degradation, raising concerns with respect to environmental contamination. In this study, six horses were exposed to shavings contaminated with metformin-positive urine at concentrations of 10, 135, and 270 μg/mL. Blood (plasma, serum, whole blood, and red blood cells) and u...
Growth kinetics of Taylorella equigenitalis and its survival in straw-based bedding. Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis, is a fastidious bacterium with limited tolerance to extra-host conditions; however, quantitative data on its growth dynamics and survival outside the host remain scarce. This study evaluated the growth of T. equigenitalis under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions in liquid medium and its survival in wet and dry straw-based bedding under controlled laboratory conditions.Growth was assessed at 20 °C and 37 °C using real-time optical density monitoring and viable cell counts. No proliferation was observed at 20 Â...
Proteomic signatures of equine dental tooth tissues in ageing and disease. Ageing and dental disease in horses lead to structural and functional deterioration of dental tissues, yet their molecular signatures remain poorly characterised. Understanding how these processes alter the protein composition of enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp is essential for improving equine oral health and identifying biomarkers of degeneration. Objective: To characterise the proteomic profiles of equine dental tissues and determine age- and disease-associated changes, with the aim of identifying proteins consistently altered across conditions. Methods: Ex vivo proteomic study. Methods: ...
CXCL16-associated genetic susceptibility to equine viral arteritis in export-bound horses from Spain. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) remains a relevant health and economic concern due to the ability of some infected stallions to establish long-term persistent infection with equine arteritis virus (EAV). Allelic variation in the CXCL16 gene has been identified as a determinant of susceptibility or resistance to the carrier state, positioning genotyping as a useful tool for risk-based reproductive and health management. Objective: To characterise the distribution of CXCL16 genotypes in export-bound horses from Spain and to assess the utility of CXCL16 genotyping for EVA prevention and control. Met...
Immunization of Foals with Equine Rotavirus A Vaccine Can Stabilize or Increase Rotavirus-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Titers. Despite a monovalent G3P[12] ('G3') vaccine being available for horses, equine rotavirus A (ERVA) is still the predominant infectious pathogen causing diarrhea in foals in the United States of America (U.S.). Previous research has shown that maternal neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers are too high and will interfere with the vaccination of foals at 30 and 45 days of age. We aimed to determine if it is possible to increase NAb titers in foals through vaccination before they are vulnerable to ERVA infection. We immunized two foals with the commercially available vaccine (G3) at solely three mont...
Clinical audit on antimicrobial stewardship effectiveness in reducing antimicrobial-resistant bacterial colonisation in hospitalised horses. International guidelines support the One Health approach and recommend antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) in veterinary medicine. National data on antimicrobial-resistant bacterial colonisation rates (AMRb CR) in horses remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ASP in reducing AMRb CR in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital using a clinical audit. Methods: Clinical audit. Methods: In Autumn 2021 active AMR surveillance in Perinatology/Reproduction and Internal Medicine Units planned; January-July 2022-first audit cycle (A1); Autumn 2022-review and implementation of anti...
Mitochondrial dysfunction in equine ageing: Current evidence and clinical implications for geroscience. Ageing is a complex biological process affecting a growing geriatric human and equine population worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered one of the hallmarks of ageing, representing a multifaceted process. This review synthesises current findings on mitochondrial dysfunction in aged equines, drawing parallels with human medicine and identifying current knowledge gaps. Integrating findings from human and equine research may bridge existing challenges and offer new opportunities, including the development of novel translational models for ageing research. Furthermore, it highlights th...
The impact of barefoot racing in young Swedish trotters on career length. In several European countries, racing without shoes, i.e., barefoot, is a common strategy in trotting races to improve the speed of the horse. Why some trotters can race barefoot without damage to the hoof from excessive wear and others cannot, has been shown to partly be explained by differences in hoof composition. In particular, durable hind hooves are believed to be important to sustain racing without shoes. Also, variation in the proportion of the races the horse races with barefoot hind hooves, has been shown to be affected by genetic differences in Swedish Standardbred trotters (SB) and...
Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from members of the families camelidae and equidae worldwide: a systematic review. Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with a global distribution and significant public health and veterinary treatment implications. The present systematic review collates worldwide information on the genotypic diversity of T. gondii isolates infecting Camelidae (camels, alpacas, llamas, etc.) and Equidae (horses, donkeys, zebras, mules, etc.) and highlights their potential role as sentinels of environmental contamination and zoonotic spread. An exhaustive literature search of six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) from ...
Accuracy of large language model-based artificial intelligence tools for equine topics. Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms are becoming increasingly popular as resources for equine information. However, these platforms generate responses from a wide range of sources and do not always distinguish between fact and opinion. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy and quality of AI-generated answers to equine-related questions. Researchers hypothesized that AI platforms could answer basic equine questions effectively but would perform poorly on complex topics or questions. Methods: Forty questions were written covering general horse care, facilities mana...
In vitro cultivation of Trypanosoma equiperdum: Comparison of in vitro and in vivo antigens for an ethical and sustainable serological diagnosis of Dourine. The protozoan Trypanosoma equiperdum is the causative agent of Dourine, a contagious sexually transmitted disease of equines that can manifest itself in chronic or acute form. Dourine has serious veterinary and economic implications, as there are no vaccines available for prevention and the management of the disease requires the culling of infected animals, together with rigorous sanitary control measures. This study compares the traditional production of T. equiperdum antigen grown in vivo, with an in vitro cultivation methodology developed to eliminate the use of animals. The in vitro and in...
Horse racing towards antibiotic resistance. Accompanying animals as a source of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a significant issue in modern infectious medicine and veterinary science, with animals, including horses, playing a crucial role in its dissemination. Antibiotics, used both for treatment and prevention of diseases in animals, influence the composition of the microbiota and promote the selection of resistant strains that can be transmitted to humans through direct or environmental contact. Horses, currently classified as companion animals, serve as a reservoir of commensal and pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains capable of horizontal gene transfe...
Glanders: Past, Present and Future of a Neglected Zoonosis as a Threat in Veterinary and Human Health. Burkholderia mallei is the causative agent of glanders, a serious zoonotic disease of major concern for both animal and human health. This highly contagious and potentially fatal bacterium is always classified as a biothreat agent. In this review, we covered a comprehensive overview of glanders, including the biology of the pathogen, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control strategies and ongoing eradication programs in Eurasia. We also summarized human case reports, differential diagnosis, treatment and organism's antimicrobial properties. The section on vaccine development is among the...
Autochthonous Leishmaniosis in Dogs, Cats, Horses, and Wildlife in the United States of America. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 99 countries worldwide, including the United States of America (USA). Its causative pathogens, spp. have been detected in both humans and animals within the USA. Lately, we have comprehensively reviewed autochthonous leishmaniasis in humans in this region. Animals play a pivotal role in maintaining its endemicity in some endemic areas and regions, for example, dogs in Brazil and the Mediterranean. In this review, we thoroughly examine autochthonous leishmaniosis in dogs, cats, horses, and wildlife in the USA, and we synthesize integration across species, transmissi...
Multivalent Disabled Infectious Single Animal (DISA)-DIVA vaccine for all nine serotypes of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is broadly protective in IFNAR (-/-) mice. African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly severe, midge-borne disease of equids showing a mortality rate of > 90% in naive domestic horses. Outbreaks are caused by AHS virus (AHSV) and result in devastating economic losses in developing countries as equids play a crucial role in the agricultural industry and many households. The AHSV species encompasses nine serotypes showing no or limited cross protection, which is challenging regarding AHS vaccine development. Recently, and like bluetongue virus (BTV), the AHS Disabled Infectious Single Animal (DISA)-DIVA vaccine platform was developed...
HERDA-associated variant in bull-catching (vaquejada) Brazilian Northeastern bull-catching Quarter Horses. Bull-catching (vaquejada) accounting for approximately 13% of sport horses in Brazil. Genetic screening has enabled strategies to reduce the spread of inherited disorders, including Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA), a major skin disease included in the Six Panel required for registration by the Brazilian Quarter Horse Breeders Association. Although the HERDA-associated variant has been extensively studied in other disciplines, it had not been evaluated in Bull-catching Quarter Horses (QH). Objective: The present study aimed to determine the allele frequency of the pathogenic ...
An overview of the livestock microbiome: sheep, horses, cattle, camels, and chickens. The animal microbiome plays a crucial role in determining the health, productivity, and welfare of livestock species, including sheep, horses, cattle, camel, and chicken. These animal species were selected due to the high consumption of their products in Kazakhstan. Enhancing their productivity, while maintaining the safety and quality of meat and milk derived from them, represents a pressing research priority. This review article includes current research on the composition, diversity, and purposes of the microbiota found within different organ systems of these species. This study focuses on ...
Equine Salmonella in Argentina: Genetic relatedness with humans and other animal species and first detection of serovar Freetown. Salmonellosis in horses can cause severe enteritis with diarrhea, fever, and colic, which is usually severe in foals and hospitalized or immunocompromised animals. Carrier horses may intermittently shed Salmonella, thereby acting as a source of infection for other animals and humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and molecular subtyping of Salmonella spp. in horses from Argentina, focusing on potential zoonotic relevance. Only a single isolate (S. Newport) was obtained from fecal samples of 249 clinically healthy horses (2018-2022), indicating a very low carrier detec...
Multi-Modal Feature Fusion and Hierarchical Classification for Automated Equine-Human Interaction Behavior Recognition. Automated recognition of equine-human interaction behaviors from video represents a significant challenge in computational ethology, with critical applications spanning animal welfare assessment, equine-assisted services evaluation, and safety monitoring in equestrian environments. Existing approaches to animal behavior recognition typically focus on single species in isolation, rely solely on facial expression analysis while ignoring full-body posture, or employ flat classification architectures that fail under the severe class imbalances characteristic of naturalistic behavioral datasets. Fu...
Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring antibodies against VP8∗ receptor binding domain of equine rotavirus A. Equine rotavirus A (ERVA) poses a significant threat to foal health, necessitating reliable serological tools for assessing protective immune responses. This study focused on the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of antibodies against the VP8∗ receptor binding core domain of ERVA. Following the expression and purification of VP8∗ receptor binding domain from the bacterial expression system, the ELISA for detecting anti-ERVA VP8∗ antibodies with VP8∗ as a coating antigen was developed and its performance was validated by the comparative anal...
