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.
Moore RW, Redmond HE, Katada M, Wallace M.A continuous-passage horse leukocyte culture [V.B. 40, abst. 4672] was susceptible to the virus of equine infectious anaemia, as determined by cyto-pathic effect and viral titre. Ultrafiltration studies indicated that the virus was less than 32 mμ in diameter, which agrees with previous reports. Susceptible horses developed clinical signs and lesions of the disease when they were inoculated with both unfiltered and ultrafiltered culture virus.
Ley KD, Burger D, McGuire T, Henson JB.The role of interferon in the pathogenesis of per-
sistent or chronic viral diseases has not been elu-
cidated. However, interferon or inducers of inter-
feron may have a marked effect on the course of
certain chronic viral diseases [1-3]. Equine infec-
tious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease of horses
that may take an inapparent, acute, subacute, or
chronic course in the affected host [4]. Chronically
infected horses suffer from recurrent attacks of
fever that are accompanied by severe anemia.
After the infection has been established, infected
horses may carry the virus for the rest ...
Correa WM.Smears and imprints were made from the liver of 27 equine fetuses, believed to have aborted as a result of Equine Virus Abortion (EVA) infection. Several different fixatives and staining techniques were employed for the demonstration of typical intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in these preparations, and the following conclusions were reached. Methanol proved to be the best fixative and Pappenheim's panoptic method was the best staining technique, giving good contrast and definition of the inclusion bodies. Cytological methods provided a simple and rapid means of diagnosis, but histological secti...
Tekerlekov P, Dilovski M, Enchev S, Peneva I.Coggins' immune diffusion test was modified, and was applied as a screening one in the study of the epizootic status. The positive reactions were characterized by the production of a precipitation line between the antigen and the respective serum that was tested. The appearance of such a line was associated with that formed with the use of the positive control serum, pointing to a reaction of identity. With the weakly positive reactions the ends of the precipitin lines, formed with the use of the positive control serum, were found to deviate slightly toward the site where the antigen had been ...
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.
