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.
The Journal of hygieneDecember 1, 1976
Volume 77, Issue 3 401-408 doi: 10.1017/s0022172400055789
Platt H, Atherton JG, Orskov I.An account is given of K. pneumoniae capsule types occurring in horses, with particular reference to strains originating from the genital tract in the mare and the external genitalia of the stallion. A survey of the prevalence of K. pneumoniae and E. aerogenes strains in the preputial flora of healthy stallions is described. The majority of horses were found to be carriers of these organisms. The cultural characteristics of these preputial strains are described and compared with those of K. pneumoniae strains associated with epidemic metritis in mares. The epidemiological significance of certa...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Eyes from 114 (30.3%) of 376 dead horses, examined from 3 April 1975 to 3 April 1976, were naturally infected with adult Thelazia lacrymalis; 1 horse was also infected with 1 male Thelazia skrijabini. Adult T. lacrymalis from dead horses were successfully transferred mechanically to the eyes of 3 of 4 Shetland ponies raised helminth-free. Larvae from gravid female T. lacrymalis underwent development in experimentally infected, laboratory-raised face flies (Musca autumnalis) and third-stage larvae ranging from 1.82 to 2.94 mm in total length were recovered at 12 to 15 days postexposure. A total...
Round MC.Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (Cobbold 1884) infects the respiratory tract of horses, donkeys, mules, hinnies and zebra. A review of the literature has been given by Round (1972). In the western hemisphere it is popularly believed that donkeys are the natural host and that horses become infected by association with infected donkeys. There is scant documentary evidence for this and, in the Soviet Union, patent infections may reach 70 per cent without mention of donkey association (Koulikov 1935, Borovkova 1948, Akramovskii 1952a). Poynter (1963) considered the infection to be rare in the United Kingdo...
Bigler WJ, Lassing EB, Buff EE, Prather EC, Beck EC, Hoff GL.Research and surveillance programs relating to the circulation of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus in Florida between 1955 and 1974 are summarized. All available data suggest that EEE virus is 1) endemic in many Florida fresh water swamps and waterways, 2) active in a continuous cycle throughout the year with a peak between May and August, and 3) circulating in Culiseta melanura. It has been isolated also from eight other mosquito species.
Marsh RJ, Fraunfelder FT, McGill JI.The clinical differentiation of corneal epithelial lesions due to herpes simplex or herpes zoster may be confusing. Practical clinical tests, including the use of topical ocular stains, are useful to differentiate corneal epithelial lesions caused by these two viruses. Two distinctive types of zoster corneal epithelial disease may be seen; an early dendritic form, and a delayed form characterized by corneal mucus plaques that may take a dendriform pattern. These plaques are composed of mucus that is adherent to swollen, degenerating epithelial cells. The clinical differentiation between these ...
Nitschelm D, van der Horst CJ.It appeared that in mares suffering from endometritis the concentrations of pregnenolone, of the compound "5.4", and of progesterone in the blood during the first 2 days of the heat period were significantly higher than in normal cycling mares, in which the concentrations of all steroids were less than or equal to 1 ng/ml. In five endometritis mares the "5.4" and progesterone concentrations decreased after the first days of the heat period, and at about two days before ovulation the values were comparable to those of normal cycling mares. Eight mares suffering from a severe endometritis did no...
Pascoe RR.The death of a 60-day-old foal due to massive haemorrhage associated with erosion of the left umbilical artery into the left ureter is reported. Surgical repair attempts are described together with post-mortem findings.
Jones DM.A short account of the natural history of the wild Equidae is given as a background to their management in captivity. In general the approach to their husbandry and veterinary care is similar to that for the domestic horse. A mixture of etorphine and acepromazine has been found to be the most effective for handling and conventional methods of anaesthesia can be safely superimposed on these if required. The data collected at Whipsnade on the haematology and biochemistry of these species is summarised in tabular form and an analysis is included of the post-mortem examinations of 105 equine carca...
Morales GA, Wells EA, Angel D.Discovery of two ill horses and three dogs naturally infected with Trypanosoma evansi near an experimental station in the Eastern Plains of Colombia led to a search for reservoir hosts of the parasite. Infection was detected in 8/33 healthy capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), none of the remaining 14 horses, and none of 32 Zebu cattle (Bos indicus), 18 paca (Cuniculus paca) and 20 spiny rats (Proechimys sp.). Contrary to common opinion, the results indicated a carrier state in the capybara. Diagnosis was based on morphology, behaviour in albino rats, and pathogenicity and host range in dome...
Smith HJ.A group of seven ponies naturally infected with large numbers of small strongyles and raised under conditions to minimize reinfection were treated periodically over a three year span with thiabendazole at the rate of 44 mg/kg body weight. Based on the absence of worm eggs in the feces following each treatment, thiabendazole removed the adult strongyles present with a new population subsequently developing by maturation of inhibited larvae. It took as many as four or five treatments to eliminate or reduce significantly the worm burdens present in the ponies under the conditions of this study. S...
Smith HJ.Five of seven ponies whose strongyle worm burdens had previously been removed or markedly reduced by repeated thiabendazole treatments were reinfected with doses ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 small strongyle infective larvae. Reinfection of ponies resulted in the development of clinical signs characterized by abnormal feces, marked loss of weight and delayed shedding of winter hair coats. An abrupt increase in circulating eosinophils occurred during the first three weeks following reinfection. Patent infections developed in all ponies with worm eggs appearing in the feces from 12 to 15 weeks...
Cannon JH, Grant BD, Sande RD.Development of cysts in the equine paranasal sinuses is probably a congenital disease; however, signs may not appear for several years. In 4 cases, clinical signs were observed when fluid accumulation within the cysts resulted in nasal discharge or facial swelling, or when secondary infection occurred. Treatment required surgical removal of the lining membrane and other involved tissues. Postoperative care included lavage of the sinuses and systemic antibiotic therapy.
Diehl M, Gerber H, Schifferli D, Nicolet J.A systemic investigation of wound infection in the horse after operative treatment of large wounds reveals that the age of the wound is of critical importance. The limit for an uncomplicated healing process lies around four hours. The duration of the operation itself is of little significance, the location of the lesion on the body of the horse, however, plays a major role. The pattern of isolated bacterial organisms is discussed in relation to the duration of hospital treatment. It is concluded that a systemic antibiotic therapy is of no value and that a local antibiotic therapy is only indic...
Antal V, Antal T, Szabó I, Vajda G, Polner A, Szollár I, Totth B, Laber G, Stipkovits L.The authors examined 585 samples from 92 mares of 2 studs and 346 nasal swabs taken from their foals for the presence of mycoplasmas. The positive rates of mares and foals were 81.5% and 71.7%, respectively, with positivity of samples being variable. Clinical symptoms developed in 2-4 waves and lasted 3-7 days, with intervals of 7-12 days. The disease started in April among foals born in February, at an average age of 88 days. Later on, the average age of the affected foals decreased. There was a correlation between presence of mycoplasmas in nasal cavity and disease of foals.
Firth EC, Goedegebuure SA, Dik KJ, Poulos PW.Nine foals with haematogenous osteomyelitis of the tarsal bones were studied clinically, radiologically and pathologically. Clinical examination, including aspiration of articular or periarticular effusions in the tarsal area, and radiological study provide definitive diagnosis in most cases.
Monzón CM.An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies against Trypanosoma evansi was evaluated using 90 different sera, obtained from naturally-infected horses. As negative controls, 218 sera from the T. evansi-free zone of Argentina, and 90 uninfected sera from the enzootic zone were used. The results of the ELISA were expressed in terms of percent positivity (PP) when compared with a positive primary reference serum, obtained from a horse experimentally-infected with T. evansi. The inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV), expressed as PP, was 44.7% for the negative con...