The study of diseases in horses encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting equine health, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic abnormalities. These diseases can impact various systems within the horse, such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, and can lead to significant health challenges. Research in this area focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of equine diseases. Common diseases studied include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, and laminitis. This page provides access to peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies of diseases in horses, contributing to the advancement of equine veterinary medicine.
Bakheit MA, Torra D, Palomino LA, Thekisoe OM, Mbati PA, Ongerth J, Karanis P.Three LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification) assays were applied to detect Cryptosporidium species DNA in a total number of 270 fecal samples originating from cattle, sheep and horses in South Africa. DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of fecal material. Results of LAMP detection were compared to those obtained by nested PCR targeting the Cryptosporidium 18 small subunit rRNA (18S) gene. All samples were negative by nested PCR, while up to one-third of samples were positive by LAMP assays. The SAM-1 LAMP assay, shown to detect C. parvum, C. hominis and C. meleagridis, amplified Cryptospor...
Knubben JM, Gygax L, Auer J, Fürst A, Staᆲher M.Through a written questionnaire, which was sent to a representatively distributed and randomly selected sample of Swiss horse owners, data of 2912 horses and ponies were acquired to extrapolate prevalence data of health disorders. General questions about the horse and associated factors of housing and use, as well as questions about the current health status and the occurrence of diseases and injuries had been asked. 718 horses (24.7% of the sample) had been examined by a veterinarian within the 12 months prior to the survey. Orthopaedic and traumatic disorders (41.5%) had the largest proporti...
Knubben JM, Gygax L, Staᆲher M.A survey of 2559 stables, representative for Switzerland, was conducted in the year 2004, with questions related to age, sex, breed, housing conditions, social contact, use, feeding, ability to move freely on the one hand, and health prophylaxis and health disorders in the past 12 months on the other. With a respond rate of 30.9% to the questionnaire, data for 2912 horses and ponies were recorded. The data were compared to a previous survey of 1997 (Bachmann & Stauffacher, 2002). In this study, data on population, housing and use were analysed. The proportion of horses kept individually, e...
Bemis DA, Bryant MJ, Kania SA, Newman SJ.Based on the scarcity of reports in veterinary medicine literature, it appears that Arcanobacterium spp. are rarely isolated from horses. Recently, a single isolate from vaginal discharge in a mare was characterized as a new species, Arcanobacterium hippocoleae. The present report describes a case of necrosuppurative placentitis and stillbirth in an American Quarterhorse mare. Numerous colonies of irregular, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria were observed by histological examination within fibrin lattice associated with placental lesions. Arcanobacterium hippocoleae was isolated in large numb...
DebRoy C, Roberts E, Jayarao BM, Brooks JW.Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) strains carrying distinct virulence attributes are known to cause diseases in humans and animals and infect organs other than the gastrointestinal tract. A fatal case of bronchopneumonia in a 12-year-old female Quarterhorse was investigated. Following postmortem examination, E. coli, Enterococcus sp., and Klebsiella pneumonia were isolated from the lungs, which contained multifocal intra-alveolar accumulations of neutrophils and macrophages with edema, hemorrhage, and fibrin. The strain of E. coli belonged to O2H21 and carried virulence genes...
Suárez-Bonnet A, Espinosa de los Monteros A, Herráez P, Rodríguez F, Andrada M, Caballero MJ.A 4-year-old female Appaloosa horse was referred to the Department of Comparative Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, with a history of colic and acute respiratory distress. At necropsy, gross lesions consisted of extensive firm, multinodular, hemorrhagic foci in fat tissues with yellow-brown discoloration. The most affected areas were peritoneal fat and perirenal, epicardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissues. Other findings were hepatic lipidosis and multiple 1-1.5 cm hemorrhagic foci scattered in both lungs. Histopathological examination revealed severe degeneration and necrosis of adipose tissue...
Fernández-Pinero J, Fernández-Pacheco P, Rodríguez B, Sotelo E, Robles A, Arias M, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM.A highly sensitive and specific TaqMan-MGB real-time RT-PCR assay has been developed and standardised for the detection of African horse sickness virus (AHSV). Primers and MGB probe specific for AHSV were selected within a highly conserved region of genome segment 7. The robustness and general application of the diagnostic method were verified by the detection of 12 AHSV isolates from all of the nine serotypes. The analytical sensitivity ranged from 0.001 to 0.15 TCID(50) per reaction, depending on the viral serotype. Real-time PCR performance was preliminarily assessed by analysing a panel of...
Kormann DC, Locatelli-Dittrich R, Richartz RR, Antunes J, Dittrich JR, Patrício LF.In order to evaluate the seroprevalence and the dynamic of anti-Neospora antibodies in pregnant mares, serum samples from 14 animals in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th month of pregnancy were analyzed using indirect immunofluorescense technique. Samples diluted 1:50 showed higher seroprevalence on the 8th month (57%) and higher seropositive conversion on the 10th month. 85,7% of the mares were positive for Neospora sp. on at least one month of pregnancy, and seven from that total were positive on the 11th month, three of which showed the highest titles of 1:200 and 1:400. For the samples diluted 1...
Do Nascimento AG, Marchesan AL, Xavier BL, De Faria FR, De Almeida KM, Sato MO.The occurrence of nematodes in horses of Northern Region, State of Tocantins was studied. Fecal samples were collected from 70 horses and 31 donkeys, in a total of 101 animals of different ages, in the municipalities of Nova Olinda, Araguanã, Babaçulândia and Santa Tereza. Fecal examination was carried out for counting of eggs per gram of faeces, identification and quantification of larvae, diagnosis of habronemosis and lungworms. Significant occurrence of large and small strongyles and Dictyocaulus sp. was observed but no Habronema spp. larvae was detected.
Ferraro CC, Kloss AB, De Souza DF, Deconto I, Biondo AW, Molento MB.The carthorses are used as an alternative for people of low income for collecting recyclable material. However, these horses are managed without proper assistance, suffering several problems, among them the parasites. In this study we used 41 animals, their body condition score and other parameters were analyzed and parasite egg count was performed from fecal samples. It was determined the absence of eggs on 12% and parasite infection in 88%. Strongylids were found in all contaminated animals, often associated with oocysts or Parascaris equorum. This condition may be due to poor nutritional ma...
Santos TM, Santos HA, Massard CL.The aim of this study was to demonstrate, through nested PCR (nPCR) method, the occurrence of congenital babesiosis in two foals born of carrier mares. All mares were positive for T. equi based in visualization of intraerytrocytic parasites in blood smears, in indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and nPCR reactions. Just one mare was nPCR-positive for B. caballi. After the birth, all foals presented nPCR-positive for T. equi, while just one foal presented nPCR-positive for B. caballi. The present study prove the occurrence of congenital babesiosis in new-born foals, however, new studies a...
De Almeida JC, Augusto Mde M, Da Silva TG, De Toledo PS, De Souza DF, Antunes J, Molento MB.The objective of this work was to determine the quantitative prevalence of Anoplocephala sp. in thoroughbred horses raised in São José dos Pinhais, PR using the modified centrifugal-flotation technique. Repeatability values for the eggs per gram (EPG) were evaluated at 28-day intervals. The coproparasitological tests were made in 28 one-year old animals, 25 two-year old animals and 28 mares during the 2007 period of January 31st and June 15th. In the comparison of EPG, all mares presented low values than the foals (P = 0.04). The prevalence results indicated 50, 18 and 40% Anoplocephala sp. ...
Hoffmann C, Bazer FW, Klug J, Aupperle H, Ellenberger C, Schoon HA.Although alterations in patterns of protein secretion revealed in uterine flushings from mares suffering from endometrosis have been described, little is known about alterations at the cellular level. Hence, the aim of this study was to characterize deviations in patterns of uterine gland secretion patterns using endometrial biopsies, histochemical and newly established immunohistochemical methods. Forty-eight endometrial biopsies were obtained from mares suffering from various types of endometrosis (active and inactive, destructive and non-destructive) and degree (mild to severe) were analyze...
Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic infections of human being and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found worldwide from Alaska to Australia. Public health organizations repeatedly encourage the collection of accurate data about T. gondii in animals and humans due to its medical importance as a major source of parasitic zoonosis. For these reasons, epidemiological updates on toxoplasmosis in livestock are strongly advised also to plan control strategies. In the present paper, seroprevalence data on T. gondii that have been recorded in livestock from diffe...
Young R, Taylor JE, Kurioka A, Becker M, Louis EJ, Rudenko G.African trypanosomes (including Trypanosoma brucei) are unicellular parasites which multiply in the mammalian bloodstream. T. brucei has about twenty telomeric bloodstream form Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) expression sites (BESs), of which one is expressed at a time in a mutually exclusive fashion. BESs are polycistronic transcription units, containing a variety of families of expression site associated genes (ESAGs) in addition to the telomeric VSG. These polymorphic ESAG families are thought to play a role in parasite-host adaptation, and it has been proposed that ESAG diversity might ...
Polkes AC, Giguère S, Lester GD, Bain FT.Neonatal foals with isoerythrolysis (NI) often die, but the risk factors for death have not been identified. Objective: To identify factors associated with outcome in foals with NI and to identify factors associated with death from liver failure or kernicterus in the same population. Methods: Seventy-two foals with NI examined at referral institutions. Methods: Retrospective case series. Information on signalment, clinical examination findings, laboratory testing, treatment, complications, outcome, and necropsy results were obtained. Results: The overall survival rate was 75% (54 of 72). Liver...
Castagnetti C, Veronesi MC.In the foal, the most common neonatal diseases are responsible for an high non-survival rate. Since intensive care for neonatal foals is usually very expensive an early prognosis for survival at admission or during hospitalization is recommended, as well as a prognosis for future athletic potential. Therefore, prognostic factors for prematurity, septicaemia, other infectious diseases and hospitalized foals are revised and discussed on the base of literature and authors experiences. The advantages and limitations of retrospective and perspective prognostic factors is also presented, and the pos...
Kruger K, Saulez MN, Neser JA, Solberg K.Lead (Pb) intoxication in horses is usually a chronic phenomenon with clinical signs associated with central nervous dysfunction. This report gives details of a case of acute Pb intoxication in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred mare with severe, progressive and ultimately fatal neurological deterioration. During the 4 days of hospitalisation, clinical signs progressed from intermittent headshaking and depression to severe, continuous, uncontrollable manic behaviour. At autopsy, three grey-coloured, hard metal particles were present in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently found to contain...
Hyera JM, Baipoledi EK.A retrospective serological survey of African horse sickness (AHS) in Botswana covering a 10-year period (1995-2004) is reported. The survey involved horses showing clinical symptoms of the disease; the horses had not been vaccinated against AHS. Over the period surveyed, serological evidence suggestive of infection with AHS virus (AHSV) was found in 99 clinical cases out of which 41.4% (41/99) cases were found during the 1st half (1995-1999) and 58.6 % (58/99) cases were found in the 2nd half of the survey period (2000-2004). These serological findings are discussed in relation to AHSV seroty...
Ross WA, Kaneene JB.To evaluate outbreaks of disease attributable to eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in horses in Michigan, and the associated environmental patterns and weather conditions, so that factors could be identified that may have predisposed horses in specific areas of the state to infections with EEEV. Methods: Epidemiologic retrospective records analysis. Methods: Data on EEEV vectors, wild-bird reservoir hosts, and incidental hosts, including horses and human beings, obtained from census reports and medical records compiled between 1942 and 1991. Methods: Patterns detected during outbreaks o...
Miley KM, Downs J, Beeman SP, Unnasch TR.Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), an Alphavirus from family Togaviridae, is a highly pathogenic arbovirus affecting the eastern United States, especially Florida. Effects of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), precipitation, and cooling degree days on EEEV horse case data in Florida from 2004 to 2018 were modeled using distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs). The analysis was conducted at statewide and regional scales. DLNMs were used to model potential delayed effects of the covariates on monthly counts of horse cases. Both models confirmed a seasonal trend in EEEV transmission and...
Hagiwara K, Okamoto M, Kamitani W, Takamura S, Taniyama H, Tsunoda N, Tanaka H, Iwai H, Ikuta K.To investigate the prevalence of diseases in the Borna disease virus (BDV) antibody positive race horses, we undertook seroepidemiological studies of BDV infection on 125 culled race horses in Hokkaido, Japan. The serological study disclosed the presence of antibodies only to BDV-p40 or -p24 in 19.2% (24/125) and 3.2% (4/125) of culled horses, respectively. Antibodies to both BDV-p40 and -p24 were found in 24.0% (30/125) of these horses. Of particular note was the finding that locomotorium disorders were detectable at a significantly higher rate in BDV antibody positive horses than that in the...
Freestone JF, Hietala S, Moulton J, Vivrette S.A 7-year-old horse with no previous history of illness was determined to have a systemic infection of Rhodococcus equi. Rhodococcus equi was isolated from blood, tracheal fluid, and feces. Lymphopenia, failure to respond to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin lymphocyte stimulation testing, decreased concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgA, and IgG, low R equi antibody titer, histologic depletion of lymphoid tissue, and a failure to respond to antigenic stimulation led to the conclusion that both humoral and cell-mediated immunity were compromised. No cause for the acquired immunodeficie...
Van Loon G, Deprez P, Muylle E, Sustronck B.Two horses were presented with complaints of chronic weight loss and subcutaneous oedema, one of them presenting diarrhoea. Both animals were grazed with other unaffected horses, all of them being regularly dewormed. Blood chemistry revealed hypoalbuminaemia and a low albumin-globulin ratio. Faecal egg counts were negative and no cyathostome larvae could be found in the faeces. Neither of these horses could be saved, despite intensive treatment. Postmortem examination revealed severe typhlitis and colitis due to numerous inhibited cyathostome larvae.
Bannai H, Kambayashi Y, Nemoto M, Yamanaka T, Tsujimura K.Using 85 sera collected from horses that had been experimentally infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and 200 field sera collected from racehorses in Japan, we compared 4 agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) kits for serologic detection of EIAV antibodies from Idexx, VMRD, IDvet, and the National Engineering Research Center of Veterinary Biologics, China (NECVB). The positive control lines were sufficiently clear in all kits for evaluation to be made, with slight differences in sharpness: NECVB was the sharpest, followed by VMRD, IDvet, and Idexx. The test results for all 285 samples...