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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.
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...
Efficacy of Therapeutic UVC Irradiation in Reducing Bacterial Load in Microbial Keratitis: A Retrospective Clinical Study in Veterinary Patients. To evaluate the immediate effect of therapeutic ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation on corneal bacterial load in veterinary patients with microbial keratitis (MK), using a retrospective analysis of clinical data collected at a UK referral ophthalmology hospital. Methods: Client-owned dogs, horses, and cats presented to a referral ophthalmology clinic with MK in 2025. Methods: Clinical records from MK cases were reviewed. For each case, paired corneal swabs were obtained immediately before and immediately after UVC irradiation with a commercially available 265 nm device (PhotonUVC). Treatment con...
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...
First reported case of Parafilaria bovicola infection in a horse (Equus caballus). This study reports the infection, diagnosis and treatment of the nematode Parafilaria bovicola in a horse (Equus caballus) in France. A soft, fluctuated and non-painful subcutaneous nodule was observed under the right eye. Ultrasound revealed a mobile verminous element in a fluid cyst. A nematode was surgically extracted from the cyst and further identified as Parafilaria bovicola by sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. This first report indicates that horses can be accidental hosts of P. bovicola in enzootic areas.
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 ...
Cryo-EM structure of African horse sickness virus VP2 receptor-binding protein enables nanoparticle vaccine design. African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal equine pathogen with no licensed vaccine other than vaccines containing attenuated virus, which pose safety risks. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHSV has caused epizootics in Spain and Portugal, Cyprus, Morocco, the Middle East, India and Pakistan and, most recently, Thailand. Here, we resolve the 3.11 Å cryo-EM structure of full-length VP2 from AHSV serotype 4, adopting its native triskelion architecture and shedding light on an α-helical domain anchoring the triskelion core, which is absent in other structurally characterized orbiviruses. ...
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...
Complete genome of Bacillus anthracis strain ter21 from an infected zoo pony in Ternopil, Ukraine, 2021. Using rapid nanopore whole-genome sequencing, we assembled the genome of strain ter21 (5,229,480 bp), a Tsiankovskii-I group isolate cultured from a fatal case in 2021 of a pony from a zoo in Ternopil, Ukraine, identifying virulence plasmid pXO1 that encodes anthrax toxin, and pXO2.
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...
Bacteroides fragilis – an overlooked cause of abortion in the mare? A near late-term pregnant mare developed purulent vaginal discharge, fever and peripheral edema. Preterm foaling was medically induced, and the mare delivered a weak foal that was subsequently euthanized. Necropsy revealed an extensive, severe allantochoroiditis affecting the entire corpus segment. Necrosuppurative choroiditis with multiple colonies of gram-negative bacilli and suppurative bronchioalveolitis was found at histology. Anaerobic culture of the chorion revealed a mixed culture clearly dominated by Bacteroides fragilis. B. fragilis has not previously been associated with abortion in...
Development of an indirect ELISA for the detection of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus specific antibodies in horses. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen to which equines are most susceptible mammals hosts with a high mortality rate raging from19 to 83%. The virus, transmitted between vertebrates and mosquitos, causes unpredictable sporadic epizootic outbreaks in equids and humans across Central and South America. Although VEEV is not currently circulating in Europe the combination of global change, increasing international trade and the presence of potentially competent vectors (mosquitoes of the genera Aedes and Culex), raises a non-negligible risk of its introduct...
A retrospective study of morbidity and mortality in captive Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii) between 1973 and 2021. Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) were declared extinct in the wild in 1996, but reintroduction programmes initiated in 1997 have enabled the re-establishment of free-ranging populations. The maintenance of healthy captive populations remains essential to support these conservation efforts, yet systematic pathological investigations in captive Przewalski's horses are lacking. This study provides the first necropsy-based overview of morbidity and mortality in a captive European population. Pathology reports from 64 horses examined between 1973 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. Acros...
Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in an aborted equine fetus and serological evidence of infection in mares enrolled in embryo transfer programs in Brazil. Toxoplasma gondii infection is widely recognized as an important cause of reproductive losses in goats and sheep. However, the impact of this parasitic infection in mares remains poorly investigated, reflecting the neglect of this pathogen in equine production. The present study aimed to conduct a serological survey in 100 mares from farms enrolled in embryo transfer (ET) programs in Northeastern Brazil, report the first molecular detection of T. gondii in the placenta and aborted fetus of a mare in the country, and evaluate potential risk factors associated with infection. Anti-T. gondii IgG ...
Genomic diversity of multidrug-resistant Rhodococcus equi: novel sequence types, pangenome architecture, and phylogenomic evolution. Rhodococcus equi is a major cause of life-threatening pneumonia in foals under 6 months of age and an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised humans. Although common in soil and equine farm environments, its evolutionary dynamics, virulence architecture, and pathways of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence remain poorly understood. This study integrated phenotypic characterization and whole-genome sequencing of 46 R. equi isolates from horses submitted for necropsy (n = 45) and equine fecal samples (n = 1) in Kentucky between January 2022 and December 2023 to define their resistance la...
Prevalence, risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in equines in Egypt. Staphylococcus aureus is a common commensal organism in both humans and animals, frequently colonizing the skin and nasal cavities of healthy individuals, although it can also cause a wide range of severe infections. The present study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of S. aureus in equines, along with antimicrobial resistance patterns of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. The results revealed a prevalence of 38.6% in nasal samples collected from equines, highlighting the organism's significant presence and potential to cause infections in these animals. A genotypic p...
