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.
Johnston KG, Henderson AW.Under the title “Equine Granuloma in the
Northern Territory of Australia” Lewis (1914)
gave an account of a disease of horses otherwise
known as “swamp cancer”. A variety of superficial sites are affected but these are rarely above
the level of the shoulder joint and principally
involve the lower legs and the ventral aspect of the
thoracoabdominal wall. The lesions on the legs are
granulating ulcers, those on the body are subcutaneous swellings and both are characterised by
the presence of conspicuous necrotic cores or
“kunkers” in the inflammatory tissue.
Johnston (1971)...
Pulley LT, Shively JN.Tyzzer's disease was diagnosed in a 17-day-old foa l after the demonstra tion
of mu ltip le foci of hepat ic necro sis and organisms morphologically compatible with
Bacillus piliformis in hepa tocytes at the margins of the necrotic foci. Th e bac illi were
300 to 500 nm in diameter with occa sional giant bacilli 1000 nm in d iameter. Ma ny intranuclear organisms were seen, and a n a pparent sequence of nuclear penetration by these
organisms was demonstrated . There was hem orrhage in the hear t a nd inflamma tory
cha nges in the mesenteric lymph node . Enteritis was no t pre sent in the j...
April Lawson and Gina Pinchbeck of the University of Liverpool introduce a new initiative that will use electronic health records to create an evidence base for equine research and surveillance.
Matthews AG.This paper overviews some recent developments in mammalian corneal immunobiology, and discusses how these may act as pointers towards understanding the immunology underlying some common corneal diseases in the horse, including infectious ulceration and presumptively immune-mediated non-ulcerative disease. Specifically, three aspects of corneal immunobiology are examined: the role of Toll-like receptors in surface immunity and in the etiogenesis of microbial ulceration, the relationship between conjunctiva associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) and immunoprotection of the corneal surface, and the me...
de Almeida Campos AC, Cicolo S, de Oliveira CM, Molina CV, Navas-Suárez PE, Dos Santos TP, da Silveira VB, Barbosa CM, Baccarin RYA, Durigon EL....No abstract available
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.
