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Topic:Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases in horses encompass a range of illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. These diseases can affect various systems within the equine body, leading to symptoms that range from mild discomfort to severe systemic illness. Common infectious diseases in horses include equine influenza, strangles, equine herpesvirus, and West Nile virus. These diseases can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, contaminated surfaces, or vectors such as insects. Understanding the mechanisms of transmission, pathogenesis, and immune response is essential for effective prevention and control. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management of infectious diseases in horses.
Challenges for interpreting results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for treating infections of foals with Rhodococcus equi. Rhodococcus equi is a facultative intracellular pathogen and a major cause of pneumonia in foals worldwide. The standard treatment for affected foals is a combination of a macrolide with rifampicin. The widespread use of this combination has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of R. equi. Consequently, antimicrobial susceptibility testing is essential for guiding treatment of rhodococcal pneumonia. Unfortunately, clinical breakpoints for macrolides and other antimicrobials against R. equi for foals are lacking, thereby complicating clinical interpretation of in vitro resu...
Evaluation of sequential serum amyloid A measurements for the prediction of sepsis and survival in critically ill neonatal foals. Single measurements of serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration at hospital admission has limited sensitivity for predicting sepsis and death. Objective: To determine whether differences in SAA during the first 2 days of hospitalization could predict sepsis and death in critically ill foals. Methods: One hundred twenty-seven critically ill neonatal foals, <14 days of age. Methods: Prospective cohort study. SAA was measured at hospital admission and on day 2 of hospitalization using a validated point-of-care test. Logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of individual S...
Molecular Detection of Anaplasma spp. in Horses From Golestan Province, Northern Iran. Anaplasmosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease that affects both humans and many animals. In horses, anaplasmosis manifests as a seasonal, infectious, and febrile disease caused by bacteria of the genus Anaplasma. Since the transmission of this disease is primarily mediated by arthropods such as ticks, it holds significant public health importance. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of anaplasmosis in horses in northern Iran (Golestan Province). Methods: A total of 350 blood samples were randomly collected from asymptomatic horses between December 2023 and April 2024...
Seroprevalence, risk factors and hematological parameters associated with Equine Infectious Anemia from Casanare, Colombia. Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a persistent lentiviral disease with important sanitary and economic implications in tropical regions; however, epidemiological information in Colombia remains limited. Objective: To estimate seroprevalence, identify risk factors, and evaluate hematological alterations associated with EIA in horses from Casanare, Colombia. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 1,228 horses from 204 production units across 121 rural districts. Serological diagnosis was performed using agar gel immunodiffusion. Demographic and management data were obtained through an epidem...
Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol Treatment of Equine Antibiotic-Resistant Wound Infection: A Preliminary Case Series. Wound infections are common sequelae of wound treatment in horses. Secondary bacterial colonization with antimicrobial resistant microorganisms is of particular concern and is of crucial importance regarding the "One Health Concept". Due to frequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR), conventional treatments often involve determining resistance and sensitivity using time-consuming antibiograms. Infections with multi-resistant pathogens are especially challenging. This case series presents studies of four horses evaluating the efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone trea...
Antimicrobial effects of equine regenerative medicine products: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies. Equine regenerative medicine products involving platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and their derivatives are increasingly explored for antimicrobial and therapeutic roles, but their efficacy and between-study variability remain unclear. Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyse in vitro and in vivo evidence on antimicrobial effects of equine regenerative medicine products and to evaluate their efficacy against key pathogens. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis: METHODS: We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses...
First Molecular Survey of Equine Adenovirus Type 1 Infection Among Horses in Poland. Equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) infection has been recognised among horses worldwide. The virus predominantly targets respiratory tract but has also been recovered from other body systems. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of EAdV-1 infection among selected horse populations in Poland and to estimate genetic variability within the viruses obtained. A quantitative PCR assay targeting a partial gene was used to screen 1150 nasal swabs collected from 1145 horses from 19 horse studs throughout Poland. The samples were collected opportunistically between 2012 and 2025. A ...
Bacteremia in horses undergoing routine dental prophylaxis: Before, during, and after the procedure. Transient bacteremia after dental procedures is well-documented in the literature, but the prevalence and clinical significance in horses remains largely unexplored. Objective: To assess whether routine dental prophylaxis in clinically healthy horses is associated with detection of bacteria in blood, using culture and 16S rDNA sequencing. Our central hypothesis is that a percentage of horses would demonstrate detectable but transient bacteremia in the immediate post-procedural period following dental prophylaxis. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Methods: Venous blood samples from 20 ...
Recombinant EHV-1 Vector Expressing Immunodominant Hemagglutinin Protein of Equine Influenza Virus H3N8 (Sub-Lineage Florida Clade 2). Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and equine influenza virus (EIV) are major respiratory pathogens in horses, causing significant economic losses in domesticated horses. Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) technology can be used to precisely manipulate the EHV-1 genome for the development of live-attenuated vector vaccines. Earlier, our group developed a live-attenuated EHV-1 vaccine by deleting virulence-associated genes using this technology and the mutant EHV-1 has been exploited for expressing foreign gene in the current study. Specifically, in this study, a mutant EHV-1 virus expressing...
Prevalence of equine lungworm (Dictyocaulus arnfieldi) infection and associated risk factors in Egypt. infection is a common parasitic respiratory disease of equines that can adversely affect animal health, welfare, and productivity. However, epidemiological information on this infection remains limited in many regions of Egypt. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and identify associated risk factors among equines in three Egyptian governorates. Unassigned: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 415 equines, including 150 donkeys, 55 mules, and 210 horses. Animals were examined for , and data on species, age, body condition, and deworming history were collected. Associations bet...
Preliminary Assessment on Pathogenicity of an African Horse Sickness Virus Serotype 1 Strain in Guinea Pigs and Horses. African horse sickness (AHS), a noncontagious insect-borne disease affecting equids, is caused by the African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and is associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. AHSV has nine distinct serotypes (AHSV-1 to AHSV-9). In a previous study, we characterized the genome and in vitro growth properties of AHSV/C, a cell-adapted derivative of an AHSV-1 strain imported into China 60 years ago, and verified its safety in mice. This study preliminarily explored the pathogenicity of AHSV/C in guinea pigs and horses (its natural host). Six groups of guinea pigs were ino...
MUSCULAR SARCOCYSTIS INFECTIONS IN HORSES IN NORTH AMERICA: ETIOLOGY, CLINICAL DISEASE, PERSONAL PERCEPTION, AND DEPOSITION OF SPECIMENS IN THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM. Uncertainty shrouds the number and identity of the species of Sarcocystis infecting horses in the United States. Horses are intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis fayeri, for which the domestic dog is the definitive host. Clinical signs and lesions associated with S. fayeri are not defined. Granulomatous myositis, especially involving the chest and dysphagia, is one of the clinical presentations associated with S. fayeri infections. Whether S. fayeri is the sole species that forms sarcocysts in equine muscles in the United States is not clear. Little is known of the molecular diagnosis of Sarcocys...
Alphavirus madariaga-associated encephalomyelitis in equines from the Brazilian Pantanal reveals arbovirus circulation in a peri-urban environment. Alphavirus madariaga (MADV), a member of the eastern equine encephalitis virus complex, is an emerging arbovirus in South America, with limited information regarding its occurrence and molecular characterization in equine populations. This study reports the detection and genetic characterization of MADV in equines from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Two horses presenting acute neurological disease with a clinical course of approximately two days were evaluated. Histopathological examination revealed nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis. Molecular screening for neurotropic viruses using T...
Development of lateral flow assays for the rapid diagnosis of glanders in equids. Glanders is a contagious zoonotic disease caused by that primarily affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It remains endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, where increasing case reports highlight the need for accessible diagnostic tools. Conventional diagnostic methods are limited by high costs and specialized laboratory requirements, whereas lateral flow assays (LFAs) offer practical, user-friendly, and rapid alternatives. In this study, we developed three LFAs targeting antibodies against the antigens Hcp1, GroEL, and whole-cell lysate (WCL), previously identifi...
Surveillance on African Horse Sickness Virus in China’s Southern Border Regions. African horse sickness (AHS) is a vector-borne and noncontagious disease caused by African horse sickness virus (AHSV) that poses a severe threat to the global equine industry. As a country historically free from AHS, China faces elevated risks due to recent outbreaks in Southeast Asia in 2020 and its ecological suitability of its border regions for AHSV vectors. Therefore, we conducted consecutive molecular and serological surveillance for AHSV in high-risk border regions from 2020 to 2024. A total of 3203 equine serum samples, 2909 whole-blood samples, and 1037 collections of blood-sucking...
Antibiofilm action of ozonated sunflower oil against bacteria isolated from the uterus of mares susceptible to endometritis. This study aimed to characterize the antibiofilm action of ozone-enriched sunflower oil (O) against pathogens associated with endometritis in mares. Initially, samples from 41 mares with a history of subfertility were stored in BHI broth and 0.9% NaCl solution. The samples underwent microbial culture, identification, and sensitivity testing at LABRAPE-UFRPE, Brazil. Biofilm production was evaluated by the crystal violet method. Subsequently, biofilm-forming bacteria were subjected to the action of different concentrations of ozonated sunflower oil. Of the 21 isolates tested for biofilm produc...
Systematic establishment of approaches to the detection of equine macrophage polarization and their application in pathogenic infection. Macrophage phenotypic adaptation critically regulates inflammatory balance during infection; however, progress in equine immunology has been limited by a lack of specific tools for standardized identification. To address this gap, we established a reliable, antibody-based detection method for characterizing equine macrophage M1-like and M2-like marker profiles. After initially validating canonical marker genes via qPCR, we developed specific monoclonal antibodies targeting the differentially expressed surface proteins CD80 (M1-like) and CD163 (M2-like). These novel antibodies enabled the creat...
Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens in horses in Austria – A cross-sectional study on current and past infections and potential risk factors. Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens are a major threat to equine health worldwide. In Austria, studies on pathogens such as piroplasms, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp. in horses are scarce and do not cover the countrywide horse population. To address this, blood samples from horses without prior record of infection with tick-borne pathogens (n = 588) were tested for the presence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi or A. phagocytophilum DNA by PCR and for specific antibodies against these pathogens and Borrelia burgdorferi with commercially available assays. While no DNA of ...
Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile in hospitalized neonatal mare-foal pairs from Alberta and direct comparison of fecal culture with toxin gene detection. is an important pathogen in the feces of adult horses and foals. It can be clinically diagnosed using several testing methods, including culture isolation and, more commonly, direct toxin gene detection from feces using molecular methods. The importance of monitoring shedding in foals or dams during hospitalization remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of fecal shedding in mare-foal pairs and to compare detection using isolation and a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for toxin A and B genes in feces. Foals and their mares admitte...
Diagnosis of bacteraemia in neonatal foals using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in foals. Early diagnosis can improve outcome but is complicated by non-specific clinical signs and delayed confirmation of infection via blood culture. Molecular assays represent a rapid and more sensitive alternative. Objective: To evaluate and compare bacterial load and composition in blood and blood culture media (BCM) of sick and healthy foals using molecular assays and to compare results with traditional bacterial culture. Methods: Cross-sectional observational clinical study. Methods: Thirteen septic foals, 10 sick non-septic and 8...
[New drugs for horses and production animals in 2025]. In 2025, no novel pharmaceutical agents for horses and farm animals were introduced to the German veterinary drug market; however, the use of 2 existing active ingredients was expanded to include additional animal species. A dexamethasone preparation is now approved for use in goats, and a new product containing sodium salicylate for chickens was introduced. Oxalic acid dihydrate is now available as an impregnated strip for contact treatment. In the field of immunological veterinary medicines, a vaccine against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in cattle was approved for the first time. In a...
Detection of equine parapoxvirus in the stable environment during pastern dermatitis outbreak in Finland. Equine parapoxvirus (EqPPV) has emerged as a cause of recurring pastern dermatitis outbreaks in horses in Finland. First detected in 2013, EqPPV has since been associated with potentially hundreds of clinical cases and suspected zoonotic transmission. Based on serological data and field reports, EqPPV causes pastern dermatitis outbreaks in Finland every few years. This study aimed to investigate the environmental presence and plausible transmission dynamics of the virus to prepare for future outbreaks and give targeted guidelines to stable staff and veterinarians. Results: After a large-scale ...
Screening Equine Skin and Mucous Membranes for Carriage of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci. Commensal populations of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. (CoPS) in healthy horses are not well-defined. Objective: To determine the point prevalence, anatomical distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic characteristics of CoPS in healthy horses. Methods: One-hundred and fifty privately owned, systemically healthy horses from seven facilities were enrolled in this study. Methods: Horses were sampled from the nares, buccal mucosa and three skin sites. Isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and antimicrobial...
Intermittent shedding dynamics of EHV-1 across biological matrices during a natural outbreak linked to international equestrian events. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) outbreaks associated with international equestrian events have demonstrated the capacity of this virus for rapid transboundary dissemination. However, detailed longitudinal data integrating viral shedding across multiple biological matrices within the same animals during naturally occurring outbreaks remain limited. In this study, ten horses hospitalized during a naturally occurring EHV-1 outbreak linked to an international jumping competition were monitored for 10-12 days, from which 306 nasal, ocular, urine and faecal samples were obtained and analysed by qu...
Retrospective study of blood culture isolates, antimicrobial sensitivity, and survival factors from 243 neonatal foals in Normandy (France). Identifying causative bacterial species in neonatal foal bacteremia and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles is essential for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy. Objective: To describe bacterial isolates from blood culture and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in neonatal foals from two French institutes, and to assess associations between pretreatment and blood culture positivity, and between in-hospital death (euthanasia or natural death) and the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Methods: Two hundred forty-three foals (<7 days old) admitted to two equin...
The Occurrence of Bacterial Infections in Equine Wounds and Abscesses in Horses from 2019 to 2023. Bacterial infections in equine wounds are common and can complicate treatment and healing. This five-year retrospective study examined 2844 samples from wounds and abscesses from horses in Germany (2019-2023), analyzing bacterial prevalence by care setting and geographical region. A total of 4464 bacterial isolates were identified, with β-hemolytic streptococci (20.6%), (15.6%), and (13.0%) being the most common. Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) accounted for 35.9% of isolates. Resistance to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins was detected in 15.2% of isolates. Samples from clinics s...
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. in Horses in Shanxi Province, North China. (synonyms and ) and sp. are prevalent zoonotic intestinal protozoans with significant public health and economic importance. Both parasites infect various hosts, including humans and most livestock. can cause infections ranging from asymptomatic carriage to clinical manifestations such as acute diarrheal disease, growth stunting and malabsorption, whereas sp. infection is often asymptomatic and its pathogenicity remains debated. Following the rapid expansion of modern equine industries (horse racing, equestrian sports, production, and tourism), concern about the spread of parasitic diseas...
Prevalence and spatial distribution of Brucella spp. seropositive equids from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Brucellosis is a chronic infectious disease in equids, characterized by suppurative lesions in joints and bursae, with potential impacts on animal performance and public health. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and spatial distribution of Brucella spp. seropositive equids in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methods: A total of 3,858 serum samples from 3,230 horses, 602 mules, and 26 donkeys were analyzed using the Buffered Acidified Antigen Test (AAT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT), following Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture guidelines. Samples were obtained from all municipaliti...
