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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.
Dermatophytes isolated from domestic animals in Iran. Between 1994 and 1998, a total of 790 feather, hair and skin specimens from a variety of animals with suspected dermatophytoses were studied, of which 248 (31.4%) yielded dermatophytes. The most frequent dermatophytes isolated were Microsporum canis (38.3%), Trichophyton verrucosum (31.8%), T. mentagrophytes (13.3%) and M. gypseum (7.7%). There was a significantly higher proportion of positive cultures from cats (54.8%) than dogs (8.2%), and M. canis was the most common species isolated (87.2 and 50% respectively). Trichophyton verrucosum was the most frequent causative agent of dermatophytose...
Optimising vaccination strategies in equine influenza. A stochastic model of equine influenza (EI) is constructed to assess the risk of an outbreak in a Thoroughbred population at a typical flat race training yard. The model is parameterised using data from equine challenge experiments conducted by the Animal Health Trust (relating to the latent and infectious period of animals) and also published data on previous epidemics (to estimate the transmission rate for equine influenza). Using 89 ponies, an empirical relationship between pre-challenge antibody and the probability of becoming infectious is established using logistic regression. Changes in...
Epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of west nile virus antibodies in domestic mammals. We evaluated the ability of epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to detect West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies in domestic mammals. Sera were collected from experimentally infected horses, cats, and pigs at regular intervals and screened in ELISAs and plaque reduction neutralization tests. The diagnostic efficacies of these techniques were similar.
The prevalence and transmission to exotic equids (Equus quagga antiquorum, Equus przewalskii, Equus africanus) of intestinal nematodes in contaminated pasture in two wild animal parks. Wild equids maintained in large enclosures may suffer from helminth diseases because common hygiene practices have only limited effects on parasite populations. Weekly monitoring of helminth prevalences and pasture infestation was performed for 1 yr in several extensive maintenance systems of two wildlife parks with similar climates to determine when veterinary intervention to control parasites would be useful. We also sought evidence of natural immunogenic reactions among herds of Chapman zebras (Equus quagga antiquorum), Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) and dwarf donkeys (Equus asinus...
Phylogenetic relationship of equine Actinobacillus species and distribution of RTX toxin genes among clusters. Equine Actinobacillus species were analysed phylogenetically by 16S rRNA gene (rrs) sequencing focusing on the species Actinobacillus equuli, which has recently been subdivided into the non-haemolytic A. equuli subsp. equuli and the haemolytic A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus. In parallel we determined the profile for RTX toxin genes of the sample of strains by PCR testing for the presence of the A. equuli haemolysin gene aqx, and the toxin genes apxI, apxII, apxIII and apxIV, which are known in porcine pathogens such as Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Actinobacillus suis. The rrs-based phylo...
VP2 gene phylogenetic characterization of field isolates of African horsesickness virus serotype 7 circulating in South Africa during the time of the 1999 African horsesickness outbreak in the Western Cape. We present the first VP2-gene phylogenetic analysis of African horsesickness (AHS) viruses within a serotype. Thirteen AHSV 7 isolates were obtained from cases that occurred in South Africa during 1998-1999, and three were historical AHSV 7 isolates. The goals were to start a database of isolates of known location and time of isolation and to determine if we could identify the origin of an AHS outbreak in the surveillance area in the Western Cape. We prepared full-length cDNA copies of the VP2-genes of the isolates. Nucleic acid sequence data of a 786 bp region was used to characterize the gen...
A field evaluation of PCR for the routine detection of Babesia equi in horses. We report on a study that evaluated the usefulness of PCR for the routine detection of Babesia equi in horses. The blood from a total of 105 horses comprising both sick and apparently healthy animals were examined for the presence of B. equi using both Wright-Giemsa-stained blood smears and PCR. Microscopic analysis of Giemsa-stained blood smears revealed 10/105 animals positive for Babesia, compared to 16/105 for the primary PCR and 36/105 for the nested PCR. Three of the 10 samples positive by Wright-Giemsa-stain were negative by PCR for B. equi. However, evidence is presented that these sam...
Case-control study to investigate risk factors for horse falls in hurdle racing in England and Wales. Between March 1, 2000 and August 31, 2001, a case-control study was conducted on 12 racecourses in England and Wales to identify and quantify the risk factors associated with horse falls in hurdle races. The cases and controls were defined so that variables relating to the horse, the jockey, the race and racecourse, and the jump could be considered. The cases were defined as a jumping effort at a hurdle flight that resulted in a fall, and the controls were defined as a successful jump over a hurdle at any of the 12 racecourses within 14 days before or after the case fall. Conditional logistic ...
Prevalence of strongyle nematodes in naturally infected ponies of different ages and during different seasons of the year in Louisiana. One hundred and seventeen ponies were surveyed for the seasonal prevalence of strongyloid parasites, particularly cyathostomes, and for host- and age-related differences in these infections. For 56 ponies, all stages of the cyathostome life cycle, both mucosal and luminal, were enumerated. Total numbers of cyathostomes and percentage of developing larvae (DL) encysted in the mucosa remained constant in all 4 seasons of the year, whereas a significant increase in the percentage of adults in the cyathostome population occurred in fall. In yearling ponies, encysted early third-stage larvae consti...
Prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in horses in Mongolia. Sarcocystis infection was detected in 93% of horses in Mongolia. Using the compress method, sarcocysts were found in the muscles of the diaphragm, heart and tongue in 40 of the 43 horses that were slaughtered at the Makh Impex Meat Company in Ulaan Baatar in July 1998. The muscle of the tongue showed the highest rate (97.5%) of infection. The distribution of sarcocysts in the muscles was positively correlated with horse age; the rate of detection was significantly lower (p=0.01) in the under 10 year old group than the older group. All horses were apparently healthy and were slaughtered for hum...
The second generation of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop half-sibling linkage map. A low-density, male-based linkage map was constructed as one of the objectives of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop. Here we report the second generation map based on testing 503 half-sibling offspring from 13 sire families for 344 informative markers using the CRIMAP program. The multipoint linkage analysis localized 310 markers (90%) with 257 markers being linearly ordered. The map included 34 linkage groups representing all 31 autosomes and spanning 2262 cM with an average interval between loci of 10.1 cM. This map is a milestone in that it is the first map with linkage groups ...
Idiopathic mucosal lesions of the arytenoid cartilages of 21 Thoroughbred yearlings: 1997-2001. Mucosal ulcers and, occasionally, small granulomas on the axial surface of one or both arytenoid cartilages have been found in TB yearlings presented for post sale endoscopic examination. Objective: To determine the incidence, endoscopic characteristics and outcome of a group of Thoroughbred yearlings affected with mucosal ulcers and granulomas of the arytenoid cartilage. Objective: The incidence of mucosal ulceration of the arytenoid cartilages of yearling Thoroughbreds is relatively high compared to other upper airway abnormalities; and that the majority of mucosal ulcers heal uneventfully, ...
Spinal and spinal cord injuries in horse riding: the New South Wales experience 1976-1996. The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of acute spinal cord injuries (ASCI) in all forms of horse riding in New South Wales (NSW) for the period 1976-1996. Other aims of the present study were to compare and contrast ASCI with vertebral column injuries (VCI) without neurological damage and to define appropriate safety measures in relation to spinal injury in horse-riding. Methods: A retrospective review was done of all ASCI cases (n = 32) admitted to the two acute spinal cord injury units in NSW for the cited period. A comparable review of VCI cases (n = 30) admitted...
Pneumonia in weanlings. Lower respiratory tract infection is common in weanling- and suckling-aged animals. Increased susceptibility to disease in this age group can result from a delay in the establishment of a competent immune system and environmental factors, such as overcrowding, shipping, and sales. S zooepidemicus and R equi are the two most common bacterial isolates. S equi is primarily a disease of the lymph nodes and upper respiratory tract. Viral agents can compromise the natural defense mechanisms of the respiratory tract, resulting in secondary bacterial infections. The acute respiratory distress syndrome...
A case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis provides molecular evidence for the presence of pathogenic anaplasma phagocytophilum (HGE agent) in Germany. Based on seroprevalence studies and tick infection rates, tick-borne human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is thought to occur in Germany, but to date no clinical case has been detected. Reported here are the first ehrlichial sequences derived from a German horse that fell ill with granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The analysis of three different genes (16S rRNA gene, groESL, and ankA) revealed up to 100% identity with ehrlichial sequences derived from patients with HGE in other countries or from infected ticks in Germany. Thus, the current lack of clinical cases of HGE in Germany is unlikely to resu...
Descriptive epidemiology of late-term abortions associated with the mare reproductive loss syndrome in central Kentucky. Epidemiological and pathological findings of 433 late-term abortions associated with the mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) in central Kentucky were identified by reviewing the records of the University of Kentucky Livestock Diseases Diagnostic Center. The distribution of dates of abortion was clustered during a brief period of time, presumably from a simultaneous environmental exposure. The most common pathological findings were microscopic pulmonary lesions consisting of squamous epithelial cells present in alveoli with or without concurrent infiltration of inflammatory cells (neutrophil...
Molecular studies on Babesia, Theileria and Hepatozoon in southern Europe. Part I. Epizootiological aspects. Molecular epizootiology of piroplasmids (Babesia spp., Theileria spp.) and Hepatozoon canis was studied in mammals from southern Europe (mainly from Spain, but also from Portugal and France). Partial amplification and sequencing of the 18s rRNA gene was used for molecular diagnosis. In some particular cases (B. ovis and B. bovis) the complete 18s rRNA gene was sequenced. Blood samples were taken from domestic animals showing clinical symptoms: 10 dogs, 10 horses, 10 cows, 9 sheep and 1 goat. In addition, DNA samples were isolated from blood of 12 healthy dogs and from spleen of 10 wild red fox...
Diagnostic methods applied to analysis of an outbreak of equine influenza in a riding school in which vaccine failure occurred. An outbreak of equine influenza H3N8 in a riding school is described retrospectively with emphasis on diagnosis and putative vaccine failure. In March 1995 an outbreak of equine influenza occurred among 11 horses in a riding school, where most horses had received basic primary immunizations and several booster vaccinations against influenza. Six of the 11 diseased horses had received their last booster vaccination within 5 months of the outbreak. Nevertheless, the influenza infection spread rapidly and clinical manifestations were prominent with frequent, harsh, dry coughing often accompanied ...
Initiating arbovirus surveillance in Arkansas, 2001. Migratory birds could introduce West Nile (WN) virus to Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to establish a cooperative arbovirus surveillance program to monitor mosquitoes and birds in Arkansas for arboviruses. Our objectives were to: 1) perform routine, multicounty collections of mosquitoes and test them for eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and WN viruses; and 2) conduct passive surveillance by testing dead wild birds for WN virus. Arbovirus surveillance was organized by the Arkansas Department of Health, University of Arkansas, and Vector Disease Control Incorporated....
Association of bovine papillomavirus with the equine sarcoid. The equine sarcoid, a locally aggressive, fibroblastic skin tumour, is the most common dermatological neoplasm reported in horses; there is no consistently effective therapy. It is widely accepted that bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 are associated with the pathogenesis of sarcoid disease. Most sarcoids appear to contain detectable viral DNA and RNA and are also known to express the BPV types 1 and 2 major transforming protein, E5, but appear not to produce infectious virions. While the mode of transmission of infection has not been elucidated, viral gene expression, in particular of...
A first full outer capsid protein sequence data-set in the Orbivirus genus (family Reoviridae): cloning, sequencing, expression and analysis of a complete set of full-length outer capsid VP2 genes of the nine African horsesickness virus serotypes. The outer capsid protein VP2 of African horsesickness virus (AHSV) is a major protective antigen. We have cloned full-length VP2 genes from the reference strains of each of the nine AHSV serotypes. Baculovirus recombinants expressing the cloned VP2 genes of serotypes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 were constructed, confirming that they all have full open reading frames. This work completes the cloning and expression of the first full set of AHSV VP2 genes. The clones of VP2 genes of serotypes 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8 were sequenced and their amino acid sequences were deduced. Our sequencing data, together with t...
[The occurrence of animal sarcocystiosis in Algeria]. Investigations to occurrence of Sarcocystiosis of domestic animals in Algeria were carried out by different methods--Immunofluorescence (IFAT), macroscopic and microscopic examinations of muscle, coproscopia. Positive results could be found in intermediate hosts--362 of 537 cattle, 188 of 292 sheep, 13 of 57 horses and in the final hosts dogs and cats. Muscle-probes from cattle contained S. cruzi (58.7 respectively 61.0%), S. hirsuta (48.9 respectively 35.0%), from sheep S. tenella (61.0 respectively 59.6%, S. arieticanis (38.8 respectively 40.3%), from horses S. bertrami (24.5%). IFAT-data of...
