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.
Combined amino acid mutations occurring in the envelope closely correlate with pathogenicity of EIAV. The Chinese equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) donkey-leukocyte attenuated vaccine (DLV) provides a unique natural model system to study the attenuation mechanism and immunological control of lentivirus replication. Critical consensus mutations were identified between virulent Chinese EIAV strains and vaccine strains. Based on a full-length infectious clone of EIAV vaccine strain pLGFD3, two molecular clones, mFD5-4-7 and mFD7-2-11, were successfully constructed, in which 4 and 6 critical consensus mutations in the env gene of the vaccine strain were point-mutated to the wild-type sequence,...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital: frequency, characterization, and association with clinical disease. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging equine pathogen. To attempt to control nosocomial and zoonotic transmission, an MRSA screening program was established for all horses admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital, whereby nasal screening swabs were collected at admission, weekly during hospitalization, and at discharge. MRSA was isolated from 120 (5.3%) of 2,283 horses: 61 (50.8%) at the time of admission, 53 (44.2%) during hospitalization, and 6 from which the origin was unclear because an admission swab had not been collected. Clinic...
Two monoclonal antibodies with defined epitopes of P44 major surface proteins neutralize Anaplasma phagocytophilum by distinct mechanisms. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. The polymorphic 44-kDa major outer membrane proteins of A. phagocytophilum are dominant antigens recognized by patients and infected animals. However, the ability of anti-P44 antibody to neutralize the infection has been unclear due to a mixture of P44 proteins with diverse hypervariable region amino acid sequences expressed by a given bacterial population and lack of epitope-defined antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 5C11 and 3E65 are directed to different domains of P44 prote...
Protective effect of vaccination with recombinant proteins from Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in a strangles model in the mouse. A mouse model resembling Streptococcus equi subspecies equi infection in the horse, strangles, was used to assess the protective effect of vaccination with selected recombinant proteins from S. equi subsp. equi. After challenge the infection was monitored by weight loss and by nasal colonisation with S. equi subsp. equi. Vaccination with a collagen-binding protein (CNE) and a collagen-like protein (SclC) resulted in protective antibodies, whereas a novel fibronectin-binding protein (FNEB) did not. Co-administration of CNE with EAG, a poorly immunogenic alpha2-macroglobulin-, albumin- and immun...
Methicillin-resistant staphylococci in companion animals. We determined the molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant staphylococci from animals and staff at a small animal and equine hospital. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) identical to human EMRSA-15 was found in dogs and hospital staff. In contrast, 5 distinct MRSA strains were isolated from horses but not from hospital staff.
Postepizootic persistence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Venezuela. Five years after the apparent end of the major 1995 Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) epizootic/epidemic, focal outbreaks of equine encephalitis occurred in Carabobo and Barinas States of western Venezuela. Virus isolates from horses in each location were nearly identical in sequence to 1995 isolates, which suggests natural persistence of subtype IC VEE virus (VEEV) strains in a genetically stable mode. Serologic evidence indicated that additional outbreaks occurred in Barinas State in 2003. Field studies identified known Culex (Melanoconion) spp. vectors and reservoir hosts of enzootic VEE...
Use of leukocytes as treatment for endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. This study compared four treatments for bacterial endometritis in mares experimentally infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Twenty-five mares were used, 20 resistant and five susceptible to endometritis. Mares would be in estrus when infected. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, clinical, bacteriological and cytological examinations were performed and repeated until the first occurrence: negative cytology and no Streptococcus growth or the seventh day post-infection. All mares showed clinical signs of endometritis and were assigned to one of the following treatments: (1) intrauterine in...
Emergence of MRSA infections in horses in a veterinary hospital: strain characterisation and comparison with MRSA from humans. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become an emerging public health problem worldwide, no longer only associated with healthcare-associated infections. With the exception of some recent reports concerning infections in cats, dogs and horses, infections with MRSA in companion animals have been infrequently reported. Here we submit findings for MRSA infections in horses in a central European university hospital.
Effect of different adjuvants in equines for the production of equine rabies immunoglobulin. 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 ...
Development of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting equine serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella abortusequi. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IELISA) was developed for the detection of equine serum antibodies to lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Abortusequi (LPS), a causative organism of Equine Paratyphoid. The data presented demonstrates that horses immunized with S. abortusequi LPS developed antibodies detectable by the IELISA. By comparison, the tube agglutination test (TAT) did not detect antibody to S. abortusequi LPS as consistently as the IELISA. The data suggests that the IELISA may be a more suitable test for the detection of serum antibodies to ...
Vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections in 15 horses. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 15 foals and adult horses in which vancomycin was used, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside, to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections. Signalment, presenting complaint, history (including history of treatment for the current complaint), results of bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, treatment, and outcome were reviewed. The average vancomycin dosage was 7.5 mg/kg q8h, administered by intravenous infusion over 30 min. The infection resolved in all 7 horses with soft tissue infections and...
Equine herpesvirus-4 kinetics in peripheral blood leukocytes and nasopharyngeal secretions in foals using quantitative real-time TaqMan PCR. Based on the hypothesis that the viral load of cells infected with EHV-4 will likely change during the course of disease, TaqMan PCR was used to investigate and characterize the kinetics of EHV-4 viral DNA load (glycoprotein B gene) and transcriptional activity (glycoprotein B and latency-associated transcripts) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and nasopharyngeal secretions (NSs) collected from 11 foals during a field outbreak of respiratory disease. The EHV-4 DNA load in PBLs was low and of short duration after onset of clinical signs. In contrast, the EHV-4 load in NSs remained high for...
Systemic Cryptococcus albidus infection in a Doberman Pinscher. Cryptococcus albidus is a saprophytic, encapsulated yeast usually found in air, both outdoor and indoor, and sometimes on human skin. It is not usually considered to be a primary pathogen. Most cryptococcal infections of humans and animals are caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Several cases of C. albidus infection have been reported in humans over the past 20 years. In the veterinary literature, 2 equine cases have been described: genital infection and mycotic keratitis. The present report is the first documented case of C. albidus systemic infection in a dog. Veterinarians and diagnosticians...
The equine immune response to equine herpesvirus-1: the virus and its vaccines. Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is an alphaherpesvirus which infects horses, causing respiratory and neurological disease and abortion in pregnant mares. Latency is established in trigeminal ganglia and lymphocytes. Immunity to EHV-1 lasts between 3 and 6 months. Current vaccines, many of which contain inactivated virus, have reduced the incidence of abortion storms in pregnant mares but individual animals, which may be of high commercial value, remain susceptible to infection. The development of effective vaccines which stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses remains a priority. Uti...
Rhythm of engorgement and detachment of Anocentor nitens females feeding on horses. The present study evaluated the engorgement and drop-off rhythms of Anocentor nitens females feeding on horses. Drop-off rhythm was evaluated at 6h-intervals (06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00 h) on horses held in stalls or in a pasture. A new method of marking feeding female ticks (the bowknot technique) was developed to evaluate ticks on horses in pasture that attached to different parts of the horse's body. This technique was highly successful, indicating no significant interference on tick engorgement rate or final tick weight, length and reproductive capability. Horses held in the pasture du...
Cytokine responses to EHV-1 infection in immune and non-immune ponies. Protecting equids against equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection remains an elusive goal. Repeated infection with EHV-1 leads to protective immunity against clinical respiratory disease, and a study was conducted to measure the regulatory cytokine response (IFN-gamma and IL-4) in repeatedly infected immune ponies compared to non-immune ponies. Two groups of four ponies were established. Group 1 ponies had previously been infected on two occasions, and most recently 7 months before this study. Group 2 ponies had no history no vaccination or challenge infection prior to this study. Both groups w...
Equine herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein D expressed in E. coli provides partial protection against equine herpesvirus infection in mice and elicits virus-neutralizing antibodies in the horse. The envelope glycoprotein D of EHV-1 (EHV-1 gD) is essential for virus infectivity and entry of virus into cells and is a potent inducer of virus-neutralizing antibody. In this study, truncated EHV-1 gD (gDt) was expressed with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag in E. coli using a pET vector. Western blot analysis using an anti-gD monoclonal antibody demonstrated the presence of gDt bands at 37.5, 36, 29.5 and 28 kDa. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of partially purified gDt was compared with gD expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus (Bac gD) using a BALB/c mouse model o...
Development of specific immunoglobulin Ga (IgGa) and IgGb antibodies correlates with control of parasitemia in Babesia equi Infection. In this study, the kinetics of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes were characterized in Babesia equi (Theileria equi)-infected horses. IgGa and IgGb developed during acute infection, whereas IgG(T) was detected only after resolution of acute parasitemia. The same IgG isotype profile induced during acute infection was obtained by equi merozoite antigen 1/saponin immunization.
Epidemiological study of the cystic echinococcosis in Morocco. The objectives of this epidemiological study on cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Morocco (2001-2004) were to update the prevalence of CE in different animal species living in the most important areas of the country and to collect protoscoleces and germinal layers for genetic research purposes. The post mortem inspection concerned 2948 sheep, 2337 goats, 618 cattle, 482 camels and 455 equines (325 horses, 60 mules and 70 donkeys) in five different regions: the Rif (Mediterranean coast and high mountains of the Rif), the Loukkos (Atlantic northwest plain), the center (Rabat and Casablanca regions),...
Detection of equine herpesvirus-specific effector and memory cytotoxic immunity in the equine upper respiratory tract. Immunological protection of horses from equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection and disease depends on the cooperation of virus-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. EHV-specific mucosal immunity may be an important component of such immune responses. This study demonstrates the induction of anti-EHV cytotoxic cellular immune responses in various mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues associated with the upper respiratory tract (URT) of the horse. Four young horses (1-2 years of age) were inoculated intranasally with the Army 183 strain of EHV-1 and euthanized 1 week later. One untreat...
Severe combined immunodeficiency in a Fell pony foal. Five days after birth of a viable Fell pony filly, yellow watery diarrhoea appeared without any signs of systemic disease. Four days later the diarrhoea ceased. On 11th day, the animal showed apathy, and a few days later, the foal was very lethargic, suffered from muscular weakness and severe watery diarrhoea that reappeared. The illness did not respond to therapy. At the age of 21 days the filly spontaneously died under symptoms of intestinal colic and pneumonia. Haematological examinations revealed lower numbers of erythrocytes as well as non-selective lymphopenia. Phagocytic activity was sl...
A monoclonal antibody to equine interleukin-4. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is secreted by T helper type 2 cells, mast cells, basophils and eosinophils. Detection of IL-4 can contribute the evaluation of cellular immune responses during infectious diseases, immunological disorders or vaccination. We used recombinant equine IL-4 to generate a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to equine IL-4. The mAb detected recombinant IL-4 in mammalian cells transfected with different plasmids containing IL-4 cDNA. After mitogen stimulation of equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, an intracellular protein was recognized by the new mAb in 1-2% of lymphocytes using fl...
Detection of the reemerging agent Burkholderia mallei in a recent outbreak of glanders in the United Arab Emirates by a newly developed fliP-based polymerase chain reaction assay. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the flagellin P (fliP)-I S407A genomic region of Burkholderia mallei was developed for the specific detection of this organism in pure cultures and clinical samples from a recent outbreak of equine glanders. Primers deduced from the known fliP-IS407A sequence of B. mallei American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 23344(T) allowed the specific amplification of a 989-bp fragment from each of the 20 B. mallei strains investigated, whereas other closely related organisms tested negative. The detection limit of the assay was 10 fg for purified DNA of ...
Antibacterial activity of cefquinome against equine bacterial pathogens. Cefquinome is known for its use as an antibacterial drug in cattle and pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of cefquinome against equine pathogenic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cefquinome was determined for a total of 205 strains, which had recently been isolated in Europe from diseased horses (respiratory infection, foal septicaemia). The bactericidal activity was tested against 19 strains using the time killing method. The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) and post-antibiotic sub-MIC effect (PA SME) were determined against 12 stra...
Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of doxycycline after oral administration of single and multiple doses in horses. To determine pharmacokinetics, safety, and penetration into interstitial fluid (ISF), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), and aqueous humor of doxycycline after oral administration of single and multiple doses in horses. Methods: 6 adult horses. Methods: The effect of feeding on drug absorption was determined. Plasma samples were obtained after administration of single or multiple doses of doxycycline (20 mg/kg) via nasogastric tube. Additionally, ISF, PMNLs, and aqueous humor samples were obtained after the final administration. Horses were monitored for adverse reactions. Results: Feeding ...
Equine herpesvirus type 1 modified live virus vaccines: quo vaditis? Infections of horses with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) have garnered new attention over the last few years. Devastating outbreaks occurring worldwide, primarily of the neurologic form of the disease, have resulted in a reassessment of the control strategies, and particularly the prophylactic measures, that are necessary to keep the infection and spread of disease in check. Most of the available EHV-1 vaccines are based on preparations of inactivated virus, which are applied monovalently for prevention of EHV-1-caused abortion in pregnant mares or as part of multivalent vaccines to prevent...
Clinical field efficacy and safety of pyrantel pamoate paste (19.13% w/w pyrantel base) against Anoplocephala spp. in naturally infected horses. Clinical field trials were conducted at five geographical locations in the USA (Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Virginia and Idaho) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pyrantel pamoate paste (19.13%, w/w, pyrantel base) administered at the recommended dosage of 13.2 mg pyrantel base/kg (6.0 mg pyrantel base/lb) body weight (b.w.) against tapeworm infections of Anoplocephala spp. in naturally infected horses. Horses at each study site were allocated by restricted randomization based on the cestode status (positive or negative) of pre-treatment fecal egg counts to complete sets of four animal...
Intracranial abscess caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in a foal. A 4-month-old Missouri Fox Trotter colt was examined for a 5-week history of head tilt after treatment for suspected pulmonary Rhodococcus equi infection. Results: Computed tomography revealed osteolysis of the occipital, temporal, and caudal portion of the parietal bones of the left side of the cranium. A soft tissue mass compressing the occipital region of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum was associated with the osteolytic bone. Results: A rostrotentorial-suboccipital craniectomy approach was performed to remove fragmented occipital bone, debulk the intracranial mass, and obtain tissue sam...
