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.
Garcia-Tamayo J.The mode of development of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and the activity of acid phosphatase in the central nervous system of newborn mice were investigated. Precursor particles appeared to be formed in masses of viroplasm, migrating to the membrane of the Golgi cisterns and vacuoles or to the plasma membrane and being transformed into mature viral particles by budding. Mature viral particles were also found in the lumen of the blood vessels and around the myelin sheath of axons. Increased number of Golgi complexes and depletion of polysomes were the main ultrastructural alteratio...
The Journal of hygieneJune 1, 1971
Volume 69, Issue 2 201-207 doi: 10.1017/s0022172400021434
Sinclair IS, McCormick JS, Clark JG.The three heterologous anti-sera currently provided for tetanus prophylaxis have been compared with reference to the production of untoward reactions in 498 patients, and to the blood antitoxin concentrations produced in 76 patients. Equine serum, although giving rise to more reactions, was the only effective agent in terms of the levels and duration of serum antitoxin concentration produced. The local response to a test dose of any of the three sera is not a reliable guide to immediate or late general reactions.
Lawrence WC.Autoradiographic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in randomly growing KB cell cultures infected with equine abortion virus (EAV) suggested that viral DNA synthesis was initiated only at times that coincided with the entry of noninfected control cells into the S phase of the cell cycle. Synchronized cultures of KB cells were infected at different stages of the cell cycle, and rates of synthesis of cellular and viral DNA were measured. When cells were infected at different times within the S phase, viral DNA synthesis was initiated 2 to 3 hr after infection. However, when cells ...
DeMeio JL, DeSanctis AN.Normal and immune sera were obtained from horses immunized with either aqueous, alum, or adjuvant bivalent vaccines containing Milford equine 2 virus. Upon heating at 56 C for 30 min, a factor, required for hemagglutination-inhibition but not complement fixation or neutralization testing, was destroyed. This factor which is present in normal sera does not appear to be complement.
Heydrick FP, Comer JF, Wachter RF.Phospholipid analyses of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus showed that virus propagated in L-cell monolayers had a higher sphingomyelin content and a lower phosphatidylcholine content than virus grown in chick fibroblast monolayers. Virus of L-cell origin also was found to possess greater thermal stability than virus derived from the chick fibroblast cell.
Baker RE, Schlipf JW, Brady JV, Gorman ME.A 6-year-old Cheval Canadien mare was presented for clinical signs related to acute kidney injury after receiving a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy. Cytologic examination of concentrated urine revealed small protozoal organisms that were later identified as Klossiella equi. Both sporocysts and free-floating sporozoites were identified in the urine, which has not been previously documented. The mare responded well to intravenous fluid therapy, and as she regained tubular function, the presence of the protozoa in the urine also abated. The mare was discharged from the hospital a...
Jennings JE.A 21-year-old Appaloosa mare was presented with a pigmented cutaneous mass at the base of the right side of the neck. The diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis due to pigmented fungi, known as Pyrenophora phaeocomes and Drechslera nobleae, was made based on a histopathology report followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 18S rRNA gene sequencing. The mass was surgically excised with clean margins, which is usually curative. Une jument Appaloosa âgée de 21 ans a été présentée avec une masse cutanée pigmentée à la base du côté droit du cou. Le diagnostic de phæohyphomycose causée p...
Ferguson JA, Reeves WC, Hardy JL.Serologic studies in 24 ponies indicated that prevaccination antibodies to Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus (strain TC-83) had no influence on hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody stimulation by western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) or eastern equine encephalomyelits (EEE)-WEE vaccines. However, studies of the effects of VEE neutralizing antibodies on neutralizing antibody stimulation by the heterologous alphavirus vaccines were inconclusive. The VEE, WEE, and EEE antibody responses were studied in 18 VEE-vaccinated (strain TC-83) animals (13 ponies and 5 horses) at 9 to 1...
Traub-Dargatz JL.Bacterial pneumonia in the horse often occurs secondary to viral respiratory infection; however, primary infections can occur. A diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia is made on the basis of history, physical examination, and laboratory and radiographic findings. Treatment consists of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for at least 7 to 10 days; further therapy may be needed in more severe cases. Prevention of bacterial pneumonia includes attempting to prevent viral respiratory infections and appropriate management to prevent stress to the respiratory tract.
Wichtel JJ, Whitlock RH.Botulism was believed to be the cause of progressive symmetric myasthenia in 8 horses on a farm in North Carolina. One horse was found dead, 6 were euthanatized after becoming recumbent, and 1 affected horse recovered. Cecal and colonic contents of 2 horses were determined to contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Alfalfa hay that was fed to the horses contained spores and toxin.
Horenstein AL, Glait HM, Koss A.A monoclonal anti-equine infectious anemia virus (anti-EIAV) antibody (1B15) has been generated by fusion of X63 Ag 8.653 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice hypersensitized with viral antigen p29. Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis indicated that antibody 1B15 is of the IgG class. The specificity of the immune reaction for p29 was confirmed by cross-over immunoelectrophoresis and disc-gel electrophoresis. MAb 1B15 was used to devise a solid-phase 'capture' RIA for EIAV-p29 antigen. The antigen, bound by 1B15 adsorbed onto wells of flexible microtitre plates, was detected using a rabbi...
Terkawi MA, Alhasan H, Ueno A, Ratthanophart J, Luo Y, Cao S, Kamyingkird K, Aboulaila M, Youn-Kyoung G, Nishikawa Y, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Igarashi I.A recombinant C-terminal antigen derived from Babesia caballi 48-kDa rhoptry protein (rBc48/CT) was made for the development of a serologically diagnostic test. Antiserum raised against the rBc48/CT reacted specifically with the corresponding native protein by Western blotting and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Next, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Bc48/CT-ELISA) and an immunochromatographic test based on the Bc48/CT (Bc48/CT-ICT) were constructed and employed for the detection of an antibody to B. caballi in a variety of equine sera. The results of Bc48/CT-ELISA...
Grassmann B, Kopp PA, Schmitt M, Blobel H.Adherence of 4 Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi strains (z7/22, z7/27, z7/41, PBi) to polymorphonuclear granulocytes from different domestic animals (horses, cattle, sheep, dogs) was investigated. All 4 strains adhered to the granulocytes. Binding assays indicated that the adherence occurred between structures on the surface of the borreliae ("binding-sites") and on the membranes of the granulocytes ("receptors"). The "receptors" consisted of 4 fractions (A, B, C, and D) with components differing in molecular weight (MW) and binding activity for proteins on the surface of B. burgdorferi. Fraction A (...
