Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Infection
Infections in horses encompass a range of diseases caused by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These infections can affect different systems within the horse, such as the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and integumentary systems, leading to a variety of clinical signs depending on the pathogen and the severity of the infection. Common infectious diseases in horses include equine influenza, strangles, and equine herpesvirus. Diagnosis often involves clinical examination, laboratory testing, and sometimes imaging, to identify the causative agent and assess the extent of the disease. Treatment strategies may include antimicrobial therapy, supportive care, and preventive measures such as vaccination and biosecurity practices. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases in equine populations.
Equine viral arteritis in horses undergoing pre-export testing in Spain (2016-2023): Seroprevalence estimates and diagnostic performance of a commercial indirect ELISA. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a contagious disease that affects equine reproduction and international trade. Despite its importance, epidemiological data from Spain are limited. This study aimed to assess EVA seroprevalence and evaluate the diagnostic performance of a commercial ELISA in horses before export. Methods: From 2016 to 2023, 5000 serum samples from horses across 16 Spanish autonomous communities were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA. Samples with inconclusive results, or those submitted with specific requests, underwent virus neutralisation testing (VNT). Diagnostic perfo...
Multisystemic and cerebral infection associated with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Brazilian Criollo horses. Halicephalosis is a rare cosmopolitan disease affecting equids, cattle, and humans, manifesting as meningoencephalitis. This study reports the detection of Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in two adult horses with neurological clinical signs in Rio Grande do Sul state, in the Southern Brazil. It underscores the pathological main findings and phylogenetic analyses. In both cases, the horses exhibited severe neurological manifestations and were euthanized due to poor prognosis. Pathological findings revealed gross brain lesions, in addition, alterations in the kidneys and lymph nodes. Histopa...
Etiological and immunological aspects of equine hoof canker. Chronic equine proliferative pododermatitis (canker) is a hypertrophic hoof disease characterized by excessive proliferation of horn-producing tissues resulting from dyskeratosis of keratinocytes. Since its etiology remains unknown, this study investigated potential etiological agents and evaluated biochemical and immunological profiles. Ten horses with hoof canker and ten healthy controls of the Norik of Muran breed were included. Dermatophytes and bovine papillomavirus 1 and 2 (BPV 1/2) were not detected. Candida glabrata was the most frequently identified species in both affected and health...
Effect of erythromycin and colistin ophthalmic ointment on post-race keratitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. This study investigated the prophylactic efficacy of administering an ophthalmic ointment containing erythromycin and colistin (EC ointment) after racing to prevent post-race keratitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: The incidence of post-race keratitis following turf and dirt races was compared between treatment groups (non-ointment group: eye flushing only; ointment group: eye flushing and application of EC ointment) and between two randomly assigned groups (non-antimicrobial group: application of ophthalmic white petrolatum; antimicrobial group: application of EC ointment). Results: Af...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
Myocardial dysfunction associated with low-dose endotoxin administration in adult horses. Horses with endotoxemia have variable myocardial function, but little is known about the severity or persistence of myocardial dysfunction (MD). Objective: Horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia have systolic and diastolic MD. Methods: Twelve systemically healthy horses. Methods: Horses were given Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 30 ng/kg over 60 min. Echocardiography and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements were performed at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 h post-endotoxin. Fluid therapy (10 L), polymyxin B (6000 IU/kg), and flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) were administered intravenou...
Seroprevalence and associated epidemiological drivers of glanders in horses: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2002-2026). Glanders (malleus), a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, remains an important transboundary disease of equids despite extensive control efforts in many countries. However, its epidemiological patterns and associated drivers have not been comprehensively synthesized. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of glanders in horses and identify key epidemiological drivers based on studies published up to April 27, 2026. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ProQu...
Equine alveolar echinococcosis: a focus on epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostics. Here, we review equine alveolar echinococcosis (AE), focusing on its epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostic challenges, through comparisons with AE in other host species. AE is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of the tapeworm. Horses are considered dead-end hosts, in which AE infection can be detected at slaughter, highlighting their potential as sentinel animals in endemic areas. Equine AE is typically asymptomatic and is generally only found incidentally during meat inspection or necropsy. Standard diagnosis involves histopathology and conventional poly...
Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in horses in Spain. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen of increasing importance in Europe, responsible for Lyme borreliosis and affecting both humans and domestic animals. In horses, infection is often subclinical and difficult to diagnose due to variable clinical presentation and limitations in diagnostic methods. Epidemiological data remain limited in several countries, including Spain. This study aimed to estimate the first nationwide seroprevalence in horses in Spain and to identify associated risk factors. A total of 716 serum samples from clinically healthy horses across 17 au...
Limited evidence for exposure of horses in the United Kingdom to influenza D virus. Since it was first detected in 2011, antibodies to influenza D virus (IDV) have been found in several species, although cattle are the major host. In cattle, IDV is typically associated with mild respiratory signs, but it is clinically significant as a component of bovine respiratory disease complex. Although antibodies to IDV have been detected in equids, no association of IDV with naturally occurring respiratory disease in horses has yet been demonstrated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether IDV may be a causal agent of equine respiratory disease in the UK. Methods: Nas...
Cyathostomin species richness and alpha diversity at egg reappearance following fecal egg count-based selective ivermectin treatment. Cyathostomin nematodes are ubiquitous in grazing horses. The overuse of anthelmintics has led to increasing problems with drug resistance to benzimidazoles and pyrantel. Although macrocyclic lactones (ML), such as ivermectin, generally retain the highest efficacy, reduced ML efficacy has increasingly been reported. A shortened egg reappearance period (ERP) is frequently used as an indicator of reduced susceptibility. However, the species-specific response dynamics after ivermectin treatment are inadequately characterized in cyathostomins. The objective of this study was to compare the cyathost...
Diagnosed causes of sinonasal disease in 1600 horses and associations with clinical signs, computed tomographic findings and case outcome. The diagnosis of equine sinonasal disorders has been greatly enhanced by using computed tomographic (CT) imaging. Objective: To explore associations between specific diagnoses and clinical and CT findings and between specific diagnoses and case outcome in equine sinonasal disease. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from medical records from 19 equine hospitals on cases of sinonasal disease, all of which underwent CT imaging. Case outcome was obtained from clinical records, and/or by contacting clients and referring veterinarians. Logistic regression analysis was u...
Evaluation of mosquito transmission of equine hepacivirus in laboratory and field studies. Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a hepatotropic virus, closely related to human hepatitis C virus (HCV), that can cause acute or chronic infection in horses. As with HCV, transmission is thought to occur primarily through parenteral, particularly blood-borne, routes. Vertical transmission from mare to foal has been reported but appears to be uncommon. The high seroprevalence in horse populations and the occurrence of infection in isolated horses indicate efficient horizontal transmission routes exist. One such possibility is biological or mechanical transmission by arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ...
Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Mannheimia haemolytica isolated from nasal samples of horses. The Mannheimia genus, which is part of the upper respiratory tract microbiota, harbours species that have the potential to cause progressive infections, such as haemorrhagic septicaemia and enzootic pneumonia, when the host immune system is suppressed. Among these species, Mannheimia haemolytica is considered the most pathogenic, and horses can be a host for this agent. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Mannheimia haemolytica in horses with and without respiratory clinical signs and to assess the potential pathogenic significance of isolates recovered from animals through serot...
Bacterial Pneumonia in Horses: Insights from a 10-Year European Single-Centre Retrospective Study. Bacterial pneumonia in horses typically occurs secondary to predisposing factors that compromise defence mechanisms. This 10-year retrospective study evaluated bacterial pneumonia in 81 horses treated at the equine clinic of Freie Universität Berlin from January 2015 to December 2024. Horses infected with primary pathogens such as or ssp. were not included in the study. The most common predisposing events were aspiration, mainly following oesophageal obstruction (37.0%), post-anaesthetic disease (27.2%), primary respiratory signs (24.7%), and other conditions (11.1%). Horses with aspiratio...
Pulmonary cryptococcosis with an endobronchial cryptococcoma in a Warmblood mare. This report describes pulmonary cryptococcosis with a large endobronchial cryptococcoma in an 8-year-old Warmblood mare. The mare was presented initially with fever and lethargy, and clinical signs typical of bacterial pneumonia. Markedly elevated serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations indicated a severe systemic inflammatory response. Over a period of 6 wk, the condition progressively worsened and was refractory to multiple courses of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy as administered in a field setting. Diagnostic imaging following referral revealed extensive consolidation of the left lung a...
Equine neuroborreliosis in Scandinavia: cerebrospinal fluid PCR confirmation and successful treatment in a mare. Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is an emerging concern in human medicine, and is a controversial topic in equine medicine. Neuroborreliosis (NB), a neurologic manifestation of LB, remains challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and the lack of definitive diagnostic methods. This report describes the first documented case of equine NB in Scandinavia. Methods: An 11-year-old mare presented with progressive weight loss, ataxia, muscle atrophy, and hyperesthesia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed neutrophilic pleocytosis, elevated prote...
Equine piroplasmosis in China, 2000 to 2025: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and risk factors. Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids caused by Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Theileria haneyi. We conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence in China and identify associated risk factors. PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched through 15 August 2025. Of 2,626 records identified, 80 studies met the inclusion criteria. Random-effects models were used to pool prevalence estimates, and prespecified subgroup analyses and univariate meta-regression were used to explore heterogeneity an...
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Horses From Northern and Eastern China: Investigation of Associated Risk Factors and Assessment of Zoonotic Potential. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a zoonotic microsporidian threatening public health, yet epidemiological data on equine infections in China are scarce despite frequent human-horse contact. In this study, 412 fresh horse fecal samples were collected from four Chinese regions covering four rearing systems and were screened for E. bieneusi internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences via nested PCR, with risk factor and phylogenetic analyses conducted. The overall infection prevalence reached 15.0% (62/412), varying geographically from 9.7% (Wenzhou) to 29.3% (Qiqihar). Foals <1 year and male horses ex...
Molecular Survey and Genetic Characterization of Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis in Horses in Shanxi Province, Northern China. Trichomonads include species of veterinary and zoonotic importance, yet infections with trichomonads in horses remain uncharacterized in Shanxi Province, Northern China. In the present study, we conducted a molecular survey of and using 631 horse fecal samples collected from Datong, Taiyuan, and Yuncheng cities in Shanxi Province between March and June 2023. Nested PCR assays targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene were used to detect the two trichomonad species. The overall molecular prevalences were 3.7% (23/631; 95% CI, 2.5-5.5%) for and 0.8% (5/631; 95% CI, 0.3-1.9%) f...
Successful outcome of open distal interphalangeal joint luxation in equids treated by surgical debridement without internal implants. The distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) plays a crucial role in the function of the hoof and digit. Dislocations and subluxations in this region are rare and primarily of traumatic origin. Methods: This case report aims to describe two unusual cases of open DIPJ dislocation, including clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, treatment, and long-term follow-up. Both animals presented with open traumatic distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) luxation. In Case 1, the animal received initial care on the property 5 h post-trauma and presented with joint exposure and articular surface contact with th...
Histological differences in the placenta of three mares treated for ascending bacterial placentitis compared to physiological pregnancies. Ascending bacterial placentitis is a frequent cause of late pregnancy loss in mares. The histology of placentitis has been described but mainly with a focus on inflammatory changes. In this study, we assessed several aspects beyond inflammatory processes between mares foaling close to term during treatment for placentitis and physiological pregnancies. We included placental tissue from physiological term pregnancies (group PP; n = 8) and clinical cases with confirmed ascending bacterial placentitis (group PL; n = 3). Samples were collected from several locations of the allantochorion (cerv...
Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of equine influenza in Colombia. In 2022, Colombia experienced an outbreak of equine influenza (EI) that primarily affected competition horses. Despite the epidemiological relevance of equine influenza virus (EIV) in the country, no previous phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses based on complete genomes have been reported. Objective: To perform phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of complete EIV genomes obtained from horses with clinical signs in two Colombian regions between 2020 and 2023. Methods: Molecular epidemiological study based on whole-genome sequencing and evolutionary analyses. Methods: Nasopharyngeal sa...
An atypical extrapulmonary presentation of rhodococcus equi infection in a foal: a case report. Rhodococcus equi infection in foals is primarily associated with pulmonary disease but may also present with extrapulmonary manifestations (Giguère et al. 2011; Reuss et al. 2009). Hemolytic anemia is a rare and poorly described complication, with only a single previous report of presumed immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in foals affected by R. equi. This case report describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, disease progression, and postmortem examination of a 4-month-old Holsteiner foal with confirmed R. equi infection and severe anemia consistent with a presumed immune-media...
Computed Tomographic Lesion Descriptors in Foals With Hematogenous Osteomyelitis: Interobserver Agreement and Association With Outcome. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to diagnose osteomyelitis in foals, but the prognostic value and interobserver reproducibility of specific CT lesion descriptors remain unclear. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to characterize CT features of hematogenous osteomyelitis in foals using a structured radiologic feature set, assess interobserver agreement, and evaluate associations between CT descriptors and survival to hospital discharge and long-term survival. We hypothesized that CT features considered aggressive, including a long transition zone, permeative or moth-eaten o...
No evidence of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in Japanese horses in 2025. The global spillover of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus into mammalian hosts has become a concern for public health as well as for the equine industry. However, previous reports on H5N1 natural infection and the presence of specific antibodies in horses remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a serosurveillance study to assess the prevalence of H5N1 antibodies in serum samples collected from 400 horses in Japan. Samples were screened using competitive ELISA (cELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests against H5-recombinant protein and H5N1 viral antigen, res...
Correction: Epidemiological study of strongyle infections in equines in Egypt: prevalence and risk factors. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1901312.].
Evidence-based interpretation of uterine cultures in mares: Linking bacterial growth patterns to endometrial inflammation. We evaluated uterine bacterial growth patterns and their association with endometrial inflammation (EI) in equine samples collected using uterine swabs (US) or low-volume uterine lavage (UL). A database including 1,545 US and 2,066 UL with cytological and bacteriological results was retrospectively analysed. Endometrial inflammation was defined as ≥2 polymorphonuclear cells per high-power field, and bacterial culture was considered positive when aerobic growth occurred within 48 h, with the number of bacterial isolates per sample recorded (0, 1, 2, or ≥3). Data were analysed using generali...
