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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.
Factors associated with equine influenza during the 2025 outbreak in a draft horse population at the Obihiro Racecourse, Japan. In April 2025, equine influenza re-emerged in Japan for the first time in 17 years, resulting in an outbreak at a horse racecourse for Ban'ei racing, a unique form of horse racing in which draft horses pull heavy sleds. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak and identify individual- and management-level factors associated with equine influenza cases in order to develop improved control programs. A retrospective analysis was conducted using clinical records reported to the racecourse authority between April 21 and June 18, 2025. Cases were defined based...
A Leptospirosis Outbreak in a Riding Stable in Central Italy. Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease of major concern for both veterinary and public health. In horses, it is associated with equine recurrent uveitis, a painful condition that may lead to blindness and affects approximately 10% of the global horse population. In May 2025, following the occurrence of three uveitis cases in a riding stable in Central Italy, 94 equine blood samples were collected and tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for spp. Antibody titres against serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae were detected in 68 horses (72.4%). An on-site investigation was condu...
Three-year evaluation of anthelmintic treatment efficacy against equine strongyles in France using FECRT. Reduced anthelmintic efficacy against strongyles in equids is a widespread concern, but up-to-date field data are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate, over a three-year period, the efficacy of the anthelmintic (AH) molecules available in France (fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin and moxidectin) against strongyles in equids using faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs). A total of 104 complete FECRTs (i.e., required sample size reached) were conducted in 98 groups, involving 749 equids kept in 70 facilities. Fenbendazole-resistant populations were detected in 8/9 groups (89%) from ...
Molecular detection of African horse sickness virus from selected areas in Ethiopia. Equines are vital to global economies and support millions of livelihoods. However, their productivity and welfare are severely hindered by infectious diseases such as African Horse Sickness, which causes major socio-economic losses in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 to isolate and detect African horse sickness virus in equines across epidemic areas of Ethiopia. In total, 30 blood samples and 2 tissue representative specimens were aseptically collected from clinically sick and recently dead animals and transported under cold chain to the National ...
Longitudinal and spatial declines in equine Hendra virus vaccination despite continued risk. Hendra virus is an emerging zoonosis endemic to Australia with high fatality of infection in horses and humans. The role of infected domestic horses as amplifying bridge hosts for onward transmission to humans led to the creation of an equine vaccine as a One Health solution against spillover. Despite the risk this disease represents, previously reported equine vaccination rates were low. This study explored vaccination trends between 2012 and 2023 at fine spatial scales and identified demographic and ecological predictors of vaccination against emerging zoonoses. Over 1 million doses of Equiv...
Seminal plasma exposure modulates peripheral T cell-associated transcription during early pregnancy in the mare. Successful establishment of pregnancy requires maternal immune tolerance to paternal antigens introduced by insemination. Regulatory T cell (Treg)-associated responses are thought to play a central role in this process, whereas pro-inflammatory T helper 1 (Th1) responses may disrupt pregnancy success. In other species, seminal plasma (SP) has been shown to modulate maternal immune adaptation; however, this relationship remains poorly defined in mares, where SP is frequently reduced during routine breeding practices. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize temporal changes in syst...
Recombinant EHV-1 Vector Expressing Immunodominant Hemagglutinin Protein of Equine Influenza Virus H3N8 (Sub-Lineage Florida Clade 2). Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and equine influenza virus (EIV) are major respiratory pathogens in horses, causing significant economic losses in domesticated horses. Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) technology can be used to precisely manipulate the EHV-1 genome for the development of live-attenuated vector vaccines. Earlier, our group developed a live-attenuated EHV-1 vaccine by deleting virulence-associated genes using this technology and the mutant EHV-1 has been exploited for expressing foreign gene in the current study. Specifically, in this study, a mutant EHV-1 virus expressing...
Preliminary Assessment on Pathogenicity of an African Horse Sickness Virus Serotype 1 Strain in Guinea Pigs and Horses. African horse sickness (AHS), a noncontagious insect-borne disease affecting equids, is caused by the African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and is associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. AHSV has nine distinct serotypes (AHSV-1 to AHSV-9). In a previous study, we characterized the genome and in vitro growth properties of AHSV/C, a cell-adapted derivative of an AHSV-1 strain imported into China 60 years ago, and verified its safety in mice. This study preliminarily explored the pathogenicity of AHSV/C in guinea pigs and horses (its natural host). Six groups of guinea pigs were ino...
Serum Electrolyte Changes in Foals Receiving Rhodococcus equi-Specific Hyperimmune Plasma. Rhodococcus equi-specific hyperimmune plasma (Re-HIP) is routinely administered to neonatal foals to help prevent rhodococcal pneumonia. In addition to pathogen-specific immunoglobulins, frozen plasma products (FPPs) contain electrolytes that may exceed concentrations found in neonatal foal plasma. Because FPPs are also used to treat failure of passive transfer and sepsis, understanding their effects on neonate homeostasis is crucial. This study evaluated the effects of administration of Re-HIP on the serum concentrations of Na, Cl, K, albumin, and globulin of healthy neonatal foals. Results: ...
Combined treatment with valacyclovir and heparin reduced the incidence of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy and improved survival in naturally occurring equine herpesvirus-1 outbreaks. Describe the effects and outcomes of valacyclovir and heparin administration in equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)-exposed horses. Unassigned: A multicenter retrospective study identified 111 horses naturally exposed to EHV-1 from August 2017 to March 2018. Equine herpesvirus-1 infection was confirmed via blood or nasal secretion PCR. Horses that developed neurologic signs were diagnosed with equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Clinical signs, treatment, and survival were reported. A subset of horses was treated with valacyclovir and heparin. Prophylactic medication administration was perf...
Development of lateral flow assays for the rapid diagnosis of glanders in equids. Glanders is a contagious zoonotic disease caused by that primarily affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It remains endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, where increasing case reports highlight the need for accessible diagnostic tools. Conventional diagnostic methods are limited by high costs and specialized laboratory requirements, whereas lateral flow assays (LFAs) offer practical, user-friendly, and rapid alternatives. In this study, we developed three LFAs targeting antibodies against the antigens Hcp1, GroEL, and whole-cell lysate (WCL), previously identifi...
Seroprevalence and risk factors of African horse sickness in equines in central Gondar, Ethiopia. African horse sickness is a severe vector-borne viral disease of equines, associated with high mortality and substantial economic losses. In Ethiopia, where equines are essential for transport and agriculture, the disease remains endemic, yet epidemiological data are limited in many areas. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and describe variation in seropositivity across selected factors in equines in the Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to August 2025, during which 384 serum samples were...
Cryo-EM structure of African horse sickness virus VP2 receptor-binding protein enables nanoparticle vaccine design. African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal equine pathogen with no licensed vaccine other than vaccines containing attenuated virus, which pose safety risks. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHSV has caused epizootics in Spain and Portugal, Cyprus, Morocco, the Middle East, India and Pakistan and, most recently, Thailand. Here, we resolve the 3.11 Å cryo-EM structure of full-length VP2 from AHSV serotype 4, adopting its native triskelion architecture and shedding light on an α-helical domain anchoring the triskelion core, which is absent in other structurally characterized orbiviruses. ...
Vietnam’s Horse Sector: A Comprehensive Review of History, Production Systems, Health Challenges, and Research Priorities. Horses in Vietnam have a long historical presence and continue to hold economic, socio-cultural, and medicinal importance across diverse regions. Despite these roles, comprehensive scientific information on equine development, including health and disease patterns, reproductive performance, genetic resources, and biomedical applications, remains limited and fragmented. In this review, we summarize existing knowledge on equine populations, production systems, and their development in Vietnam, as well as their roles in cultural practices, livelihoods, and traditional medicine. We then identify m...
[New drugs for horses and production animals in 2025]. In 2025, no novel pharmaceutical agents for horses and farm animals were introduced to the German veterinary drug market; however, the use of 2 existing active ingredients was expanded to include additional animal species. A dexamethasone preparation is now approved for use in goats, and a new product containing sodium salicylate for chickens was introduced. Oxalic acid dihydrate is now available as an impregnated strip for contact treatment. In the field of immunological veterinary medicines, a vaccine against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in cattle was approved for the first time. In a...
Risk factors for post-partum colic in a population of UK and Irish Thoroughbred broodmares. Broodmares are at increased risk of gastrointestinal colic. However, colic risk factors specific to this population have not been investigated. Objective: To investigate horse- and management-level risk factors for post-partum colic in a cohort of Thoroughbred broodmares in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Methods: Prospective, nested case-control study. Methods: Twenty-nine Thoroughbred stud farms in the United Kingdom and Ireland were recruited, and 1044 mares were followed over the 2021 and/or 2022 foaling seasons. Data were collected on signalment, medical and management history for post-pa...
First serological evidence of circulation of equine rhinitis A virus and molecular detection of equine rhinitis B virus in horses in North Africa. Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) are major respiratory pathogens of horses with a global distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time in Algeria, the seroprevalence of ERAV antibodies, and to investigate a wide range of equine viruses (EIV, EHV-1, EHV-4, ERAV and ERBV). A total of 298 serum samples were collected between May 2022 and October 2023, from 11 provinces. Serological analysis for the presence of ERAV was performed using the complement fixation test (CFT). Our results revealed that 16.8% (50/298) samples tested positive for ...
Integrative Advances in Equine Genomics From Reference Assemblies to Evolutionary History and Key Traits. Horses are major domestic animals and cultural symbols that have accompanied humans for millennia. They underpin transport, agriculture, warfare and sport, and also provide a model for studying domestication, complex traits and adaptive evolution. Recent work in equine genomics has now generated a much richer picture of how these roles are grounded in the genome. This review brings together advances in several connected areas: the construction and refinement of reference assemblies; genomic reconstructions of origin, domestication and dispersal; global and regional patterns of genetic diversit...
Current consensus and controversies in equine parasite control. Julia Shrubb, chair of CANTER - Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly - takes a look at where there is currently agreement on equine parasite control practices and where debate is ongoing.
Clinical Signs of Liver Disease in Horses. Clinical signs associated with liver disease in horses are often a reflection of underlying hepatic dysfunction but typically vague rather than pathognomonic. Many observed clinical signs are subtle or not recognizable in the early stages of liver disease and thus may appear acute in onset despite an underlying chronic condition. Clinical signs reported in horses with liver disease include hyporexia or anorexia, weight loss, changes in demeanor, hepatic encephalopathy, colic signs, icterus, photosensitization, diarrhea, clinical coagulopathies, ascites, peripheral edema, steatorrhea, pruritus,...
A retrospective study of morbidity and mortality in captive Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii) between 1973 and 2021. Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) were declared extinct in the wild in 1996, but reintroduction programmes initiated in 1997 have enabled the re-establishment of free-ranging populations. The maintenance of healthy captive populations remains essential to support these conservation efforts, yet systematic pathological investigations in captive Przewalski's horses are lacking. This study provides the first necropsy-based overview of morbidity and mortality in a captive European population. Pathology reports from 64 horses examined between 1973 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Acros...
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...
