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Topic:Epidemiology
Epidemiology in horses involves the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in equine populations. It encompasses the investigation of patterns, causes, and effects of diseases and health conditions within horse populations. This field of study aims to identify risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. Key components of equine epidemiology include disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and the study of disease dynamics within herds or regions. Research in this area often focuses on infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, and the impact of environmental factors on equine health. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of epidemiology in horses, including disease prevalence, transmission pathways, and strategies for disease prevention and control.
Investigation of Neospora sp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in mares and in precolostral foals from Parana State, Southern Brazil. Antibodies to Neospora sp. and Toxoplasma gondii were measured in mares and precolostral foals from a farm in Parana State, Brazil. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to determine specific antibodies. Three sampling points, 2003, 2004 and at parturition were included in the study, but not all horses are represented at a parturition time point. In 2003, antibodies to Neospora were detected in 17 mares (47%) at 1:50 dilution and in 5 mares (13.8%) at 1:100 dilution. In 2004, antibodies to Neospora were found in 11/36 (30%) horses with titers of 1:50 and in 6 mares (16.6%) at 1...
Update: West Nile virus activity–United States, 2005. This report summarizes West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to CDC through ArboNET as of 3 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, November 1, 2005.
Genetic and environmental parameters for racing time at different distances in Brazilian Thoroughbreds. The aim of the present study was to investigate genetic parameters for racing time in Thoroughbred horses racing at distances between 1000 and 1600 m subdivided into 100-m intervals. The data provided by TURFETOTAL Ltda comprised races that occurred in the Gávea and Cidade Jardim race tracks over a period of 11 years (1992-2002) and consisted of 32,145 races and 238,890 time records. The variance components necessary to obtain the heritability and repeatability estimates of the traits studied were estimated with the MTDFREML program, and animal age at race (3 years old or younger, 4, 5 and ol...
Equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) infection in thoroughbred horses in Argentina. Equine herpesvirus 2 is a gamma-herpesvirus that infects horses worldwide. Although EHV-2 has been implicated in immunosuppression in foals, upper respiratory tract disease, conjunctivitis, general malaise and poor performance, its precise role as a pathogen remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the incidence of EHV-2 in an Argentinean horse population and correlate it with age and clinical status of the animals. Results: A serological study on 153 thoroughbred racing horses confirmed the presence of EHV-2 in the Argentinean equine population. A virus neutralizatio...
Temporality of early-term abortions associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome in horses. To characterize the temporality of dates of breeding and abortion classified as mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) among mares with abortions during early gestation. Methods: 2,314 mares confirmed pregnant at approximately 28 days after breeding from 36 farms in central Kentucky, including 515 mares that had early-term abortions. Methods: Farm veterinarians and managers were interviewed to obtain data for each mare that was known to be pregnant to determine pregnancy status, breeding date, last date known to be pregnant, and date of abortion. Results: Mares bred prior to April 1, 2001, app...
Detection of a bla(SHV) extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase in Salmonella enterica serovar Newport MDR-AmpC. Salmonella enterica serovar Newport MDR-AmpC expressing TEM-1b and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase SHV-12 was isolated from affected animals during an outbreak of salmonellosis that led to a 3-month closure of one of the largest equine hospitals in the United States.
Fractures sustained by racehorses in Japan during flat racing with special reference to track condition and racing time. The purpose of this report is to describe the results of epidemiological surveys of racing-related fractures in Thoroughbred horses in Japan. In the period 1987-2000, a total of 10,203 fractures were diagnosed in 556,705 runners, resulting in an overall incidence of 1.83%. The annual incidence of fractures in flat racing during the 14-year period fluctuated between 1.44% and 2.19%. The majority of fractures affected the forelimbs. We found significant effects of track condition on injury incidence. The incidence of fractures decreased as track conditions on turf became softer and increased as ...
Variations in the concentration of zinc in the blood of Icelandic horses. The effect of factors including the horses' farm environment, their sex and age and whether they suffered from summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (sweet itch) on the concentrations of zinc in the plasma, whole blood and blood cells of 104 Icelandic horses was investigated. Its concentration in plasma varied significantly between farms (P<0.01), but its concentration in blood and blood cells was not influenced by any of the variables. The concentration of zinc in the blood cells was 10.5 times greater than in plasma, but its concentration in plasma was not correlated with its concentration...
Equestrian injuries. This chapter reviews the current evidence for the epidemiology of pediatric equestrian injuries. Methods: The relevant literature was searched through the use of MEDLINE (1966-2004) and SPORT DISCUS (1975-2004) searches, hand searches of journals and reference lists and discussions with experts and sporting organizations worldwide. Keywords and Mesh headings used in all searches included horse racing, children, pediatric injuries, sports injuries, equestrian injuries and sports trauma. Results: Limited data exist on the epidemiology of pediatric equestrian injuries. Most studies note the high ...
Comparison of Coccidioides immitis serological antibody titres between forms of clinical coccidioidomycosis in horses. A retrospective study was performed to determine if there is an association between serological Coccidioides immitis antibody titres (IgG) and form/severity of coccidioidal disease in horses, and to identify trends in survival and treatment success based on the form of the disease. Data were obtained on horses with positive serological titres tested at the Coccidioidomycosis Serology Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis from 1981 to 2004. Thirty-nine cases in which a diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis had been made were selected for inclusion. Six distinct categories we...
Prevalence of ulcers of the squamous gastric mucosa in standardbred horses. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of ulcers in the gastric squamous mucosa in Standardbred racehorses. Observations were performed at monthly intervals between the beginning of their training season and their 1st qualifying race. This study also identified risk factors at different levels of race training. Forty-eight Standardbred racehorses from 3 training stables in Quebec, Canada, were studied. Baseline historical information and gastroscopic findings were recorded at the beginning of the trial, and once a month thereafter, between December 2001 and June 2002, until the h...
Specific causes of morbidity among Swedish horses insured for veterinary care between 1997 and 2000. The principal aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of disease due to general and more specific causes among over 100,000 horses covered by complete insurance for veterinary care by a Swedish insurance company during 1997 to 2000. The database was used to calculate the rate of cause-specific morbidity in horses of different ages, sexes and breed groups kept in different regions with different human population densities. The joints were the most commonly affected part of the body, followed by unspecified/whole body, the skin and the digestive system. The most common specific diagnosis ...
Evaluation of risk factors for development of catheter-associated jugular thrombophlebitis in horses: 50 cases (1993-1998). To evaluate risk factors associated with development of catheter-associated jugular thrombophlebitis in hospitalized horses. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 50 horses with thrombophlebitis and 100 control horses. Methods: Medical records from 1993 through 1998 were searched for horses with thrombophlebitis. Horses that were hospitalized for at least 5 days, had an i.v. catheter placed in a jugular vein (other than for solely anesthetic purposes), and had no evidence of thrombophlebitis during admission or hospitalization were chosen as controls. Signalment, history, clinico...
Strongyle egg shedding consistency in horses on farms using selective therapy in Denmark. Knowledge of horses that shed the same number of strongyle eggs over time can lead to the optimization of parasite control strategies. This study evaluated shedding of strongyle eggs in 424 horses on 10 farms when a selective anthelmintic treatment regime was used over a 3-year period. Faecal egg counts were performed twice yearly, and horses exceeding 200 eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were treated. The results are presented as probabilities of the egg count outcome, when two previous egg counts are known. A horse with no strongyle eggs detected in the two previous faecal examinations had an 8...
Recognition of a B-cell epitope of the VapA protein of Rhodococcus equi in newborn and experimentally infected foals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the previously identified B-cell epitope TSLNLQKDEPNGRASDTAGQ of the VapA protein of Rhodococcus equi and its association with R. equi pneumonia. A modified peptide designated PN11-14 corresponding to the epitope was recognized by all sera from experimentally infected foals with virulent R. equi ATCC103+ containing the virulence plasmid but not by its plasmid-cured derivative ATCC103- strain. Marked levels of VapA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G were detected in all sera from the ATCC103+ infected foals at 2 weeks after the infection. One c...
Morbidity of Swedish horses insured for veterinary care between 1997 and 2000: variations with age, sex, breed and location. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential usefulness of the database maintained by the Swedish insurance company Agria for providing disease statistics on Swedish horses. The demography of the horses insured for veterinary care during the period 1997 to 2000 was recorded and the incidence of morbidity, defined as horses that required veterinary care that cost more than the policy excess, was calculated. Yearly incidences were calculated for horses that required veterinary care at least once, first overall, and then for horses with complete insurance, by sex, age, breed group, breed, ...
[Prediction of 137Cs accumulation in animal products in the territory of Semipalatinsk test site]. The paper describes mathematical models for 137Cs behavior in the organism of horses and sheep pasturing on the bording area to the testing area "Ground Zero" of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. The models are parameterized on the base of the data from an experiment with the breeds of animals now commonly encountered within the Semipalatinsk Test Site. The predictive calculations with the models devised have shown that 137Cs concentrations in milk of horses and sheep pasturingon the testing area to "Ground Zero" can exceed the adopted standards during a long period of time.
Serologic cross-reactivity between Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In the context of a serosurvey conducted on the Anaplasma marginale prevalence in Swiss cattle, we suspected that a serological cross-reactivity between A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum might exist. In the present study we demonstrate that cattle, sheep and horses experimentally infected with A. phagocytophilum not only develop antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (detected by immunofluorescent-antibody assay) but also to A. marginale (detected by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Conversely, calves experimentally infected with A. marginale also developed antibodies to A. phagoc...
Real-time reverse transcription PCR for detection and quantitative analysis of equine influenza virus. Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR. The assay was also evaluated as a viable replacement for the more traditional methods of quantifying equine influe...
Equine and canine Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains isolated on the island of Sardinia (Italy) are phylogenetically related to pathogenic strains from the United States. The presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a tick-transmitted zoonotic pathogen, was investigated in Sardinia using a molecular approach. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Sardinian strains are genetically distinct from the two lineages previously described in Europe and are closely related to strains isolated in different areas of the United States.
Immune response to Leishmania infantum in healthy horses in Spain. Leishmania infantum infection has recently been described in horses in Europe. We report the results of a study on the immune response to L. infantum in horses living in an area endemic for leishmaniosis in NE Spain. Two ELISAs using protein A and anti-horse IgG conjugates were adapted to measure specific antibodies to L. infantum in horse sera. A lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to L. infantum antigen was also performed to detect specific cellular immune response to Leishmania. Anti-L. infantum antibodies were detected in the serum of 16 of the horses...
A review of horse-related injuries in a rural Colorado hospital: implications for outreach education. The literature contains many studies on the types of injuries sustained in horseback riding incidents. Most advocate the use of equestrian helmets to prevent head trauma. However, information is limited on other specific prevention strategies. Methods: A 4-year, retrospective, and prospective review of medical records pertaining to horse-related injuries in a southwestern Colorado hospital yielded a sample of 85 patients who had been injured while riding or tending to horses. In addition to the record review, patients were interviewed during ED discharge, inpatient treatment, or in a follow-up...
Effects of changes to the stable environment on the exhalation of ethane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen peroxide by horses with respiratory inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of changes to the stable environment on exhaled markers of respiratory inflammation in six horses with clinical histories of recurrent airway obstruction. The horses were maintained for two weeks under conventional stable management (straw bedding and hay) and for two weeks on a reduced-dust regimen (paper bedding and ensiled grass), in a crossover study design. Exhaled ethane and carbon monoxide (CO) and exhaled breath condensate hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) were measured every three days under each regimen. The presence of clinical signs of air...
[West Nile virus infections: overview and epidemiological update]. West Nile virus, a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, has been intensively studied since a few years because of epidemics/epizootics it has caused the last ten years, in particular around the Mediterranean basin and on the North-American continent. This virus mainly circulates in birds ; migrating bird species disseminate the virus while resident species could play a role in viral cycle amplification. A large number of mammal, amphibian and reptile species can also be infected. This virus can cause a lethal disease in humans and horses. For this reason, an active and/or passive surveillance...
Estimation of heritability for Tying-up syndrome in the Thoroughbred racehorse by Gibbs sampling. Tying-up is a condition that primarily affects the muscles of horses. In this study, the heritability of the Tying-up syndrome in the Thoroughbred racehorse was estimated by Bayesian analysis with Gibbs sampling based on the threshold model for binary traits. The data used were the clinical data in racehorses diagnosed by veterinarians of the Racehorse Clinics of Japan Racing Association from 2000 to 2003. The health status of the Tying-up was treated as a binary trait. In the genetic analysis, the effect of changing the amount of the pedigree or inbreeding information on the estimation of her...
[Equine strongyles. I. Development of anthelmintic resistance]. Small strongyles (cyathostomes) that are resistant against anthelmintics have become a major problem in equine medicine in the recent years. In many European countries benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomes are widespread and are now present in well over 50% of equine populations investigated. In contrast, resistance against ivermectin has not been reported despite its widespread use in the recent years. Optimising the frequency of treatments based on quantitative faecal monitoring is of great importance to preserve remaining anthelmintic efficacy.
[Equine strongyles II. Occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in Switzerland]. The occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in strongyles was investigated in 440 horses on 90 farms in Switzerland. The egg hatch assay suggested that benzimidazole (BZ)-resistance was present in 40 of 82 farms (49%). Faecal egg count reduction after pyrantel-treatment was above 96% in 14 of 15 farms. In the remaining farm the efficacy was only 80%. Ivermectin efficacy was investigated on 5 farms and the efficacy was recorded at 98-100%. Faecal cultures undertaken after treatment revealed almost exclusively larvae of the family Cyathostominae. Data about management practices, pasture hygiene an...
Prevalence of osseous fragments in distal and proximal interphalangeal, metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal and tarsocrural joints of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. The prevalence of osseous fragments in different limb joints was analysed in 3749 young Warmblood riding horses, which were pre-selected for sale at auction from 1991 to 1998 by the Association of Hanoverian Warmblood Breeders (Verband hannoverscher Warmblutzüchter e.V.) in Verden (Aller), Germany. The evaluation of these horses was based on a standardized radiological examination, including the distal interphalangeal (DIJ), the proximal interphalangeal (PIJ), the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal (MC/MTJ) and the tarsocrural joints (TCJ). In 32% of all horses at least one osseous fragment w...
