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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.
Serological relationship between a donkey alphaherpesvirus (isolate M7/91) and equid herpesvirus type 1 and 4. Rabbit hyperimmune serum prepared against a donkey alphaherpesvirus isolate (M7/91), and against EHV-1 and EHV-4 was used to characterise the antigenic relationship between these 3 viruses. Serum from immunised rabbits was always more specific for homologous virus and showed different cross reactivity for heterologous virus. It was concluded that the immunologic relationship between the M7/91 isolate and EHV-1, was closer than that between this isolate and EHV-4. A serological survey of donkeys (n = 116) and horses (n = 57) revealed evidence of the presence of neutralising antibody to M7/91 in...
Studies on the frequency and associations of equine leucocyte antigens in sarcoid and summer dermatitis. The equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) types and the clinical diagnosis for equine sarcoid and summer dermatitis were evaluated in 2026 horses representing five breeds. Data were analysed in unrelated animals and in family material. In the case of equine sarcoid, a strong association was observed between the ELA class II DW13 antigen and its effect on Swiss (cP < 0.001), French (cP < 0.0001) and Irish (cP < 0.01) Warmblood horses. The class I antigen A3 occurred more frequently in sarcoid-affected French horses (cP < 0.001). These results confirm our earlier findings (Gerber et al. 1988). Among Fr...
Toxicity and Role of Fumonisins in Animal Diseases and Human Esophageal Cancer. Fumonisins are secondary metabolites of Fusarium moniliforme , Fusarium proliferatum and several other Fusaria that commonly contaminate corn. Only recently discovered in 1988, these mycotoxins appear to be the causative agents of several toxicoses in animals that result from ingestion of moldy corn or corn-based feeds. The syndromes observed vary considerably among the different species affected and include brain lesions in equids, lung edema in swine, and nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and hepatocellular carcinoma in laboratory rats. There is also evidence that suggests that F. moniliforme a...
Comparison of M and N gene sequences distinguishes variation amongst equine arteritis virus isolates. cDNA copies of the M and N genes of equine arteritis virus (EAV) isolates were synthesized by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification. The cDNA was subjected to a cycle sequencing strategy using Taq polymerase, and the nucleotide and derived amino acid sequences of 10 virus isolates were compared. The M and N genes of all isolates had the same initiation and termination sites as the prototype Bucyrus strain and the encoded proteins were conserved between viruses. Comparison of nucleotide sequence homologies and phylogenetic tree analysis implied the existence ...
Use of the serum neutralisation test for equine viral arteritis with different virus strains. Serum cross neutralisation tests were conducted with a recent American isolate (84KY-A1) and a European isolate, (Wroclaw-2) and compared with the prototype and modified viruses of the Bucyrus strain of equine arteritis virus by using virus specific immune horse sera. The modified Bucyrus strain was neutralised and showed high neutralisation titres with all the immune sera. The prototype Bucyrus strain was also substantially neutralised, followed by the 84KY-A1 strain. As a result of the tests with the modified Bucyrus strain as the antigen, 20 seropositive horses were discovered among home-br...
Elemental status of grazing animals located adjacent to the London Orbital (M25) motorway. The elemental (Br, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) content of blood and wool or hair from animals (sheep, horses and alpacas) exposed to motor vehicle emissions alongside the London Orbital (M25) motorway is reported. Elemental values were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) quality control assessment using flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (for Pb, correlation coefficients of whole blood r = +0.87, and hair r = +0.82), and replicate (n = 10) analysis of the international reference material IAEA A13 Animal Blood. For Pb very good agreement was obta...
Postoperative racing performance in standardbreds and thoroughbreds with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint: 109 cases (1984-1990). Medical records for 64 Thoroughbred and 45 Standardbred horses with osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the tarsocrural joint that were treated by means of arthroscopic removal of the fragments before 2 years of age and before beginning racing were reviewed. Lesion site was recorded for all horses. The other foals from the dams of these surgically treated horses (siblings) were identified from mare progeny records. Racing data, including number of starts and money won during the 2- and 3-year-old racing years were obtained from the Jockey Club and the United States Trotting Association for affe...
Incidence of Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses examined at an Irish abattoir. The intestinal tracts of 363 horses were examined after slaughter at a horse abattoir. The presence or absence of Anoplocephala perfoliata and the sites of attachment were recorded. A total of 51 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached to the mucosa of the ileocaecal junction and/or to the caecal mucosa; 5 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached only to the mucosa of the ileocaecal junction, 24 per cent had A perfoliata attached only to the caecal mucosa and 22 per cent of the horses had A perfoliata attached at both sites. The degree of infestation did not appear to be influ...
Borrelia burgdorferi infection in UK horses. Antibody levels (IgG and IgM) to Borrelia burgdorferi were measured in the sera and synovial fluids of UK horses. Western blotting against B. burgdorferi was also used on samples from seropositive horses. A low incidence of seropositivity was shown in horses from most parts of the UK. This increased in areas that have a high incidence of human and canine borreliosis (Norfolk and south coast). Leptospira infections of horses did not cause cross reactions in the B. burgdorferi ELISA. Most horses did not display clinical signs of Lyme disease. As with dogs and man, it is apparent that B. burgdorf...
Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax infections in horses on a farm in Kenya. Equines are particularly susceptible to infection with Trypanosoma evansi and T. brucei, but rarely is natural T. congolense and T. vivax infection seen in horses. An outbreak of trypanosomosis occurred in a herd of horses used for patrolling the pineapple fields on the Del Monte Farm, Thika, Kenya initially involving 6 horses. On subsequent screening of the entire group, T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax infections were detected in 16 of the 35 horses. The tests used for diagnosis included microscopic examination of stained blood smears, buffy coat technique, mouse inoculation and antigen...
Diagnosis of Babesia caballi infections in horses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot. From Babesia caballi in vitro cultures a preparation of 100% infected erythrocytes was obtained. From this, B. caballi antigens were extracted with the detergent 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate (CHAPS) and used as ELISA antigens. A control antigen of normal erythrocytes from the same donor horse was prepared in an identical manner. The ELISA and Western blot were validated by testing of sera from horses experimentally infected with B. caballi or B. equi or not infected with Babesia spp. ELISA and Western blot results were compared with those obtained by the immunofl...
Species specificity and interspecies relatedness in VP4 genotypes demonstrated by VP4 sequence analysis of equine, feline, and canine rotavirus strains. We determined the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the VP4 genes of five equine, two feline, and two canine rotavirus strains. A high degree of homology (> 97.0%) was found among the VP4 amino acid sequences of the equine strains H2, FI-14, and FI23. Equine strain L338 has a distinct VP4 amino acid sequence from those of the other equine strains (78.1% or less homology), and the L338 VP4 exhibited more than 17.0% divergence at the amino acid level from those of rotavirus strains published so far. The VP4 amino acid sequence of equine strain H1, which showed low homology with t...
Transmission of some species of internal parasites in horses born in 1990, 1991, and 1992 in the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. Studies were conducted on transmission of natural infections of several species of internal parasites in horses born and kept on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. Data for the first year (1989) of a 4 year study on this farm have been published recently. The present research represents the second (1990), third (1991), and fourth (1992) years of the investigation. The number of animals (n = 28) examined varied from eight born in 1990 to ten each born in 1991 and 1992. For each year, examination was made of one horse per month, beginning in June of the year of birth and extending t...
Expression of functional protease and subviral particles by vaccinia virus containing equine infectious anaemia virus gag and 5′ pol genes. Cells infected with vaccinia viruses expressing the equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) gag gene (VGag) or gag plus the 5' pol encoding protease (VGag/PR) were evaluated with monoclonal antibody to a p26 capsid protein linear epitope (QEISKFLTD). Both recombinant viruses expressed Gag precursor protein (55K) whereas only VGag/PR expressed a detectable Gag-Pol fusion protein (82K) with a functional protease, shown by subviral particles containing processed p26. Horses inoculated with VGag/PR produced antibodies reactive with EIAV Gag proteins.
Detection of African horsesickness virus by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers for segment 5 (NS1 gene). The reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was applied to the detection of African horsesickness virus (AHSV) using primers specific for attenuated AHSV serotype 4 segment 5 (NS1 gene). Total RNA which contains both messenger RNA and genomic dsRNA was extracted by the acid guanidinium-phenol-chloroform method from the AHSV infected Vero cells and was used as templates to optimize the RT-PCR. A pair of primer (NP2-NP32) amplified the product of the expected size from all serotypes of attenuated AHSV when four pairs of primers were tested. Using this p...
Epidemiological investigation of equid herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4) excretion assessed by nasal swabs taken from thoroughbred foals. Equid herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4) was detected in nasal swabs taken from foals using a PCR based test and this information used to study the epidemiology of EHV-4 disease on three Australian Thoroughbred stud farms in NSW in 1992. There was a very high level of agreement (kappa value of 0.84) between the PCR results and virus isolation using cell culture techniques. There was a strong seasonal distribution of EHV-4 shedding. Twenty-five of 26 positive samples were collected in January and March with the remaining positive sample collected in February. Foals with clinical signs of upper respiratory t...
Control of cambendazole-resistant small strongyles (Population S) with oxibendazole in a pony band: an 8 year field test (1984-1992). Studies in a band of ponies harboring Population S benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles were initiated in 1974 and have continued for 18 years. Treatment (bimonthly) was with cambendazole for the first 4 years and with oxibendazole (OBZ) for the next 14 years. Data on the first 10 years have been published. The present investigation includes the last 8 years (4 October 1984-11 September 1992), which are the seventh through fourteenth years, of treatment with OBZ. Pre- and posttreatment mean counts of strongyle eggs (epg) and larvae (lpg) per gram of feces were determined biweekly during th...
In vivo replicative status and envelope heterogeneity of equine infectious anemia virus in an inapparent carrier. The distribution and replicative status of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) DNA in the tissues of a well-characterized inapparent carrier horse were established by using the PCR technique. The EIAV pol region could be amplified in all of the tissues tested, including the cerebellum and periventricular tissue, at concentrations approximately 10(5)-fold less than in the same tissue from an acutely infected horse. Further analysis of the EIAV genome, with primer pairs diagnostic for sequential stages of reverse transcription, suggests that EIAV DNA in the brain, liver, and lymph nodes was in...
Development and evaluation of PCR test for detection of Taylorella equigenitalis. A PCR for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis, was developed and evaluated. A genus-specific primer-probe set was derived from the 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. The PCR was specific and amplified a 585-bp product from all 64 available T. equigenitalis isolates. This PCR product hybridized with a specific probe in a dot spot assay. A variety of microorganisms from the genital tracts of horses or with a close phylogenetic relationship to T. equigenitalis did not yield a visible PCR product and were all negative in the dot spot hybridization...
Toxigenic strains of Stachybotrys atra associated with poisonous straw in Morocco. From 10 moldy straw samples collected in a Moroccan area with an apparent equine stachybotryotoxicosis outbreak in November 1991, 8 isolates of Stachybotrys atra were obtained. They all showed toxigenesis, however they were variable in nature and intensity. While 1 isolate had only mild toxicity when fed to mice as moldy barley, another revealed very high toxicity to Artemia saline larvae, or rat skin, and to mice. The toxicity of the other 6 isolates were between these 2 limits. This study indicates that the November 1991 outbreak was due to toxigenic strains of Stachybotrys atra.
Rapid, single-step differentiation of equid herpesviruses 1 and 4 from clinical material using the polymerase chain reaction and virus-specific primers. Sets of primers were designed which enabled specific amplification of homologous regions of the glycoprotein C and gene 76 genetic loci of equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4). The resultant virus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products arising from each loci could be discriminated easily on the basis of size on an agarose gel, allowing rapid differentiation of the two equine herpesviruses. Specificity of the amplifications were confirmed by Southern hybridization and restriction endonuclease digestion. The PCR test was applied to nasal swab samples from weanling foals and ...
Selection of quarter horses affected with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis by show judges. Thirty offspring of a Quarter Horse sire, affected by hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HPP), were examined electromyographically. On the basis of the detection of or lack of spontaneous activity with high frequency myotonic or pseudomyotonic discharges, the horses were diagnosed as being affected (14 horses) or unaffected (16 horses) with HPP. The show performance of these horses was evaluated for the first 3 to 9 years of their life by use of American Quarter Horse Association records. Horses affected with HPP performed significantly (P < 0.01) better in halter classes than did unaffected ...
The prevalence of latent Equid herpesviruses in the tissues of 40 abattoir horses. Equid herpesviruses 1 or 4 (EHV-1 or -4) were isolated by cocultivation from 60% of 40 horses examined at slaughter. The lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract were the most common source of virus. EHV-1 or EHV-4 was never isolated from the trigeminal ganglia (SLG). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected virus in 87.5% of bronchial lymph nodes and a similar level in the trigeminal ganglia that were examined. By both assays approximately one third of the positive animals harboured both viruses. Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) was isolated from all but one of the horses and from > 75% o...
Equestrian injuries: a five-year review. A retrospective chart review was conducted to define the demographic and injury patterns of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). The setting is a rural/small urban tertiary care center with approximately 40,000 visits per year. All patients presenting to the ED from January 1986 through December 1990 with equestrian-related injuries were enrolled in the study. Measurements included age, sex, mechanism of injury, injury or injuries diagnosed, admission to the hospital, morbidity, and mortality. A total of 142 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority of injuries occurre...
Detection of equine arteritis virus following amplification of structural and nonstructural viral genes by reverse transcription-PCR. A reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay was developed for the detection of equine arteritis virus (EAV) in cell culture supernatant and in horse semen. Four different sets of oligonucleotide primers complementary to sequences located in the 3' end of the polymerase gene (open reading frame [ORF] 1b) and to sequences representing the entire ORFs 3, 4, and 7, which encode for nonstructural (ORFs 3 and 4) or viral nucleocapsid (ORF 7) proteins, were compared for their abilities to amplify the targeted EAV sequences by the RT-PCR procedure. The sensitivities of the RT-PCR for amplification of EAV s...
