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.
Clayton YM, Fox EC.The research article aims to investigate the mycology of dental calculus (tartar) and its potential to harbor fungal organisms that could lead to ocular infections, particularly in those involved in […]
Platt H.Abortion in the Thoroughbred mare has been studied from the standpoint of its statistical incidence and the factors that predispose to its occurrence. The pathological findings in a series of aborted foetuses submitted for autopsy are described. Some aspects of the aetiology of abortion in the mare are discussed.
Ardans AA, Pritchett RF, Zee YC.A viral agent was isolated from lung tissue obtained upon necropsy of an Arabian foal which had exhibited clinical signs of pneumonia. The virus is 75 nm in diameter, cubic in symmetry, and resistant to chloroform and low pH (3.0). It contains deoxyribonucleic acid and has a buoyant density of 1.31 g/cm(3) in cesium chloride. These findings indicate that the virus is a member of the adenovirus group.
Carrier SP, Boulanger P, Bannister GL.The comparative values of the direct, the indirect complement-fixation and the agar-gel immunodiffusion tests were assessed for the diagnosis of equine infectious anemia. Antibodies were detected on the agar-gel immunodiffusion test as early as 18 days post-inoculation in the serums of experimentally infected horses and were readily detectable in all the subsequent bleedings. Complement-fixing antibodies, demonstrable by the direct method, were detected commencing about the same time. However, these were not long-lasting and were replaced by the non-complement-fixing antibodies demonstrable by...
Hart LT, Broussard EA.Immunodiffusion antigen from spleens of horses infected with equine infectious anemia virus was prepared by methods employing freeze-thaw cycles and thiocyanate treatment. Thiocyanate (0.5 M) permitted the recovery of the greatest amount of antigen. Furthermore, it was most effective for recovery of immunodiffusion antigen from spleens which yielded unsatisfactory concentrations of antigen by the conventional freeze-thaw or water-extraction methods. The reactivity of the antigen did not appear to be affected by this chemical treatment.
Larghi OP, González E, Held JR.The corneal test (CT) for rabies diagnosis was evaluated in samples from 313 subjects of different species. Some of the subjects were inoculated experimentally and others were naturally infected. When the CT was compared with immunofluorescence staining and mouse inoculation tests on brains of the same subjects, a sensitivity of 41.7% and a specificity of 100% were found. The authors conclude that a positive CT result would confirm the diagnosis of rabies, but a negative one would not exclude the possibility of disease.
Firth EC, Goedegebuure SA.The long bone ends of foals with infectious disease were sawn into sagittal slabs, washed and inspected. Tissue suspected to be abnormal on the basis of change of colour and consistency was radiographed, and then decalcified and examined histologically. The exact site of 140 focal osteomyelitis lesions from 18 foals was determined. There were more lesions in the epiphysis than the metaphysis. Epiphyseal lesions were in specific sites within a given epiphysis, and in most epiphyses the lesions were at the site of thickest cartilage. Metaphyseal lesions in the metacarpal, metatarsal and distal r...
Cranley JJ.A survey of 1141 horses and ponies, for the presence of hydatid infection, was carried out at an export meat plant near Bristol. Lesions were attributed carefully by morphological, histological and immunological examinations and assessed by flame cell activity. All available detail concerning the animals was recorded. The surveys in the literature were assessed for the criteria on which their figures were based and were compared with the findings of this present survey. Attention was drawn to the apparent discord between the results of some surveys and others.
Lynch JA.A Staphylococcus aureus infection in a mature horse, resulting from trauma, is described, which proved refractory to antibiotic therapy directed by the results of antibiotic sensitivity testing. After a prolonged course, rapid resolution of the infection was achieved with the administration of an autogenous formalized bacterin.
Doerksen T, Bird E, Henningson J, Palinski R.Here, we report the near-complete genome sequences of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) serotype Indiana isolates from the 2020 U.S. outbreak. The sequences were obtained from swabs collected from Kansas horses in July and August. The four genome sequences help improve our understanding of VSV outbreak dynamics in the United States.
McClure JM.This article provides an overview of general health care management procedures commonly dealt with by racetrack practitioners. Although some of the conditions discussed are similar to those observed in a non-racetrack practice, the manner in which they are approached usually varies because of the unique circumstances encountered in the racetrack setting.
Akimenko ZA, Ofitserov VI, Shaprov VV, Iastrebov SI.Homogeneous (according to PAGE) capsid and surface viral proteins were isolated from concentrated purified suspensions of tick-borne encephalitis and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viruses by one-stage reversed-phase HPLC. The amino acid composition and the sequences of their N-terminal parts were determined.
Baird AN, Taylor JR, Watkins JP.Radiographically, osteolysis of the physis consistent with a septic physitis was observed in 3 foals. The foals were treated with surgical debridement and antimicrobials. Two of the horses were sound for use as adults; the third was euthanatized due to concurrent infectious arthritis and septicemia.
Moore BR, Reed SM, Kowalski JJ, Bertone JJ.A National Show Horse with a mediastinal granuloma was presented with clinical signs which included fever, nasal discharge and cough. The mediastinal mass was identified radiographically and ultrasonographically. A presumptive diagnosis of aspergillosis was made following isolation of Aspergillus spp. from both transtracheal aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) identification of serum antibody to Aspergillus spp. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination of the mediastinal mass obtained at necropsy examination.
Gummow B, Herr S, Brett OL.A microtitration serum agglutination test, based on that used for brucellosis, has been developed to detect antibodies in the sera of horses exposed to the contagious equine metritis (CEM) organism. Two known positive sera were tested 100 times in 15 separate tests. The results were reproducible to within a twofold range. The test is capable of being carried out within 100 min.
