Topic:Epidemiology

Molecular species determination of cyathostomins from horses in Ireland.
Veterinary parasitology    March 15, 2024   Volume 328 110168 doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110168
Byrne O, Gangotia D, Crowley J, Zintl A, Kiser L, Boxall O, McSweeney D, O'Neill F, Dunne S, Lamb BR, Walshe N, Mulcahy G.Cyathostomins are globally important equine parasites, responsible for both chronic and acute pathogenic effects. The occurrence of mixed infections with numerous cyathostomin species hinders our understanding of parasite epidemiology, host-parasite dynamics, and species pathogenicity. There have been few studies of cyathostomin species occurring in horses in Ireland, where temperate climatic conditions with year-round rainfall provide suitable conditions for infection of grazing animals with bursate nematodes. Here, we amplified and sequenced the ITS-2 region of adult worms harvested at post-...
Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Mongolian horses.
Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases    February 15, 2024   Volume 119 105571 doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105571
Otgonsuren D, Amgalanbaatar T, Narantsatsral S, Enkhtaivan B, Munkhgerel D, Zoljargal M, Davkharbayar B, Myagmarsuren P, Battur B, Battsetseg B....Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses. Because of its impact on horse industry, control of this disease is crucial for endemic countries. The control of equine piroplasmosis may be influenced by the genotypic diversity of T. equi and B. caballi. Mongolia, a country with a thriving livestock industry, is endemic for T. equi and B. caballi. However, nationwide epidemiological surveys have not been conducted to determine the current status of infections and genetic diversity of these two parasite species. Therefore, the objective of th...
First report of Besnoitia bennetti in Irish donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease in Europe.
Irish veterinary journal    February 14, 2024   Volume 77, Issue 1 2 doi: 10.1186/s13620-024-00263-2
Tinkler SH, Villa L, Manfredi MT, Walshe N, Jahns H.This is the first report of Besnoitia bennetti in donkeys in Ireland. B. bennetti, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite specific to equids, is an emerging pathogen in Europe. This parasite forms chronic intracytoplasmic cysts in cells of the mesenchymal lineage, mainly fibroblasts, in the skin, sclera and mucosa. Clinical signs in affected equine hosts vary from mild to severe debilitating disease. Little is known of the phylogeny, epidemiology or transmission of B. bennetti infection in donkeys, mules or horses. Methods: Two cases of besnoitiosis in donkeys are presented. Both donkeys were born...
Epidemiology of horse trauma: a literature review. Neville EK, Hicks H, Neville CC.Horses are used for many recreational and occupational activities. They are large, strong, temperamental, and unpredictable animals and people involved with them are at risk for injuries, from minor abrasions to severe injuries that may lead to death. This review reports on horse trauma in relation to the characteristics of injured equestrians, characteristics of horse trauma, and clinical outcomes. Methods: A literature search was conducted from health-related electronic databases to identify studies from 2018 to 2023. The search returned 115 relevant full-text articles but after screening an...
Comparative molecular epidemiology, subtype distribution, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in Equus animals (horses, donkeys, and mules) in northwestern Iran.
Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases    January 6, 2024   Volume 106 102124 doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102124
Asghari A, Yousefi A, Mohammadi MR, Badali R, Shamsi L, Ku00f6seou011flu AE, Abbaszadeh A, Shams M, Mohammadi-Ghalehbin B.A total of 500 fecal samples were collected from Equus animals in six different cities (Ardabil, Namin, Nir, Meshginshahr, Germi, and Khalkhal) of Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran, with 200 samples from horses, 200 from donkeys, and 100 from mules. Of the horse samples, 100 were from racing horses under special monitoring and care, while the remaining 100 were from non-racing horses, including those used for herding or in rural areas. All fecal samples were examined for the presence of Blastocystis sp. using PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA gene's barcode region after DNA extraction. The m...
Epidemiology of horse pythiosis in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso: Exploring the host-parasite-vector relationship.
Journal of equine veterinary science    December 4, 2023   Volume 132 104976 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104976
Dos Santos CEP, Loreto ES, Zanette RA, Santurio JM, Marques LC.Horse pythiosis is considered an endemic disease in the Brazilian Pantanal region, causing devastating health and economic losses. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of pythiosis epidemiology, map the distribution of horse body lesions, and investigate the correlation between these lesions and warm body surface areas, potentially implicating hematophagous vectors in the disease's transmission. A prospective study was conducted on equids in the Pantanal Mato-grossense and adjacent areas from 2012 to 2022, with 112 horses and three mules diagnosed with pythiosis. Clinical and epidemio...
Epidemiology and pathogenicity of M. equirhinis in equine respiratory disorders.
Veterinary microbiology    November 22, 2023   Volume 287 109926 doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109926
Martineau M, Kokabi E, Taiebi A, Lefebvre S, Pradier S, Jau00ff M, Tardy F, Leon A.Mycoplasmas are pathogens involved in respiratory disorders of various animal hosts. In horses, Mycoplasma (M.) equirhinis is the species most frequently detected in clinical respiratory specimens, with a prevalence of 12-16%, but its clinical implication in equine respiratory disorders remains unclear. Here we screened 1948 clinical specimens for the presence of M. equirhinis. The samples were both tracheal washes (TW) and bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) collected by veterinarians in France in day-to-day work between 2020 and 2022. The samples were associated with a standardized form that serve...
Strains of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from horses in Ohio are related to isolates from humans in the northeastern USA.
Microbiology spectrum    October 26, 2023   e0263223 doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02632-23
Chien RC, Mingqun L, Yan Q, Randolph N, Huang W, Wellman M, Toribio R, Rikihisa Y.The tick-borne obligatory intracellular bacterium infects granulocytes of humans as well as domesticated and wild animals, causing a febrile disease collectively called granulocytic anaplasmosis. The host species specificity and zoonotic potential of strains remain unclear. In the USA, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is primarily reported in Wisconsin and Minnesota, the northeastern coastal states, and northern California. In horses, causes equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). Although EGA has been reported in the same US regions as HGA, horses with a definitive diagnosis of EGA ha...
Prevalence and diversity of ascarid and strongylid nematodes in Australian Thoroughbred horses using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic tools.
Veterinary parasitology    October 14, 2023   Volume 323 110048 doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110048
Abbas G, Ghafar A, Bauquier J, Beasley A, Ling E, Gauci CG, El-Hage C, Wilkes EJA, McConnell E, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Hurley J, Beveridge I....The study presents the results of a cross-sectional survey to describe the epidemiology of ascarid and strongylid nematodes in horses, the impact of diverse climatic conditions on parasite diversity and the levels of faecal egg shedding in different age groups of managed Thoroughbred horses. Individual faecal samples (n = 1377) collected from 62 Thoroughbred farms across four climatic zones in Australia were analysed using the modified McMaster technique for faecal egg counts (FECs) and strongylid nematodes were identified utilising PCR-directed next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the second...
Leptospirosis in horses: Sentinels for a neglected zoonosis? A systematic review.
Veterinary world    October 14, 2023   Volume 16, Issue 10 2110-2119 doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2110-2119
Du00edaz EA, Arroyo G, Su00e1enz C, Mena L, Barragu00e1n V.Leptospirosis is considered a neglected tropical zoonosis in low-income countries due to surveillance system limitations and non-specificity of symptoms. Humans become infected through direct contact with carrier animals or indirectly through Leptospira-contaminated environments. Conventionally, equines have been considered an uncommon source of leptospirosis, but recent publications in Latin America suggest that their role in the maintenance and dispersion of the bacteria could be more relevant than expected, as horses are susceptible to a wide variety of zoonotic Leptospira spp. from domesti...
Epidemiology and Control of Rabies in Cattle and Equines in Rondônia State, a Brazilian’s Legal Amazon Area.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    September 20, 2023   Volume 13, Issue 18 2974 doi: 10.3390/ani13182974
Sodru00e9 DNA, Rossi GAM, Mathias LA, de Andrade Belo MA.Rabies is a fatal neglected tropical zoonosis, and its significance for domestic herbivores in the rural cycle is probably associated with rainforest deforestation, livestock, and agricultural expansion. This epidemiological survey aimed to study the occurrence of rabies in bovines and equines in the state of Rondônia, located in the Brazilian's Legal Amazon, between the years 2002 and 2021, correlating these findings with the prophylactic strategies adopted by the local sanitary agency for rabies control. During this period, 201 cases were observed in bovines and 23 in equines. A downward tr...
CANTERing towards more sustainable helminth control.
The Veterinary record    September 8, 2023   Volume 193, Issue 5 doi: 10.1002/vetr.3435
Colgate V.Victoria Colgate of Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance introduces CANTER, a voluntary pan-industry initiative that is aiming to inspire behaviour change among horse owners and promote a more sustainable approach to controlling parasites in their animals.
Molecular and Serological Survey of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in Horses from the Republic of Korea.
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)    September 8, 2023   doi: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0101
Han SW, Cho YK, Rim JM, Kang JG, Choi KS, Chae JS. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic tick-borne disease in East Asia caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). It is to investigate the presence of SFTSV RNA and antibodies in horses from a slaughterhouse and equestrian centers in the Republic of Korea (ROK). A prevalence study of SFTSV-specific RNA and antibodies was designed from 889 horses in the ROK. Serum samples were collected from horses at a slaughterhouse and equestrian centers from 2018 to 2020. To detect the presence of SFTSV, RNA was extracted from the serum samples, and a nested reverse transcriptio...
Allogeneic chondrogenic-induced mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of tarsometatarsal lameness in horses.
Veterinary surgery : VS    September 8, 2023   doi: 10.1111/vsu.14030
Coomer RPC, Terschuur JA, Pressanto MC, Walker I.To assess the efficacy of commercial intra-articular blood-derived allogeneic-induced mesenchymal stem cells (CIMSCs) to treat tarsometatarsal lameness in horses. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records from 167 adult light breed horses with bilateral tarsometatarsal lameness. Methods: Horses with tarsometatarsal lameness were retrospectively selected from medical records. Diagnosis followed subjective graded lameness assessment before and after intra-articular analgesia, with graded radiographic tarsal examination. Horses were excluded if they were diagnosed or treate...
Comparison of oral esomeprazole and oral omeprazole in the treatment of equine squamous gastric disease.
Equine veterinary journal    September 7, 2023   doi: 10.1111/evj.13997
Sundra T, Gough S, Rossi G, Kelty E, Rendle D.Oral omeprazole is the accepted treatment for equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD); however, it is not universally effective. Esomeprazole results in more consistent and pronounced acid suppression in men and is more effective than omeprazole in the treatment of oesophageal and gastric disease. Pharmacodynamic and pilot clinical studies have indicated esomeprazole might also be more effective than omeprazole in horses. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral esomeprazole and omeprazole pastes in the treatment of ESGD and, where present, concurrent equine glandular gastric disea...
First identification and characterization of ovine gammaherpesvirus type 2 in horses and artiodactyla from an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in Mexico.
PloS one    September 1, 2023   Volume 18, Issue 9 e0290309 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290309
Madrigal-Valencia TL, Saavedra-Montau00f1ez M, Pu00e9rez-Torres A, Hernu00e1ndez J, Segalu00e9s J, Hernu00e1ndez YD, Candanosa-Aranda IE....Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), a member of the genus Macavirus, causes sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), a fatal lymphoproliferative disease affecting a wide variety of ungulates in addition to horses. This study described an outbreak of SA-MCF in Mexico and the identification of the OvHV-2 virus in primary rabbit testis cultures through the generation of intranuclear inclusion bodies, syncytia, immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and partial sequencing of the ORF75 gene. The animals in...
Identification of Burkholderia mallei Isolates with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.
Archives of Razi Institute    August 31, 2023   Volume 78, Issue 4 1305-1312 doi: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.4.1305
Abnaroodheleh F, Mosavari N, Pourbakhsh SA, Tadayon K, Jamshidian M. is the main cause of glanders as a dangerous contagious zoonosis disease that is mostly observed in single-hoofed animals, especially horses. Modern molecular techniques have been recently employed to improve epidemiology for identifying and searching for strains of this bacterium at different times and locations. Due to the unknown number of circulating strains and lack of preventive methods, glanders is still observed in the form of epidemics. The present study aimed to evaluate six field isolates plus two laboratory strains of and using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment ...
Survey of horse transportation in Switzerland: practices and issues.
Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde    August 30, 2023   Volume 165, Issue 9 573-584 doi: 10.17236/sat00402
Benedetti B, Felici M, Thiu00e9baud G, Freccero F, Padalino B.This study aimed to describe equine transportation practices and transport-related behavioural and health problems in Switzerland and to identify possible associations between them. An online survey was disseminated to Swiss equine industry members and questioned respondents' details, transport practices (before, during, and after journeys), horse transport-related behavioural (TRPBs) and health problems (TRHPs) experienced in the previous 2 years. The survey generated 441 valid responses, analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models (outcomes: TRPBs, TRHPs, injuries, d...
Fasciola hepatica infection in horses in three governorates in northern Egypt: prevalence and risk factors.
Journal of equine veterinary science    August 29, 2023   104915 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104915
Alshammari A, Gattan HS, Marzok M, Salem M, Al-Jabr OA, Selim A.Fasciola hepatica is a trematode parasite that affects wide range of mammalian hosts including horses. There are no epidemiological data on fasciolosis in Egyptian horses. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of F. hepatica in horses using ELISA as well as assess the associated risk factors for fasciolosis infection. A total of 400 sera samples of horses from three Egyptian governorates were examined. The overall seroprevalence rate in horses was 13% and the disease was more prevalent in Qalubia (14.17%) and Gharbia (16.67%) which are located at Nile Delta. The likelih...
Partial Genome Characterization of Novel Parapoxvirus in Horse, Finland.
Emerging infectious diseases    August 23, 2023   Volume 29, Issue 9 1941-1944 doi: 10.3201/eid2909.230049
Virtanen J, Hautaniemi M, Dutra L, Plyusnin I, Hautala K, Smura T, Vapalahti O, Sironen T, Kant R, Kinnunen PM.We report a sequencing protocol and 121-kb poxvirus sequence from a clinical sample from a horse in Finland with dermatitis. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the virus is a novel parapoxvirus associated with a recent epidemic; previous data suggest zoonotic potential. Increased awareness of this virus and specific diagnostic protocols are needed.
Ferret Models for Henipavirus Infection.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)    August 23, 2023   Volume 2682 205-217 doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3283-3_15
Rockx B, Mire CE.Henipaviruses are emerging zoonotic viruses that can cause outbreaks of severe respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals such as horses. The mechanism by which these viruses can cause disease remain largely unknown and to date there are no therapeutics or vaccines approved for use in humans. Nipah virus is listed on the World Health Organization R & D Blueprint list of epidemic threats. In order to advance the availability of effective therapeutics and vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crises, animal models are required which recap...
Epidemiological survey and risk factors associated with Paslahepevirus balayani in equines in Europe.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)    August 22, 2023   Volume 17 100619 doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100619
Caballero-Gu00f3mez J, Rivero-Juu00e1rez A, Cano-Terriza D, Fajardo T, Buono F, Jose-Cunilleras E, Garcu00eda J, Alguacil E, Rivero A.... (HEV) is an important emerging zoonotic virus in Europe. Although domestic pigs and wild boar are the main reservoirs of this pathogen, susceptibility to this virus has been confirmed in a growing number of animal species, including equines. However, their role in the epidemiology of this virus remains poorly understood. Our aim was to assess HEV circulation and identify potential risk factors associated with exposure in equid species in different European countries. A total of 596 equines, including 496 horses, 63 donkeys and 37 mules/hinnies bred in four European countries (Spain, Italy, Un...
Core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis of Finnish Taylorella equigenitalis isolates.
Veterinary microbiology    August 19, 2023   Volume 285 109853 doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109853
Pelkola K, Heinikainen S, Pohjanvirta T.In Finland, Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM), was first detected in 1992. The aim of this study was to genotype Finnish T. equigenitalis isolates to investigate the epidemiology of the infection in the Finnish horse population. A total of 34 T. equigenitalis isolates from 24 horses obtained during 1992-2021 were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS) and subsequent local ad hoc core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) targeting 1259 loci. Classical MLST profiles were extracted from the whole-genome sequence data. Three novel MLST ty...
Current and Future Advances in the Detection and Surveillance of Biosecurity-Relevant Equine Bacterial Diseases Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP).
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    August 18, 2023   Volume 13, Issue 16 2663 doi: 10.3390/ani13162663
Knox A, Zerna G, Beddoe T.Horses play an important role throughout the world, whether for work, culture, or leisure, providing an ever-growing significant contribution to the economy. The increase in importation and movement of horses, both nationally and internationally, has inevitably allowed for the global equine industry to grow. Subsequently, however, the potential for transmission of fatal equine bacterial diseases has also escalated, and devasting outbreaks continue to occur. To prevent such events, disease surveillance and diagnosis must be heightened throughout the industry. Current common, or "gold-standard" ...
Understanding the divergent evolution and epidemiology of H3N8 influenza viruses in dogs and horses.
Virus evolution    August 18, 2023   Volume 9, Issue 2 vead052 doi: 10.1093/ve/vead052
Wasik BR, Rothschild E, Voorhees IEH, Reedy SE, Murcia PR, Pusterla N, Chambers TM, Goodman LB, Holmes EC, Kile JC, Parrish CR.Cross-species virus transmission events can lead to dire public health emergencies in the form of epidemics and pandemics. One example in animals is the emergence of the H3N8 equine influenza virus (EIV), first isolated in 1963 in Miami, FL, USA, after emerging among horses in South America. In the early 21st century, the American lineage of EIV diverged into two 'Florida' clades that persist today, while an EIV transferred to dogs around 1999 and gave rise to the H3N8 canine influenza virus (CIV), first reported in 2004. Here, we compare CIV in dogs and EIV in horses to reveal their host-spec...
Antibiotic usage in 14 equine practices over a 10-year period (2012-2021).
Equine veterinary journal    August 16, 2023   doi: 10.1111/evj.13988
Tallon RE, Whitt B, Bladon BM.Monitoring antibiotic usage is an important part of tackling antimicrobial resistance. The use of computerised records for monitoring has been previously described in the equine sector but there is currently no consensus on metrics used to report usage. Objective: To document antibiotic use in equine practices in the United Kingdom over a 10-year period using commercially available practice management software. Methods: Retrospective survey. Methods: A custom antibiotic usage report was created using Eclipse® practice management software. Participating practices were given instructions on how...
Antimicrobial Activity of Plasma Rich in Platelets (PRP) on the Ocular Microbiota of Healthy Horses from Minas Gerais: In Vitro Study.
Veterinary medicine international    August 16, 2023   Volume 2023 2407768 doi: 10.1155/2023/2407768
Torres LEC, Florez CO, Oliveira JG, Vieira GD, Ribeiro IS, Keller KM, Leme FOP, Fantini P, Maranhu00e3o RPA.In equine ophthalmology, ulcerative keratitis is among the most common conditions and, in general, arises as a consequence of some trauma suffered. Secondarily, subsequent contamination by pathogenic or resident bacteria of the horse's ocular microbiota may have undesirable consequences. Under physiological conditions, the normal microbiota coexists with the immune status of the host, serving as a barrier, ensuring the health of the ocular surface, and inhibiting the proliferation of pathogens. However, in the imbalance of immune barriers, the normal microbiota can become pathogenic and lead t...
Presence of Equine and Bovine Coronaviruses, Endoparasites, and Bacteria in Fecal Samples of Horses with Colic.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)    August 15, 2023   Volume 12, Issue 8 1043 doi: 10.3390/pathogens12081043
Stummer M, Frisch V, Glitz F, Hinney B, Spergser J, Kru00fccken J, Diekmann I, Dimmel K, Riedel C, Cavalleri JV, Ru00fcmenapf T, Joachim A, Lyrakis M....Acute abdominal pain (colic) is one of the major equine health threats worldwide and often necessitates intensive veterinary medical care and surgical intervention. Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infections can cause colic in horses but are rarely considered as a differential diagnosis. To determine the frequency of otherwise undetected ECoV infections in horses with acute colic, fresh fecal samples of 105 horses with acute colic and 36 healthy control horses were screened for viruses belonging to the species by RT-PCR as well as for gastrointestinal helminths and bacteria commonly associated with...
Retained efficacy of ivermectin against cyathostomins in Swedish horse establishments practicing selective anthelmintic treatment.
Veterinary parasitology    August 14, 2023   Volume 322 110007 doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110007
Alm YH, Osterman-Lind E, Martin F, Lindfors R, Roepstorff N, Hedenstru00f6m U, Fredriksson I, Halvarsson P, Tydu00e9n E.Cyathostominae are ubiquitous to grazing horses and regarded the most prevalent internal parasite in the horse. Unfortunately, decades of indiscriminate use of anthelmintic drugs have resulted in the development of resistance in cyathostomins to all currently available drug groups, the most recent being a documented lack of efficacy to the macrocyclic lactones (ML). In vivo determination of anthelmintic resistance in horses most often utilises the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Further, a shortened egg reappearance period (ERP) can indicate a change in response to the applied treatme...
Clostridioides difficile infection in thoroughbred horses in Japan from 2010 to 2021.
Scientific reports    August 11, 2023   Volume 13, Issue 1 13099 doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40157-x
Uchida-Fujii E, Niwa H, Senoh M, Kato H, Kinoshita Y, Mita H, Ueno T.We encountered 34 Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) cases among Thoroughbred horses in Japan from 2010 to 2021. Among them, 79.4% (27/34) either died or were euthanised. The risk factors associated with CDI and mortality among Japanese Thoroughbred horses remain unclear. We used genetic methods to examine C. difficile strains and their relationships with prognosis. Twenty-two (64.7%) cases were hospitalised at the onset of colitis. Outcomes were balanced for hospitalisation rates at the onset of colitis. The mortality rates of cases treated with metronidazole (65.0%) were...
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