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.
Hardy ME, Woode GN, Xu ZC, Williams JD, Conner ME, Dwyer RM, Powell DG.Equine group A rotaviruses isolated over a 10-year period in New York State, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Texas were compared serotypically and electropherotypically. All isolates were determined to be serotype 3 by reaction with hyperimmune antiserum to the serotype 3 H-2 strain of equine rotavirus. All displayed RNA electrophoretic migration patterns related to that of the H-2 strain but distinct from that of serotype 5 strain H-1. A serologic survey of 184 mares in Kentucky, which was done to determine the incidence of H-1 and H-2 infections, showed geometric mean serum neutralizing titers to ...
Moyer W, Spencer PA, Kallish M.The relative incidence of dorsal metacarpal disease was examined in two groups of Thoroughbred racehorses training on dissimilar surfaces (dirt and wood fibre). The horses and training methods appeared to be similar. The incidence of disease was significantly greater in the group training on dirt. There was no significant difference in the age distribution of incidence between the two groups and there was no association of incidence with sex or age within the training group. The number of fast miles worked by the two groups prior to the onset of dorsal metacarpal disease was lower in the group...
Browning GF, Chalmers RM, Fitzgerald TA, Snodgrass DR.A group A rotavirus designated L338 was isolated from the faeces of a diarrhoeic foal and was compared to 11 standard G serotype strains of group A rotaviruses by cross-neutralization. It was clearly distinct from serotypes G1 to G11 and thus representative of a novel rotavirus G serotype tentatively designated G13. The nucleic acid sequence of the virion protein 7 (VP7) coding region was determined and the deduced amino acid sequence compared to published sequences. Within VP7 regions A and B, L338 was clearly distinct from serotypes G1 to G12 (excluding G7 which has not been sequenced), but ...
Weiland G, Hasslinger MA, Mezger S, Pöllein W.In an investigation period over 8 months the natural course of infection was studied by means of coproscopic and serological methods in 27 mares and 29 foals. The examination of the stool showed in mares, before the beginning of the grazing season, an infection rate of 100% with small and a rate of 7.4% with large strongyles (Str. vulgaris). Serologically the ELISA showed in foals only a distinct increase of antibody activity with the somatic antigen. The mares retained the high IgG-values of activity, which were already found at the beginning of the investigations. Even though the agglutinati...
Blunden AS, Mackintosh ME.A series of 31 thoroughbreds and 18 non-thoroughbreds was examined post mortem to assess what bacteria might be present in the lower respiratory tract, and to assess their significance by correlating the bacteriological findings with histological changes in the lung. The distal trachea and seven representative lung sites were swabbed in each case. Sixty-six per cent of the sites were sterile with remaining sites producing scanty growths of mainly coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp., E. coli, Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Anaerobes, mainly Clostridium perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis a...
Gaĭdamovich SIa, Pomelova VG, Lavrova NA, Mel'nikova EE, Sokolova MV, Kharitonenkov IG, Zlobin VN.Potentialities of differentiation between Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) complex viruses by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay were studied. For this, 4 test systems were used based on different combinations of native and labeled polyclonal antibodies to VEE virus, strain Trinidad, and monoclonal (MCA) antibody MAK 14-7 to protein EL of this virus. The maximal sensitivity and specificity was achieved in the test system formed from native MCA MAK 14-7 for sensitization of the solid phase and labeled polyclonal immunoglobulins for demonstration of the test results....
Donahue JM, Smith BJ, Redmon KJ, Donahue JK.A study was conducted to evaluate a recently available fluorescent antibody test (FAT) conjugate for the detection of leptospires in tissues of aborted and stillborn horses, to determine the leptospira antibody titers and compare serologic test results with FAT results, and to determine the prevalence of leptospira-induced abortions and stillbirths in the equine population of central Kentucky. From July 1, 1988 through June 30, 1989, 15 (2.5%) of 594 submissions (fetuses, stillborn foals, and/or placentas) were diagnosed as leptospirosis by the FAT (14 of 15 tested) and/or microscopic agglutin...
Greiner EC, Mays MB, Smart GC, Weisbrode SE.Verminous mastitis was the reason for euthanasia of a 22-yr-old Paso Fino mare from Miami, Florida. The etiologic agent was a species of Cephalobus (Rhabditida: Cephalobidae), a genus of soil-inhabiting nematodes that were obviously multiplying in the mammary gland. Only females and larvae were detected in the tissues by histologic section or by teasing the tissue to liberate the worms. At least 12,900 individuals were present per gram of tissue. This is the first case of Cephalobus infecting horses and it indicates that not all histiotropic infections of horses by rhabditoid nematodes are by ...
Bocklisch H, Ludwig C, Lange S.Between 1982 and 1989 59 equine fetuses were investigated for chlamydiae using animal experiments and embryonated eggs. Chlamydiae were isolated from 16 fetuses (27.1%) originating from 8 studs. The macroscopical lesions of the fetal organs were characterized by extensive haemorrhages. The histological picture shows severe lesions of the blood vessels of different organs. In 6 studs in which chlamydiae had been isolated, blood sera of clinically healthy and pregnant mares were investigated for antibodies during 1989 and 1990. Antibody titres between 1:10++ and 1:40 were detected by using compl...
Guo YJ, Wang M, Zheng SL, Wang P, Ji WJ, Chen QH.About thirty thousands horses were affected and hundreds of them died in an epidemic caused by equine 2 influenza virus (H3N8) in China. The estimated morbidity and mortality accounted for 81% and 2%, respectively. The viral protein and RNA electrophoresis patterns revealed that the new isolates were antigenically different from the prototype strain influenza A/eq/Miami/1/63(H3N8). Therefore, the representative strain of the equine 2 subtype of influenza A virus recommended for producing reference reagents, vaccines, and for serological diagnosis must have been altered by antigenic drift.
Hoffman AM, Staempfli HR, Prescott JF, Viel L.A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken to determine the value of parenterally administered Streptococcus equi M-protein vaccine in foals during an epizootic of strangles. Weaned mixed-breed foals (n = 664) housed on 2 adjacent feed-lots (A and B) arrived over a 5-day period, 2 weeks before primary vaccination. Foals in lot B (n = 114) were randomly administered vaccine (n = 59) or saline solution (placebo; n = 55) on 3 occasions at biweekly intervals. Foals in lot A (n = 450) were given 1 dose of vaccine (n = 225) or placebo. The following clinical observations were scored bli...
Hamblin C, Mellor PS, Graham SD, Hooghuis H, Montejano RC, Cubillo MA, Boned J.A total of 256 sera collected from three species of domesticated equidae in four different Spanish provinces were examined 1-4 months after the administration of attenuated monovalent African horse sickness virus (AHSV) serotype 4 vaccine. Approximately 10% of the sera were negative by ELISA, virus neutralization, agar gel immuno-diffusion and complement fixation tests. Similar negative reactions were recorded with sera from two ponies after experimental primary vaccination. The rapid rise in antibodies in sera from these two ponies, after a second dose of vaccine, suggested they would probabl...
Freeman DE, Spencer PA.Age, breed, and gender distributions of 168 horses with umbilical hernia treated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine were analyzed to determine risk factors for this disease. For the 3 breeds that constituted the largest proportion of hospital and case populations, Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse, the overall ratio of females to males was 1.63. In a hospital population of the same age group, 0 to 48 months, the female to male ratio was 0.93. Compared with males, females were at significantly higher risk for umbilical hernia after adjustment for breed a...
Thiel PG, Marasas WF, Sydenham EW, Shephard GS, Gelderblom WC, Nieuwenhuis JJ.Fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2), two structurally related mycotoxins with cancer-promoting activity, were recently isolated from corn cultures of Fusarium moniliforme MRC 826. These toxins have been reported to be produced also by isolates of F. proliferatum. Contamination of foods and feeds by F. moniliforme has been associated with human esophageal cancer risk, and FB1 has been shown to be the causative agent of the neurotoxic disease leukoencephalomalacia in horses. Because of the toxicological importance of the fumonisins, the potential to produce FB1 and FB2 was determined in a study of ...
Jensen T, Washino RK.Daily survivorship, duration of the gonotrophic cycle, absolute abundance and season-long relative abundance were estimated for Aedes melanimon in the Sacramento Valley of California in 1987 and 1988 using mark-release-recapture (MRR) techniques and by monitoring changes in the abundance and parity rate of the native population. One objective of these studies was to determine the extent to which A. melanimon was biologically capable of serving as a horizontal arbovirus vector. Daily survivorship was estimated to be 0.90 and 0.84 in MRR studies conducted in September 1987 and August 1988, 0.89 ...
Sweeney CR, Maxson AD, Soma LR.The frequency of upper respiratory tract abnormalities was determined in a selected population of racing Thoroughbreds. The prevalence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia was 34.2%; left laryngeal hemiplegia was 1.8%; and epiglottic entrapment was 0.74%. Excluding pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and tracheal exudate, 3.7% of the population examined had upper respiratory tract abnormalities.
Bracher V, von Fellenberg R, Winder CN, Gruenig G, Hermann M, Kraehenmann A.The incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Switzerland was determined in three groups of horses selected at random. Group A (97 horses) and Group B (93 horses) had no history of respiratory disease, but Group C (113 horses) had a history of lower respiratory tract disease. All horses were examined by auscultation of the respiratory tract under forced breathing, endoscopic examination of the upper and lower respiratory tract, arterial blood gas analysis at rest and cytological examination of respiratory secretions (RS). Fifty-four per cent of the horses in Group A and 54.8...
Carrigan M, Cosgrove P, Kirkland P, Sabine M.Thirty-three of the 44 mares on a Thoroughbred stud in New South Wales aborted or lost foals within one day of birth. Gross pathological and histological changes were in keeping with Equid herpesvirus I (EHV-1) abortion. In the six foals that underwent virological examination, EHV was isolated and typed as EHV-1 by restriction endonuclease analysis. EHV-1 abortion had not occurred previously on this stud and the source of the infection was not identified.
Regan PJ, Roberts JO, Feldberg L, Roberts AH.An estimated 3.5 million people ride horses in the United Kingdom (Cannon, 1989). Injuries consequent to falls are common (Edixhoven et al., 1981), but those sustained while leading horses are less well recognized. In eight cases inappropriate grip of the reins or halter rope while leading a horse or pony resulted in an avulsion injury to a finger or thumb. It is suggested that people at risk be informed of such injuries.
Freestone JF, Carlson GR.Case records of horses with muscle disorders presenting to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California, Davis, over a nine year period were evaluated. The objectives of the review were to identify the common myogenic muscle problems and their clinical features. Muscle disease of idiopathic aetiology following exercise was by far the most common condition noted. Other causes of myogenic muscle disorders included congenital, infectious, immune-mediated and nutritional factors.
Sweeney CR, Holcombe SJ, Barningham SC, Beech J.Frequency of aerobic and anaerobic isolates in 327 aspirates and in 123 pleural fluid samples from 327 horses with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the aerobes were reported. Of the 327 horses, 75% survived, 20% were euthanatized, and 5% died. Tracheobronchial aspirates or pleural fluid specimens from 25 of the horses did not yield growth. Of the remaining 302 horses, 221 had only aerobic organisms isolated, whereas only anaerobes were isolated from 6 of the 302 horses. The remaining 75 horses had mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infections. The su...
Chong YC, Duffus WP, Field HJ, Gray DA, Awan AR, O'Brien MA, Lunn DP.Over a period of two years, a total of 22 full term foals from Welsh Mountain pony mares were raised in conditions that were free from infection by Equid herpesvirus (EHV-1/4). Parturition dates were predicted by monitoring colostrum electrolytes, and the mares allowed to foal naturally under supervision or following induction with intravenous oxytocin. Immediately following birth, foals were separated from their dams and transferred to a specially built, positive pressure isolation unit. They were given antibiotic prophylaxis and fed bovine colostrum during the first 24 h, and then mare's mil...
Payne RC, Sukanto IP, Djauhari D, Partoutomo S, Wilson AJ, Jones TW, Boid R, Luckins AG.Cattle, buffaloes and horses in several areas of Indonesia were examined for evidence of infection with Trypanosoma evansi by the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies to T. evansi. Evidence of infection was found in animals at each sampling site although differences were seen in prevalence rates between sites. Prevalence rates in buffalo were usually higher than in cattle in the same area while in horses they were much lower than in cattle or buffalo. An age-dependent prevalence rate was seen in buffalo an...
Bürki F, Nowotny N, Hofer A.The commercial vaccine "Resequin F Konz." devised against viral respiratory infections of horses contains the abortigenic Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Therefore we had used it in our protection project of the Austrian Lipizzaners+ primarily to prevent abortions. Taking into account the recent perception that for young horses the respiratory-pathogenic EHV-4 type is essential Behringwerke Marburg added this particular virus to their market product to produce a multicomponent experimental vaccine. We examined this vaccine for its antibody induction as well as their persistence against each of i...
Scott GR.Twelve DNA viruses and forty‐three RNA viruses are known to infect horses. In addition, there are three unclassified viruses and, at least, three alleged viruses infecting horses. Differential diagnosis is difficult. At least twenty‐eight of the fifty‐eight viruses induce clinical disease but the range of syndromes is limited; eleven provoke respiratory symptoms and eleven cause encephalitis. Thirty‐four equine viruses with a limited geographical distribution are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Twenty viruses are spread by contact and their distribution, in general, is global. The ve...
Cappelli A, Capone A, Valzano M, Bozic J, Preziuso S, Mensah P, Varotto Boccazzi I, Rinaldi L, Favia G, Ricci I.Tick-borne diseases are an increasing problem for the community. Ticks harbor a complex microbial population acquired while feeding on a variety of animals. Profiling the bacterial population by 16S rDNA amplification and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis enables detection of the broad spectrum of bacteria that settles in the ticks. This study identified known and unknown tick-infecting bacteria in samples from Italy. Seven adult ticks from different hosts and origins were analyzed: two ticks from dogs (Lombardia), two ticks from bovines (Lazio), and three ticks from humans (Marche). ...
Mathes RL, Burdette EL, Moore PA, Myrna KE.To report concurrent clinical intraocular findings in horses with depigmented punctate chorioretinal foci and to document any correlation with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). Methods: Records of 131 horses (241 eyes) examined at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching hospital from 2001 to 2010 were reviewed with either clinically normal fundi or depigmented punctate chorioretinal foci in the absence of other fundic pathology. Data collected included patient signalment, concurrent clinical ocular findings and follow-up information. Sex, presence of no other intraocular findings, presence...
Sweeney CR, Scanlon T, Russell GE, Smith G, Boston RC.To determine application rate and effectiveness of sodium bisulfate to decrease the fly population in a horse barn environment. Methods: 12 privately owned farms in southeastern Pennsylvania. Methods: Application rates of sodium bisulfate were approximately 2.3 kg/stall, 1.1 kg/stall, and 0.5 kg/stall. Two or 3 stalls were treated, and 1 or 2 stalls were not treated (control stalls) at each farm. Farm personnel applied sodium bisulfate in treated stalls daily for 7 days. Fly tapes were hung from the same site in treated and control stalls. After 24 hours, the fly tape was removed, flies adheri...
Rohrbach BW, Green EM, Oliver JW, Schneider JF.Loline and ergot alkaloids found in endophyte-infected (Acremonium coenophialum) tall fescue (EITF) cause vasoconstriction of equine vessels in vitro. An aggregate risk study was used to evaluate the association between horses exposed to EITF and development of laminitis. Veterinary teaching hospitals participating in the Veterinary Medical Data Base were grouped by whether equine accessions were likely to have been at high, moderate, or low risk for exposure to EITF. From 1980-1990, there were 185,781 accessions, of which 5,536 had diagnosis of laminitis. Proportion of equine accessions with ...
Ellenberger C, Schüppel KF, Möhring M, Reischauer A, Alex M, Czerny CP, Fercho A, Schoon HA.Cowpox virus infection associated with a streptococcal septicaemia was diagnosed in a weak German Warmblood filly, born 29 days prematurely, and humanely destroyed on the sixth day of life. At necropsy, ulcerative lesions in the alimentary tract, colitis, polyarthritis and nephritis were observed. Transmission electron microscopical examination of specimens from ulcerative lesions revealed typical orthopox virions. Cowpox virus was unequivocally identified by virological and molecular-biological methods.
Yamanaka T, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T.To investigate the possibilities of two NA inhibitors [oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) and zanamivir (ZA)] as the clinical agents for equine influenza A virus (EIV) infection, we examined the efficacies of these inhibitors against twelve EIVs in vitro. OC and ZA inhibited NA activities of all EIVs with 50% inhibitory concentrations with ranging from 0.017 to 0.130 and from 0.010 to 0.074 microM, respectively. OC and ZA inhibited plaque-forming of all EIVs in MDCK cells with 50% effective concentrations with ranging from 0.015 to 0.097 and from 0.016 to 0.089 microM, respectively, except for one s...
Ohta M, Bannai H, Nemoto M, Kambayashi Y, Tamura N, Tsujimura K.An inactivated equine influenza virus (EIV) vaccine and a live equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) vaccine are usually administered concurrently to Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether concurrent administration of an inactivated EIV vaccine and a live EHV-1 vaccine in Thoroughbred racehorses influences the antibody response against EIV. We compared the antibody response against EIV in horses administered both vaccines on the same day (Group A; n = 27) and the response in horses administered an inactivated EIV vaccine first and then a live EHV-1 v...
Sconza S, Di Cesare A, Iorio R, Bartolini R, Paoletti B, Traversa D.Cyathostomins, or 'small strongyles', are the most important equine helminths because of their worldwide distribution, spread of anthelmintic‑resistant populations, and pathogenic impact. The so‑called 'selective treatment' of those animals exceeding a certain faecal egg count (FEC) has recently been proposed to implement cyathostomin control programmes. The present study evaluated the extent of egg shedding in 475 horses living in 12 farms from 3 regions of Italy. All examined farms and 224 horses (47.6%...
Bell RJ, Textor JA.To establish the prevalence of intussusceptions involving the caecum in a population of horses admitted to a university hospital for colic. Methods: Retrospective clinical study Methods: Medical records of all horses admitted to the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1991 and 2004 were examined for information of those horses diagnosed with an intussusception involving the caecum. Results: A total of 135 horses were admitted for colic surgery during the study period and 61 horses had a diagnosis of ileocaecal (37), caecocaecal (5) or caecocolic intussusception (19) made eit...
Obi TU, Taylor WP.Serum samples collected from 1,197 goats, 586 sheep, 254, cattle, 55 dogs and 44 horses were examined for antibodies to adenovirus by the agar-gel precipitation test. Results show that 17.7% of the goats, 18.4% of the sheep, 4.3% of the cattle, and 4.5% of the horses had precipitating antibodies. None of the dog sera examined was positive. The results seem to indicate a moderate level of previous exposure to adenovirus infection especially among goats and sheep in Nigeria.
English AW.The seasonal changes in longevity on herbage of the infective larvae of strongylid nematodes of the horse were studied. During the summer months, 1% of the larvae survived on herbage for 2-3 weeks, with 0.2% still viable for a further 2-3 weeks. Equivalent survival periods in winter were 7-11 weeks and over 11 weeks respectively. During spring and autumn, larvae survived for periods varying from 3-8 weeks. On Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) growing vigorously in the summer of 1976, the majority of larvae remained in the lowest layers of the pasture, within 10 cm of the soil surface. Very few rea...
Bolin DC, Donahue JM, Vickers ML, Harrison L, Sells S, Giles RC, Hong CB, Poonacha KB, Roberts J, Sebastian MM, Swerczek TW, Tramontin R, Williams NM.During the spring and summer of 2001 and in association with the mare reproductive loss syndrome, 22 terminal and 12 clinical cases of equine pericarditis were diagnosed in central Kentucky. Actinobacillus species were the principal isolates from 8 of 10 nontreated, terminally affected and 3 of 10 clinically affected horses. Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were cultured from the remaining 2 nontreated terminal cases. No viruses were isolated in tissue culture. Nucleic acid of equine herpesvirus-2 was detected in pericardial and tracheal wash fluids of 3 and 1 individuals,...
Neill SD, O'Brien JJ, McMurray CH, Blanchflower WJ.Cellular fatty acid compositions of contagious equine metritis isolates and three reference Haemophilus equigenitalis cultures were determined by gas chromatography. The chromatographic data were standardised and normalised fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were produced. The profiles were compared visually and similarity indices were determined using a computer peak matching method. There was little difference between the profiles of the three reference strains, each strain being characterised by three major fatty acids; C 18:1, C 16:0 and 30H-C 14:0. Variations in cultural conditions h...
Pawlina-Tyszko K, Semik-Gurgul E, Ząbek T, Witkowski M.Horses are of great importance in recreation, livestock production, as working animals in poorly developed countries, and for equine-assisted therapy. Equine sarcoids belong to the most commonly diagnosed tumors in this species. They may cause discomfort, pain, and can lead to the permanent impairment of motor function. The molecular bases of their formation are still under investigation. Our previous studies revealed altered microRNA (miRNA) expression and DNA methylation levels in sarcoid tumors. Abnormal patterns of methylation may be responsible for changes in gene expression levels, inclu...
McGreevy PD, Nicol CJ.The results of an experimental study of the motivational consequences of short-term prevention of crib-biting are reported here. Eight test horses wore a cribbing collar for 24 h. This was effective in preventing crib-biting in 6 subjects. Using analysis of co-variance that accounted for baseline differences in crib-biting rate, test horses showed significantly more crib-biting than control horses on the first day after prevention (P < 0.05). There was also a highly significant increase in the crib-biting rate of test horses on the first day after prevention in comparison with their baselin...
Volkmann D, Zent W, Little T, Riddle T, Durenberger J, Potenza K, Sibley L, Roser J.While searching for the cause of the Mare Reproductive Loss syndrome (MRLS), we postulated that 1 of 3 tissues in 40-120 D pregnant mares was the likely primary target of the noxious factor that caused early abortions: The corpora lutea (CL), the endometrium or the fetus and/or its membranes. At this stage of gestation, progesterone (P4) is solely produced by luteal tissue, eCG by endometrial cups in the endometrium and oestrogens by the feto-placental unit. We determined whether concentrations of P4, eCG and/or total conjugated oestrogens (CE) would indicate which tissue was targeted during t...
Grewar JD, Sergeant ES, Weyer CT, van Helden LS, Parker BJ, Anthony T, Thompson PN.An African horse sickness (AHS) outbreak occurred in South Africa's AHS controlled area in autumn 2016. A freedom from disease survey was performed to establish the likelihood of ongoing circulation of the associated virus during the same period the following year. A single-stage surveillance strategy was employed with a population-level design prevalence of 1% to establish a survey population sensitivity of 95% (probability that one or more positive horses would be detected if AHS was present at a prevalence greater than or equal to the design prevalence). In March 2017, a total of 262 random...
Anderson C, Baha H, Boghdeh N, Barrera M, Alem F, Narayanan A.Zoonotic pathogens that are vector-transmitted have and continue to contribute to several emerging infections globally. In recent years, spillover events of such zoonotic pathogens have increased in frequency as a result of direct contact with livestock, wildlife, and urbanization, forcing animals from their natural habitats. Equines serve as reservoir hosts for vector-transmitted zoonotic viruses that are also capable of infecting humans and causing disease. From a One Health perspective, equine viruses, therefore, pose major concerns for periodic outbreaks globally. Several equine viruses ha...
Kirby AT, Traub-Dargatz JL, Hill AE, Kogan LR, Morley PS, Heird JC.To develop a questionnaire for self-assessment of biosecurity practices at equine boarding facilities and to evaluate infectious disease control practices in these facilities in Colorado. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 64 equine boarding facilities in Colorado. Methods: Survey questions were rated according to importance for prevention and containment of equine infectious diseases. Point values (range, 0 to 20) were assigned for possible responses, with greater values given for optimal infection control methods. Questionnaires were mailed to equine boarding facilities in Colorado adv...
Maia MPM, Weber SH, Bastos LFC, Michelotto PV.This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCCs) in yearling Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses in Southern Brazil, as well as to examine the same animals studied as weanlings by Bastos et al. (2017) and compare the radiographic findings for the two ages. Radiographs of 76 male and female TB yearlings from Paraná State, Southern Brazil, were investigated. The proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MC/MT), tarsal, and femorotibial (FT) joints were evaluated using 24 radiographic projections. The evaluation consisted of a severit...
Brown JE, Corstvet RE, Stratton LG.Two experiments incorporating 13 mares were conducted for the purpose of producing and monitoring intrauterine infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the pilot study, the infection was produced with strains of K pneumoniae type 68 and type 10 isolated from the genital tract of stallions with a history of breeding problems. In the principal study, K pneumoniae type 68 was used to produce the infection. Tampons and guarded culture swabs were used to obtain uterine samples in the pilot study. In comparing the efficacies of isolation of K pneumoniae with the tampons and isolation with standard g...
Frazer JL, Perkins NR, Pitt D.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak, infected horses were quarantined at Morgan Park Recreational Grounds (MPRG) near Warwick, Queensland. Some individuals caring for horses were reported to have made return journeys between MPRG and home properties containing other horses during the time there was active infection at MPRG. Objective: A retrospective cohort study to assess the biosecurity and hygiene measures undertaken and their outcomes. Methods: All individuals recorded as being responsible for caring for one or more horses at MPRG, and who were also recorded on entry and exit lo...
Štritof Z, Mitchell C, Turk N, Habuš J, Hađina S, Perharić M, Waller AS.Clinical cases resembling strangles are regularly seen in some areas of Croatia. However, there are no data on the prevalence of infection and the clinical forms or geographic distribution of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in horses resident in Croatia, in order to estimate the geographic distribution of infection. The study included 291 horse sera from the eight counties where the majority of Croatian horses are kept. Sera were tested by indirect ELISA (iELISA) for the presence of serum antibodies against S. equi pr...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC, Swerczek TW, Stamper S, Granstrom DE.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...
Knight PK.This study analysed the race day veterinary reports from harness racing meetings controlled by the New South Wales Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority between 1 September 2008 and 30 June 2009. The findings of all prerace and postrace examinations were analysed, and the frequency of observations was recorded. Chi-square testing was used to determine whether the incidence of abnormalities differed between age groups and tracks. A total of 542 meetings were conducted during the period of the study, with veterinary examinations conducted at 395 of these meetings. A total of 520 vete...
Liu IK, Pascoe DR, Chang LW, Zee YC.Serum antibody concentrations against influenza A-equi-1 virus and A-equi-2 virus were measured in a group of 18 foals from birth to 4 months of age. More than 50% of the foals were seronegative to A-equi-1 virus infection by 4 weeks of age, with titers of less than or equal to 1:16. For A-equi-2 virus, more than 50% of the foals were seronegative by 2 weeks of age, with titers of less than or equal to 1:8. Passively derived antibodies against influenza A-equi-1 virus and A-equi-2 virus in foals obtained from recently vaccinated mares and from mares not vaccinated within 6 months before foalin...
Millican L, Vanderstichel R, McClure J, MacMillan K.The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of owners of horse farms in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada that were aware of the (CODE) and determine demographic factors associated with awareness. A questionnaire was completed by owners at fifty horse farms. In total, 38% of the farm owners were unaware of the CODE, 48% were aware, but were not familiar with its content and only 14% used the CODE when making decisions on caring for their horses. Owners of private stables were more aware of the CODE than owners of boarding stables. The CODE awareness varied between the three...
Mason DK, Watkins KL, McNie JT, Luk CM.In late November 1988 large numbers of thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong developed a transient pyrexia with, in some cases, the clinical signs of viral respiratory disease. Serial blood samples for haematological examination were taken from 10 of the horses which were stabled in six different blocks. They had developed a high temperature within three days of each other and subsequently seroconverted to equine herpes virus 1 (EHV1). The absolute monocyte count was more than 0.5 x 10(9)/litre in all 10 within the first five days, and nine of them had a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio...
Arora S, Sharma S, Goel SK, Singh US.Implementation of the recommended post-exposure prophylaxis by vaccination and specific immunoglobulin therapy for rabies is largely hampered by its high cost and inadequate production. Therefore, the development and availability of an economic preparation of rabies immunoglobulin is a high priority for India, where rabies is a major cause of death. We studied the efficacy of four different adjuvants in raising antibodies to rabies antigen in older, discarded equines. Methods: Eleven equines, 23-26 years old, were divided into 4 groups to receive four different adjuvants in small amounts (1-2 ...
