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.
Diallo I, Read AJ, Kirkland PD.A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test for the matrix gene of type A influenza viruses was used during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak in order to confirm diagnosis and, later, eradication of the virus. During the EI outbreak, horses being exported required vaccination and individual proof of freedom from EI. At the end of the outbreak, positive results were obtained from four horses destined for export, because of contamination of the samples with the vaccine. This report highlights the need for EI testing and vaccination to occur on sepa...
Myers J.At the outbreak of equine influenza (EI) we chose to close our horse-based business, as we did not want to risk our horses contracting the disease and the demand for our services ceased. We report our experiences of the outbreak.
Ryan D.Outbreaks of equine influenza (EI) cause major disruption to the racing industry, resulting in cessation of racing until affected horses have recovered from the disease. The introduction of EI to a large population of Thoroughbred horses stabled at a Sydney racecourse provided the opportunity to observe clinical signs and monitor the spread of EI in this predominantly naïve population and to assist in determining an endpoint to infection spread to allow resumption of racing events.
Faehrmann P, Riddell K, Read AJ.We describe the clinical signs and disease course during an outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in naïve horses in a police stables in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Kirkland PD, Delbridge G.An important consideration in the selection of a vaccine during the Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak in 2007 was the ability to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA). A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) targeted for the nucleoprotein of influenza A viruses was developed to differentiate between naturally infected horses and horses vaccinated with the ProteqFlu® vaccine, which only induces a response to viral haemagglutinin. This bELISA assay met the DIVA requirements and was used extensively during the EI control and eradication programs and '...
Smyth GB, Dagley K.Anecdotally, some sections of the horse community were under the impression that there was a high mortality rate in horses in 2007 because of the EI epidemic. A survey of horse deaths in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW) in 2007 indicated that there were few infections and deaths attributable to equine influenza (EI) infections in foals, but other authors found a very high seroprevalence across all age classes. This study aimed to generate objective information on mortality and morbidity rates associated with EI in Australian horses during the 2007 epidemic.
Kung N, Mackenzie S, Pitt D, Robinson B, Perkins NR.An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) caused by influenza A H3N8 subtype virus occurred in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales in August 2007. Infection in the Australian horse population was associated with the introduction of infection by horses from overseas. The first case of EI in Queensland was detected on 25 August 2007 at an equestrian sporting event. Infection subsequently spread locally and to other clusters through horse movements prior to the implementation of an official standstill. There were five main clusters of infected properties during this outbreak and se...
Moloney BJ.This overview of the equine influenza (EI) epidemic as it occurred in two Australian states, New South Wales and Queensland, in 2007 describes the functions and activities of the epidemiology teams that were engaged during the outbreak and also identifies key features of the epidemiology of EI during the outbreak.
Paskin R.The equine influenza outbreak detected in August 2007 in New South Wales and Queensland did not enter Victoria, which was, however, considered at risk because of its sizable border with New South Wales. Accordingly, Victoria implemented a response plan to prevent disease entry and enable early detection of any disease. Horse movement restrictions, surveillance strategies and public awareness formed a large part of this response.
Scott-Orr H.The challenges faced in demonstrating Australia's freedom from equine influenza following the outbreak in 2007-08 and the responding strategy developed by the Proof of Freedom Working Group are presented.
Glanville RJ, Christie B.The equine influenza (EI) outbreak presented many challenges that required high-level coordination and decision making, as well as the development of new approaches for satisfactory and consistent resolution. This paper outlines the elements of the national coordination arrangements, preparatory arrangements in place prior to the outbreak that facilitated national coordination, and some of the issues faced and resolved in the response.
Watson J, Halpin K, Selleck P, Axell A, Bruce K, Hansson E, Hammond J, Daniels P, Jeggo M.Before 2007, equine influenza had never been diagnosed in Australia. On 22 August 2007, infection was confirmed in horses at Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station near Sydney. The virus subsequently isolated (A/equine/Sydney/2888-8/2007) was confirmed by sequence analysis of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene as an H3 virus of the variant American Florida lineage that is now referred to as Clade 1. The HA sequence of the virus was identical to that of a virus isolated from a contemporaneous outbreak in Japan and showed high homology to viruses circulating in North America.
Kannegieter NJ, Frogley A, Crispe E, Kirkland PD.As part of the control measures of the equine influenza (EI) outbreak, in addition to the strategic use of vaccination to provide buffer zones around infected populations, approval was obtained to vaccinate Thoroughbred racing horses. We review the clinical expression of the disease and virus excretion in a population of racehorses that were exposed to EI approximately 7 days after administration of a single dose of the canarypox-vectored recombinant compared with a similar unvaccinated population of horses at a nearby racetrack. Although this study was undertaken opportunistically and under t...
Drury M.Participants in the 1- and 2-day Tamworth Dressage Club (TDC) annual dressage championships arrived in Moonbi, New South Wales (NSW) as reports of the equine influenza outbreak surfaced on 25 August 2007. Three horses who had attended a competition in Maitland the weekend before had been showing flu-like symptoms and the next day the site was declared a suspect premise. On 27 August, infection was confirmed and the site was placed in total quarantine. Although most participants had travelled long distances to compete and did not have provisions for them or their horses, the quarantine was not ...
Arthur RJ, Suann CJ.Three biosecurity and relief-and-recovery initiatives adopted by the NSW horse racing industries reduced the economic and social disruption caused by the disease and subsequent movement controls during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) incursion. The first was the creation of biosecure horse training and racing precincts around the Sydney area to permit racing to continue with healthy horses. Infection was excluded for 3-5 weeks and race meetings were conducted safely during this period. The second was a vaccination program of racehorses at these and other precincts to maintain an ongo...
Wong D.The clinical signs of horses diagnosed with equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) and the events surrounding their diagnosis are described. This was the site of the first case of EI diagnosed outside of the Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station. The clinical data demonstrate the rapid spread of the disease after a sufficient viral load had developed from the initial cases within CPEC.
Hoare R.The equine influenza (EI) outbreak occurred at the worst time of the year as far as the horse industry was concerned. All horse sports and horse breeds had events planned in the spring, including those relating to qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. These were all disrupted and many were cancelled. The social and industry impacts were extensive, and included difficulties related to communication, animal welfare, vaccination, movement restrictions, economics, as well as the psychological stresses experienced by those involved, especially those for whom their primary source of inco...
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...
Sergeant ES, Cowled BD, Bingham P.This observational study was undertaken in order to evaluate the diagnostic specificity of the blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) for serum antibodies to influenza A virus nucleoprotein during the equine influenza (EI) outbreak response in New South Wales, Australia, in 2007. Using data collected during the outbreak response, bELISA testing data were collated for assumed uninfected horses from areas where EI infection was never recorded. Diagnostic specificity of the bELISA used during the EI response was high, but varied significantly between some regions, although the reason...
Garner MG, Cowled B, East IJ, Moloney BJ, Kung N.To use modelling and epidemiological analyses to assess the effectiveness of control strategies employed during the equine influenza outbreak and determine if early vaccination might have had a beneficial effect. Methods: Transmission of infection was modelled using stochastic, spatial simulation, based on data from 16 regions in New South Wales and Queensland over the first month of the outbreak. Results: The model accurately represented the spread of infection in both space and time and showed that vaccination strategies would have reduced new infections by ∼60% and reduced the size of the...
Happold J, Rubira R.This study included 10 large Thoroughbred horse studs in the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales and in southeast Queensland, Australia. The aims were to describe the EI epidemic in studs in the Special Restricted Area (Purple Zone) of NSW, to estimate seroprevalence among different groups of horses on these studs and to look for evidence of exposure to EI virus in horses on 'vaccinated' studs in southeast Queensland that were thought to have remained free of infection. As serology results from Queensland suggest that vaccination may have reduced the sensitivity of clinical surveillance to ...
Perkins NR, Webster WR, Wright T, Denney I, Links I.At the time of the initial notification of the occurrence of equine influenza (EI) in Australia in August 2007, vaccination was restricted to horses for which it was an import requirement and only with the approval of the state or territory Chief Veterinary Officer. This paper describes the complexities involved in the selection of a vaccine and its distribution. A combination of ring, predictive and blanket vaccination was implemented during the response. The specific vaccination programs, including its use in buffer zones and for movement of horses, the performance of the vaccine, any advers...
Smyth GB, Dagley K, Tainsh J.We estimate and describe the financial costs of the equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, including the costs of emergency response measures and lost income/assets to businesses, associations and private horse owners. Costs to associations, governments and industry are discussed. We identify a lack of reliable data about the financial costs of the EI outbreak to the non-racing sectors of the horse industry.
Bell IG, Drury-Klein C.To analyse horse event and horse movement registration data collected between September 2007 and December 2008 during the outbreak of equine influenza in New South Wales, Australia. Results: A total of 9356 events were registered, involving 504,382 horses and 242,952 riders. Registered horse movements totalled 224,084, involving 349,327 horses (excluding mobs) travelling 34.4 million km with an average of 154 km per journey. The number of recorded events and movements were low while movement controls were most stringent, then increased from December 2007 as restrictions were eased, to peak in ...
Kirkland PD.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, diagnostic laboratories and the use of appropriate tests played a pivotal role in the response to the crisis. This role began with the detection of EI virus in New South Wales (NSW) on the evening of 24 August 2007 and culminated in providing the final 'proof of freedom' from EI in March 2008. The tests that were used during the EI response were able to provide results quickly, and with high sensitivity and specificity. This section of the supplement describes the roles and functions of the Australian laboratories; tests used and the...
Dhand NK, Sergeant ES.The aim of this preliminary study was to estimate the proportions of seropositive horses on infected premises (IPs) in order to assess the attack risk of the disease. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the differences in attack risks between enterprise sizes and predefined spatial clusters/regions. The average attack risk experienced during the outbreak was 96.88% (median 100%), but it differed according to the size of the enterprise and other geographic and demographic conditions. The highest attack risks were observed in the Dubbo cluster/region and the lowest in the Nar...
Oakey J, Hawkesford T, Smith C, Hewitson G, Tolosa X, Wright L, Moody N, Rodwell B, Corney B, Waltisbuhl D.Describe the in-house validation of a previously reported influenza virus type A 5'Taq nuclease assay for detecting equine influenza virus A RNA in nasal swab material. Methods: The validation compares the 5'Taq nuclease assay with a gel-based reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) previously reported by the Irish Equine Centre for detection of H3N8 and H7N7 equine influenza viruses. This test was chosen because it targets a different region of the viral genome to the real-time test, so it is not merely a repeat of the same test in a different format. Moreover, nested PCR...
Brown L, Townsend W, Waltisbuhl D.The unique challenges that laboratories in Queensland and New South Wales faced during the response to the 2007 equine influenza outbreak and how these were managed are described.
Crispe E, Finlaison DS, Hurt AC, Kirkland PD.During the equine influenza (EI) outbreak, respiratory disease was observed in dogs that were in close proximity to infected horses. Investigations were undertaken to exclude influenza virus infection. Of the 23 dogs that were seropositive in tests using the influenza A/Sydney/2007 virus as the test antigen, 10 showed clinical signs. EI virus appeared to be readily transmitted to dogs that were held in close proximity to infected horses, but there was no evidence of lateral transmission of the virus to other dogs that did not have contact with or were not held in close proximity to horses.
Morley PS, Bogdan JR, Townsend HG, Haines DM.The Directigen Flu A assay (Becton Dickinson, Microbiology Systems, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) is a commercially available immunoassay designed for rapid in vitro recognition of influenza A nucleoprotein. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this assay for detection of influenza virus in nasal secretions of naturally infected horses. The assay was shown to react with representative strains of influenza virus which cause disease in horses and did not react with nasal secretions from uninfected horses kept in isolation. Between 33% and 45% of nasal secretions specimens obtained from clin...
Weissenböck H, Hubálek Z, Halouzka J, Pichlmair A, Maderner A, Fragner K, Kolodziejek J, Loupal G, Kölbl S, Nowotny N.Avian mortality and encephalomyelitis in equines are considered good indicators for West Nile virus (WNV) activity. We retrospectively tested 385 horse sera for WNV antibodies and looked for WNV nucleic acid and/or WNV antigen in paraffin embedded tissues from 12 horses with aetiologically unresolved encephalomyelitis and 102 free-living birds of different species which had been found dead. With the exception of four horses originating from eastern European countries investigated on the occasion of transit through Austria, all horse sera were negative. Nested RT-PCR of the horse tissues yielde...
Negi NJ, Swanberg JE, Clouser JM, Harmon-Darrow C.The American agricultural industry is heavily reliant on Latina/o workers, yet there is scant understanding regarding the mental health of this population. This gap in the literature is glaring as Latina/o farmworkers are a highly vulnerable group who experience high rates of occupational risks and health hazards. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to examine individual, social and work-related correlates of depression among Latina/o horse workers. Methods: A community survey ( = 225) administered by lay health workers was implemented with Latina/o horse workers who were employed in th...
Bianchi MV, Mello LS, Wentz MF, Panziera W, Soares JF, Sonne L, Driemeier D, Pavarini SP.Diseases related to the alimentary system are the main cause of death in horses. This retrospective study aimed to describe the pathological findings of fatal parasite-induced enteritis and typhlocolitis caused by cyathostominae, Eimeria leuckarti, Balantidium coli, and Strongyloides westeri in horses. The records of parasite-induced intestinal lesions in horses necropsied in Southern Brazil between 2005 and 2017 were reviewed. Ten horses had fatal parasitic enteritis and/or typhlocolitis, and the main causes were: cyathostominae typhlocolitis (6/10), E. leuckarti enteritis (1/10), S. westeri ...
Rühl-Teichner J, Jacobmeyer L, Leidner U, Semmler T, Ewers C. is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe infections in humans and animals, including horses. The occurrence of dominant international clones (ICs), frequent multidrug resistance, and the capability to form biofilms are considered major factors in the successful spread of in human and veterinary clinical environments. Since little is known about isolates from horses, we studied 78 equine isolates obtained from clinical samples between 2008 and 2020 for their antimicrobial resistance (AMR), clonal distribution, biofilm-associated genes (BAGs), and biofilm-forming capability. Based on ...
Tarancón I, Leiva M, Jose-Cunilleras E, Ríos J, Peña T.To describe ocular findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals, and to determine whether severity of the ocular lesions is related with outcome. Methods: Foals diagnosed with R equi infection at the VTH-UAB from January 2002 to December 2017. Methods: Rhodococcus equi infection was diagnosed by means of clinical signs, radiographic/ultrasonographic findings, and/or positive culture. In all the foals, a complete ophthalmic examination by a boarded ophthalmologist was performed and ocular signs were recorded and graded (0-4). Results: Thirty-nine foals were included in t...
Riley RT, Showker JL, Owens DL, Ross PF.Fumonisin B(1), B(2), and B(3) are inhibitors of ceramide synthase, a key enzyme in the pathway for de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Corn, naturally contaminated with either predominantly fumonisin B(1) or pure fumonisin B(1), has been shown to cause equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). It has been hypothesized that fumonisin-induced disruption of sphingolipid metabolism is an early event in the development of ELEM. Recently, it was shown that Fusarium proliferatum corn culture diets containing predominantly fumonisin B(2), but not diets which were predominantly fumonisin B(3), at 75 ppm (0....
Franchini M, Akens M, Bracher V, von Fellenberg R.A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on a combination of oligonucleotide primers selected using the octamer frequency disparity method with primers specific for EHV-5 (described by other authors) recognized all of a series of gamma herpesvirus field isolates. This PCR produced only three fragments: (1) one EHV-2-specific; (2) one EHV-5-specific; and (3) a fragment that occurred alone or in combination with the other two. Cloning and sequencing of four different isolates yielding only the last PCR product showed that this corresponds to a deletion/insertion mutant of EHV-2. The fact that thi...
Murphy AJ, Mansfield LS.Sarcocystis neurona is a protozoan parasite that causes a neurological disease in horses called equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. The route of transmission is speculated to be by fecal-oral transfer of sporocysts shed from opossums. Controversy exists regarding both the natural life cycle for this parasite as well as the species identity of opossum Sarcocystis. To provide stage-specific material for species comparison, 27 opossums from southern Michigan were screened for Sarcocystis spp. sporocysts. Seven opossums were positive for Sarcocystis sporocysts by fecal flotation. A simplified, eff...
Costa SCL, Freitas JS, Silva AND, Lacerda LC, Cruz RDS, Carvalho FS, Pereira MJS, Munhoz AD.The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and factors associated to Babesia caballi, Theileria equi and Trypanosoma evansi in naturally infected equids from the northeast Brazil. Blood samples from 569 equids (528 horses, 8 mules, and 33 donkeys) were collected and tested for the presence of DNA of each of these protozoan parasites by PCR. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate risk factors associated with the infection. The frequency of T. equi infection was 83.5% (475/569) - 84.3% in horses, and 73.2% in donkeys and mules. The results of the final model indicated that age...
Monego F, Maboni F, Krewer C, Vargas A, Costa M, Loreto E.This study evaluated the molecular characteristics of Rhodococcus equi isolates obtained from horses by a multiplex PCR assay that amplifies the vap gene family (vapA, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F, -G, and -H). A total of 180 R. equi isolates were studied from four different sources, namely healthy horse feces (112), soil (12), stalls (23), and clinical isolates (33) from horse-breeding farms. The technique was performed and confirmed by sequencing of amplified vap gene family controls. Thirty-two (17.8%) of the R. equi isolates were positive for the vapA gene and carried at least three other vap genes....
Mumford JA, Bates J.Serological responses following two and three doses of an inactivated equid herpesvirus 1 ( EHV -1) vaccine containing a subtype 1 strain were examined in yearling ponies. Complement fixing antibody responses were significantly higher against the subtype 1 vaccine strain than against a subtype 2 virus. Complement fixing antibody responses declined rapidly after the second dose of vaccine and had returned to almost pre-vaccination levels eight weeks after the second dose of vaccine. Complement fixing antibody titres to the heterologous subtype 2 strain increased after each successive dose of va...
Dorneles EMS, Santana JA, Costa ACTRB, Junqueira DG, Heinemann MB, Lage AP.Brucellosis in equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, is characterized by abscesses in tendons, bursae, and joints. Reproductive disorders, which are common in other animals, are rare in both males and females. Joint breeding of horses, cattle, and pigs was found as the main risk factor for equine brucellosis, with the transmission from equines to cattle or among equines possible, although unlikely. Hence, evaluation of the disease in equines can be considered an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of brucellosis control measures employed for other domestic species. Generally, the ...
Kang BK, Hwang JM, Moon H, Han SY, Kim JM, Yang DK, Park BK, Song D.The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype circulating in Korea has changed from G3 to G1. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the antigenic relationship between the two genotypes by using antibody tests. Methods: Blood samples from 42 sows and 216 horses were collected, and their seroprevalence was monitored using the hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization tests. Antisera against JEV G1 and G3 were isolated and prepared from guinea pigs. The cross-reactivity of these two viruses was then compared using the neutralizing antibody test. Results: We found that th...
Krebs JW, Rupprecht CE, Childs JE.During 1999, 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported 7,067 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a decrease of 11.2% from 7,961 cases in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being reported in 1998. More than 91% (6,466 cases) were in wild animals, whereas 8.5% (601 cases) were in domestic species (compared with 92.4% in wild animals and 7.6% in domestic species in 1998). No cases of rabies were reported in human beings in 1999. Decreases were evident in all major species groups, with the exception of cattle, sheep/goats, ...
Abdullah HHAM, Elbayoumy MK, Allam AM, Ashry HM, Abdel-Shafy S.Vector-borne bacterial diseases (VBBD) are a diverse group of tropical and subtropical zoonotic diseases. This study investigated the possibility of domestic animals to carry certain vector-borne bacterial microorganisms (VBBMs), as well as the presence of these targeted DNAs in their ectoparasites in different localities of Egypt using molecular analyses. For this study, 234 animal hosts (112 cattle, 38 sheep, 28 goats, 26 buffaloes, 22 donkeys, and 8 horses) in addition to 115 ectoparasites (95 ticks and 20 lice) were investigated for the molecular detection of Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp....
Hussey GS, Giessler KS.Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a devastating consequence of EHV-1 infection that has significant economic consequences. However, clinical EHM is relatively rare and occurs in only approximately 10% of infected horses. While there is a positive correlation between the duration and magnitude of viremia and incidence of EHM, it is likely that a combination of host and viral factors determine whether EHM occurs. The identification of these factors is of high interest for the equine community and has been the topic of much research for vaccine development and to predict w...
Carossino M, Wagner B, Loynachan AT, Cook RF, Canisso IF, Chelvarajan L, Edwards CL, Nam B, Timoney JF, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UBR.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) has the ability to establish persistent infection in the reproductive tract of the stallion (carrier) and is continuously shed in its semen. We have recently demonstrated that EAV persists within stromal cells and a subset of lymphocytes in the stallion accessory sex glands in the presence of a significant local inflammatory response. In the present study, we demonstrated that EAV elicits a mucosal antibody response in the reproductive tract during persistent infection with homing of plasma cells into accessory sex glands. The EAV-specific immunoglobulin isotypes i...
Muraro LS, Souza AO, Leite TNS, Cândido SL, Melo ALT, Toma HS, Carvalho MB, Dutra V, Nakazato L, Cabezas-Cruz A, Aguiar DM.The genus includes tick-borne bacterial pathogens affecting humans, domestic and wild mammals. has been identified in different animal species and geographical locations, suggesting that this is a widely distributed and generalist . In the present study, we evaluated infection in 148 Equidae presented to the Medical Clinic Department of a Veterinary Hospital from a midwestern region of Brazil. Blood samples and ticks collected from the animals were tested by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the presence of spp. A multigenic approach including Anaplasmataceae-specific (i.e., 16S rRNA, , ...
Yazdansetad S, Mosavari N, Tadayon K, Mehregan I.Burkholderia mallei is the leading cause of glanders, a highly transmittable and an OIE-notifiable disease of equidae. Despite the importance of B. mallei, little is known about serodiagnosis of glanders. The present study aimed to develop an immunoblotting assay based on whole-cell proteome of B. mallei to enable accurate serodiagnosis of glanders. Methods: Three farm horses were subcutaneously immunized with a crude suspension (106 cfu/ml) of heat-inactivated B. mallei formulated with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) to achieve a hyperimmune sera panel. The immunization was done for 1, 14 ...
Jannatabadi AA, Mohammadi GR, Rad M, Maleki M.The objective of this study was to evaluate the existence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus as probable agents associated with naturally occurring infection of the equine upper respiratory disease in Mashhad area. Nasal swabs samples from thirty horses with upper respiratory tract infections were collected. The bacteria isolated and identified were Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (1 isolate), Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (25 isolates), Pasteurella sp. (11 isolates), Staphylococcus sp. (17 isolates), Bacillus sp. (4 isolates), Pseudomonas sp...
Nowicki ST, Minning-Wenz D, Johnston KH, Lottenberg R.Streptokinases are proteins with plasminogen activator activity produced by certain hemolytic streptococci. We previously identified equine streptococcal isolates which produced streptokinases (ESKs) that bound both human and equine plasminogen but only readily activated equine plasminogen (14). This property was exploited to purify a representative ESK produced by Streptococcus equisimilis strain 87-542-W. Affinity chromatography with human plasminogen resulted in the isolation of a M(r) approximately 49,000 molecule with two isoforms. This ESK was subsequently compared to well characterized ...
Hoyles L, Falsen E, Foster G, Rogerson F, Collins MD.A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on a previously unidentified gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, diphtheroid-shaped organism isolated from a vaginal discharge of a horse. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the strain was a member of the genus Arcanobacterium, but sequence divergence values of >4% with described species of this genus (viz: Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Arcanobacterium bernardiae, Arcanobacterium phocae, Arcanobacterium pluranimalium and Arcanobacterium pyogenes) demonstrated that the isolate represented a novel species. The unknown bacteriu...
Dauvillier J, Picandet V, Harel J, Gottschalk M, Desrosiers R, Jean D, Lavoie JP.Two clinical cases of equine proliferative enteropathy are described. Both foals had a positive fecal polymerase chain reaction, but shedding of the bacterium stopped <4 days after therapy was initiated. One foal was serologically positive 3 days after onset of clinical signs and remained positive for more than 6 months. Diagnostic et aspects épidémiologiques d’une entéropathie à Lawsonia intracellularis chez 2 poulains. L’article décrit 2 cas cliniques d’entéropathie proliférative équine. Les 2 poulains étaient positifs à un test fécal d’amplification en chaîne par polymé...
Quinlivan M, Cook F, Kenna R, Callinan JJ, Cullinane A.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), the causative agent of equine infectious anaemia (EIA), possesses the least-complex genomic organization of any known extant lentivirus. Despite this relative genetic simplicity, all of the complete genomic sequences published to date are derived from just two viruses, namely the North American EIAV(WYOMING) (EIAV(WY)) and Chinese EIAV(LIAONING) (EIAV(LIA)) strains. In 2006, an outbreak of EIA occurred in Ireland, apparently as a result of the importation of contaminated horse plasma from Italy and subsequent iatrogenic transmission to foals. This EIA out...
M'ghirbi Y, Mousson L, Moutailler S, Lecollinet S, Amaral R, Beck C, Aounallah H, Amara M, Chabchoub A, Rhim A, Failloux AB, Bouattour A.Mosquito-borne diseases have a significant impact on humans and animals and this impact is exacerbated by environmental changes. However, in Tunisia, surveillance of the West Nile virus (WNV) is based solely on the surveillance of human neuroinvasive infections and no study has reported mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs), nor has there been any thorough serological investigation of anti-MBV antibodies in horses. This study therefore sought to investigate the presence of MBVs in Tunisia. Among tested mosquito pools, infections by WNV, Usutu virus (USUV), and Sindbis virus (SINV) were identified in ....
Magouras I, Schoster A, Fouché N, Gerber V, Groschup MH, Ziegler U, Fricker R, Griot C, Vögtlin A.Reports on acute tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infections with signs of neurologic disease in horses are limited. Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of suspected acute TBEV infections in 6 horses. Methods: Six horses originating from TBEV endemic regions of Switzerland were presented to equine hospitals with acute onset of neurologic disease between 2011 and 2019. Methods: Retrospective case series. Horses with acute onset of signs of neurologic disease that were subjected to clinical and microbiological examinations to rule out infectious dise...
Grønbaek LM, Angen O, Vigre H, Olsen SN.Streptococcus equi is the cause of strangles in horses. To improve diagnostic sensitivity, development and evaluation of DNA-based methods are necessary. Objective: To evaluate diagnostic methods and observe the pattern of bacterial shedding during natural outbreaks. Methods: Two herds with natural outbreaks of strangles were visited over a period of 15 weeks and 323 samples originating from 35 horses investigated. The diagnostic use of a nested PCR test was evaluated using a collection of 165 isolates of Lancefield group C streptococci (species specificity) and swabs from nasal passages or fr...
Shen Z, Zhang MZ, Stich RW, Mitchell WJ, Zhang S.Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Lyme disease associated Borrelia spp. are the most common tick-borne pathogens reported to infect human beings worldwide and other animals, such as dogs and horses. In the present study, we developed a broad-coverage SYBR Green QPCR panel consisting of four individual assays for the detection and partial differentiation of the aforementioned pathogens. All assays were optimized to the same thermocycling condition and had a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction. The assays remained sensitive when used to test canine and equine blood DNA s...
Alkharsah KR, Al-Afaleq AI.This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of WNV antibodies in humans, horses, and pigeons in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 323 humans, 147 horses, and 282 pigeons from two regions, Al-Ahsa and Al-Qatif, in East of Saudi Arabia. Serum samples were tested for anti-WNV antibodies by ELISA. Results: The percentage of anti-WNV antibodies in the human population was found to be 9.6% (3.1% in females and 6.5% in males). This percentage was much higher in horses, as 71.4% (105/147) of the horses had anti-WNV antibodies. However, no st...
