The topic of Public Health and horses encompasses the study of interactions between equine populations and human health systems. It involves examining the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transferred between animals and humans, as well as the role of horses in the epidemiology of such diseases. This field also considers the impact of equine-related activities on public health, including injuries and environmental effects. Research in this area often explores preventive measures, management strategies, and policies to mitigate health risks associated with horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the intersection of equine and public health, focusing on disease transmission, risk assessment, and health management strategies.
Pant GR.Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an emerging disease of animals and humans in Nepal. A serological study for antibody to JE virus was conducted in Nepal from September 2003 to August 2004 by collecting 280 sera from pigs, ducks, and horses covering 10 districts of the country. These sera were tested by performing competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against JE virus. The total number of tested sera was 280, of which 43.92% were found positive for the presence of antibodies against JE virus infection in Nepal. Sero-prevalence of JE in pigs, ducks, and horse...
Ul Hasan M, Muhammad G, Gutierrez C, Iqbal Z, Shakoor A, Jabbar A.A cross-sectional study has been carried out in order to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in susceptible hosts in the Punjab region (Pakistan). A total of 170 equines and 150 dromedary camels were examined. Five (3.3%) and 6 (4%) camels were positive at parasitological and serological examination, respectively. None of the equines tested positive at any method. These results seem to indicate that T. evansi infection has a relatively low prevalence in the Punjab region. However, efforts must be done in order to establish control measures in affected herds and avoid disse...
Alberti A, Sparagano OA.Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum, formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila) is a tick-borne pathogen responsible for tick-borne fever in ruminants, equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (EGE) in horses, canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE) in dogs, and for human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Human cases have been registered in many countries with a broad range of symptoms and pathogenicity. This article focused on Sardinia as the prevalence in humans was almost seven times higher than in the rest of Italy. To evaluate the risk, blood samples were collected from dogs and horses on the isl...
Chevalier V, Lancelot R, Diaité A, Mondet B, Sall B, De Lamballerie X.The Ferlo area (north-central Senegal) is characterized by a system of temporary ponds favorable to arboviruses among which West Nile fever (WNF) was already identified. During the rainy season in 2003, a serological study was undertaken on horses to assess the activity of the WNF virus (WNFV) in Barkedji (Ferlo). The observed serological prevalence rate was 78.3% for neutralizing antibodies, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [64.0, 92.7]. This prevalence rate significantly increased with age (P = 10(-5)). This study confirmed that WNF was endemic in the Ferlo. The transmission risks depe...
Lillini E, Macrì G, Proietti G, Scarpulla M.Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) is one of the vectors of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) in Europe, in which rates of infection range from 1.9% to 34%. In 1998, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis-like (HGE-like) Ehrlichia DNA was detected in Italy, by PCR technique in one I. ricinus nymph out of 55 ticks that were examined. In 1996, 6.3% of 310 human sera in high-risk subjects from Italy were found positive for antibodies to Ehrlichia phagocytophila (E. phagocytophila). In the same year, the authors reported the first case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis. In 1997, only 2 out of 563...
Lefrançois T, Blitvich BJ, Pradel J, Molia S, Vachiéry N, Martinez D.In July 2002, a surveillance system was implemented on Guadeloupe to detect for the potential introduction and monitor the spread of West Nile virus (WNV). From 2002 to 2004, equines and chickens were serologically assayed for antibodies to WNV by IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), epitope-blocking ELISA, and plaque reduction neutralization tests. After introduction, probably through migratory birds at the end of 2001, many seroconversions occurred between July and October 2002 resulting in a high seroprevalence (19.3%) in equines in 2003. WNV circulation levels decreased d...
Kuehn R, Kaczensky P, Lkhagvasuren D, Pietsch S, Walzer C.Recent studies suggest that Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) are being increasingly poached in a commercial fashion. Part of the meat is believed to reach the meat markets in the capital Ulaanbaatar. To test this hypothesis, we collected 500 meat samples between February and May 2006. To differentiate between domestic horse (Equus caballus) and wild ass meat, we developed a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We amplified and sequenced a cytochrome b fragment (335 bp) and carried out a multialignment of the generated sequences ...
Balendra G, Turner M, McCrory P, Halley W.To provide a breakdown of injury incidence from amateur jump racing (also known as point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006 and to compare the injury epidemiology with professional horse racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France. Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Great Britain and Ireland. Methods: Amateur jockeys. Methods: Injury rates. Results: Injury data suggest that point to point racing is more dangerous from an injury point of view than professional jump racing, which has previously been shown to be more dangerous than flat racing. Amateur jockeys hav...
Amusategui I, Sainz A, Tesouro MA.A total of 1,098 serum samples were analyzed against Anaplasma phagocytophilum by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test. These serum samples belonged to four different populations distributed throughout two provinces of Galicia (Ourense and Pontevedra) located in northwestern Spain: bovine population (456 samples); ovine population (389 samples); caprine population (207 samples); and equine population (46 serum samples, all from Pontevedra). The seroprevalence against A. phagocytophilum within the bovine population was 3.07%. On the other hand, two of 389 (0.51%) sheep and one of 207 (0.48%) g...
Barros AT, Foil LD.Two studies evaluated the potential use of spatial barriers to reduce the mechanical transmission of disease agents by tabanids in the Pantanal region of Brazil. Tabanids at stations separated by four different distances (5, 10, 25, and 50m) were marked. In the first study, tabanids were marked and allowed to feed until engorgement or natural interruption occurred and captured if they transferred to the other horse. A total of 2847 tabanids belonging to nine different species were marked. The percentage of tabanids that moved between horses was 10.5 at 5m, 6.8 at 10m, and 4.6 at 25m. In the se...
Rosenthal FS, Gruntman A, Couetil LL.Measurements of total, respirable, and real-time airborne particulate were obtained in 12 horse barns in summer and winter. Respirable and total particulate concentrations were measured gravimetrically; real-time particulate was measured with an aerosol photometer. Total particulate (TP) ranged from nondetectable (ND) to 2.1 mg/m3 and from ND to 1.2 mg/m3 for winter and summer sampling, respectively. Respirable particulate (RP) ranged from ND to 0.2 mg/m3 and from ND to 0.7 mg/m3 for winter and summer measurements, respectively. The mean respirable fraction of particulate for summer and winter...
Vengust M, Anderson ME, Rousseau J, Weese JS.To evaluate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (MRS) colonization in clinically normal dogs and horses in the community. Results: Three hundred clinically normal horses and 200 clinically normal dogs were enrolled. One nasal swab was collected from each horse. Two swabs were taken from each dog: (i) from an anterior nare, and (ii) a combination of the perineal area and 0.5 cm into the anus. Enrichment cultures were performed. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was not identified. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius (MRSI) was isolated from the n...
Caglar E, Sandalli N.An epidemiological survey was carried among pony and horseback riding children in nine pony and horseback riding clubs, Istanbul. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental trauma in young pony and horse riders. A total of 214 children were interviewed to determine the occurrence of dental trauma during pony and horseback riding. Some 2.3% of participants (n = 5) had already been affected by dental and orofacial trauma. Horse riders experienced dental and/or orofacial trauma significantly more than the pony riders. Results revealed that these children's awareness...
Fine DL, Roberts BA, Teehee ML, Terpening SJ, Kelly CL, Raetz JL, Baker DC, Powers AM, Bowen RA.A new vaccine, V3526, is a live-attenuated virus derived by site-directed mutagenesis from a virulent clone of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) IA/B Trinidad donkey (TrD) strain, intended for human use in protection against Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE). Two studies were conducted in horses to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, ability to boost and protective efficacy of V3526 against challenges of TrD and VEEV IE 64A99. Horses were vaccinated subcutaneously (SC) with 10(7), 10(5), 10(3) or 10(2) plaque-forming units (pfu) of V3526. Control horses were sham immunized. I...
Morgan D.Although there is no recognized transmission of human arboviral infections in the UK, concerns about the possible spread of West Nile virus (WNV) have precipitated coordinated activities around both surveillance and response. The Department of Health has chaired a UK WNV task force since the end of 2000. This is a multidisciplinary group of senior representatives from Agencies and Government Departments involved in human and animal health, entomology and academic departments. Activities include surveillance for WNV infections in humans, and in dead birds, mosquitoes and horses. All have been n...
Acosta-González RI, González-Reyes I, Flores-Gutiérrez GH.A cross-sectional study was conducted to determinate the seroprevalence rate of equine brucellosis in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Serum samples from 420 equines were analyzed with the Rose Bengal test at cell concentrations of 3% (RBT-3%) and 8% (RBT-8%), and positive results were confirmed with the Rivanol test (RT). Risk factors were determined with the prevalence ratio (PR) and the use of variables generated from a questionnaire administered to the animals' owners. Serum from 1 stallion had positive results with both the RBT-8% and the RT, for a seroprevalence rate of 0.238%. Drinking ...
Yim VW, Yeung JH, Mak PS, Graham CA, Lai PB, Rainer TH.Professional horse riding-related injuries have not been studied before in Hong Kong, although horse racing takes place very regularly in the territory. In addition, the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will come to Hong Kong. This study analysed the pattern of horse-related injury among patients who presented to a trauma centre in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong. Methods: Information from the trauma centre database was analysed retrospectively. The database includes trauma patients who had sustained potentially severe injuries that warranted initial assessment and resuscit...
Bicout DJ, Carvalho R, Chalvet-Monfray K, Sabatier P.The paper examines the prevalence of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in horse populations in the northern part (comprising 89 cities) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from January 2002 to December 2004. Data on 8,981 agar gel immunodiffusion test results from the region were used as input for a statistical and autoregressive analysis model to construct a city-level map of the distribution of EIA prevalence. The following EIA prevalence (P) levels were found: 49 cities with 0 < P < or = 0.5%, 26 with 0.5% < P < or = 1.5%, 10 with 1.5% < P < or = 5%, and 4 with 5% < P < or = 25%.
Saad MD, Hussein HA, Bashandy MM, Kamel HH, Earhart KC, Fryauff DJ, Younan M, Mohamed AH.Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of hepatitis among young Egyptian adults with high seroprevalence rates seen in both rural areas of the Nile Delta and in suburban Cairo. Because natural antibodies to HEV have been detected in animals and zoonotic transmission is postulated, we surveyed work horses in Cairo for evidence of HEV exposure and viremia. Sera from 200 Cairo work horses were tested by ELISA for the presence of IgG anti-HEV antibody revealed a seropositivity of 13%. Among 100 samples processed for detection of viral genome by means of nested polymerase chain reaction (N-P...
Attili AR, Kennerman E, Takai S, Or ME, Marenzoni ML, Torun S, Pieramati C, Kayar A, Golcu E, Parkan C, Yilmaz Z, Gonul R, Valente C, Cuteri V.In order to assess the Rhodococcus equi infection in three provinces of Turkey (Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul), 696 sera from healthy foals and adult horses were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 6939) as antigen. 103 sera (14.80%) with titres >0.646 resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P=0.0053) in male than in female horses of Istanbul province, although higher antibody titres (mean value) were observed in the female group of Bursa and Izmir provinces with differences estimated between provinces (P=0.0002). Seroprevalence was correlated wit...
Journal of medical entomologyOctober 5, 2006
Volume 43, Issue 5 936-946 doi: 10.1603/0022-2585(2006)43[936:hbahba]2.0.co;2
Balenghien T, Fouque F, Sabatier P, Bicout DJ.After 35 yr of disease absence, West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) circulation has been regularly detected in the Camargue region (southern France) since 2000. WNV was isolated from Culex modestus Ficalbi, which was considered the main vector in southern France after horse outbreaks in the 1960s. Recent WNV transmissions outside of the Cx. modestus distribution suggested the existence of other vectors. To study potential WNV vectors, horse- and bird-baited traps and human landing collections of mosquitoes were carried out weekly from May to October 2004 at two Camargu...
Burger NC, Nesvadba J, Nesvadba Z, Busato A, Gottstein B.A cross-sectional field study on the prevalence of Dicrocoelium dendriticum was performed in the Emmental. The study included 211 bovines, 170 equines, 20 ovines, 46 caprines and 23 rabbits (from 119 farms). In addition, laboratory routine diagnostic data obtained from 2.840 animals--all originating from the same area of investigation--were assessed in the same way. The infection extent concerning the different animal species were the following: bovines 46%, equines 12%, ovines 30%, caprines 48% and rabbits 9%. Univariate analyses of baseline epidemiological data identified no significant risk...
Wittig MB, Wohlsein P, Hagen RM, Al Dahouk S, Tomaso H, Scholz HC, Nikolaou K, Wernery R, Wernery U, Kinne J, Elschner M, Neubauer H.Since 1990 the number of glanders outbreaks in race, military and pleasure horses in Asia and South America is steadily increasing. Glanders, which is eradicated in Western Europe, Australia and Northern America, is currently considered a re-emerging disease. Consequently, the disease may be introduced into glanders-free regions by subclinical carriers at any time. The causative agent of glanders, Burkholderia (B.) mallei, is highly contagious and leads to chronic disease in horses whereas in donkeys and mules the disease is acute and often fatal. Occurrence of the disease leads to internation...
Levy R, Forsyth CM, LaPorte SL, Geren IN, Smith LA, Marks JD.Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), the most poisonous substance known, causes naturally occurring human disease (botulism) and is one of the top six biothreat agents. Botulism is treated with polyclonal antibodies produced in horses that are associated with a high incidence of systemic reactions. Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are under development as a safer therapy. Identifying neutralizing epitopes on BoNTs is an important step in generating neutralizing mAbs, and has implications for vaccine development. Here, we show that the three domains of BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A) can be displayed on the...
Bauer B, Blank J, Heile C, Schein E, Clausen PH.A fence of black mosquito netting of 100 cm height, pre-treated with 80 mg/m2 of deltamethrin and UV-protected, was used to shelter horses from nuisance and biting insects on pasture in northern Brandenburg. The netting material was attached to the surrounding poles of the existing fences at a height of 15 cm above ground. Three trial groups were selected grazing in spatially separated areas with comparable densities of insect populations. One paddock was completely fenced apart from a wall of 170 cm height and 70 m length. The second pasture had only partial protection with 126 m (13.4%) of f...
Mathewson JJ, Simpson RB, Roush DA.Six isolations of Salmonella krefeld were made from clinical veterinary specimens. These isolates were multiply resistant to several antimicrobial agents commonly used to treat salmonellosis.
Ryan KD, Brodine J, Pothast J, McGoldrick A.Horseracing is among the most popular and increasingly lucrative industry sports in the nation. The average jockey must control a thoroughbred horse 10 times their weight that may act unpredictably whether at rest or full gallop resulting in falls, kicks, or even biting injuries. Despite the risks, jockeys do not have access to the same quality of medical care that is standard in similarly profitable sports organizations. Beyond the mental and physical demands of training and performance endured by any professional athlete, jockeys are confronted with health challenges unique to their sport. I...
McNeill LR, Bott RC, Mastellar SL, Djira G, Carroll HK.In South Dakota, the status of equid well being is relatively unknown. This study sought to (a) gain understanding about the current perceptions of nonhuman animal well being in South Dakota, with an emphasis on horses and other equids; (b) determine the level of care equids are reportedly receiving and the perceived challenges to equine well being in South Dakota, and (c) determine if people from diverse geographical locations (east or west of the Missouri River) have similar views on the well being of equids in South Dakota. Respondents indicated the current level of equid well being in Sout...
Corbeil LE, Morrissey JF, Léguillette R.This report describes 5 horses in the southern Alberta region with typical and atypical external abscessation due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (pigeon fever). "Pigeon fever" has recently been diagnosed in new geographic regions in North America and should be kept as a differential diagnosis by practitioners when an external or internal abscess is identified in a horse. L’infection parCorynebacterium pseudotuberculosis(fièvre du pigeon) chez les chevaux est-elle une maladie émergente dans l’Ouest canadien? Ce rapport décrit cinq chevaux dans la région sud de l’Alberta atteint...
Törmälehto E, Korkiamäki R.Previous research has shown features of an attachment bond to be fulfilled in, for instance, human-dog dyads; however, there is a considerable lack of research on the potential attachment in human-horse relationships. Employing Bowlby's criteria of an attachment bond and Pierce's model of therapeutically powerful activity, this article studies whether short-term exposure to horses brings about elements of emerging attachment for adolescents and if this interaction holds potential in creating a favorable early-stage setting for professional care. It draws from group discussions carried out with...
Drozdzewska K, Potocnik E, Schwarz B.Placing a nasogastric tube can be a life-saving act for a horse but is considered an occupational hazard for veterinarians. An online questionnaire was performed to assess and specify potential risks. 123 equine veterinarians completed the survey, and the majority admitted using the mouth to handle the end of the nasogastric tube (sucking or blowing air) and having accidentally swallowed or aspirated stomach content or medications. This can potentially lead to aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis. Mineral oil seems to be especially dangerous as aspiration may be asymptomatic at the beginning an...
Kung N, Mackenzie S, Pitt D, Robinson B, Perkins NR.An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) caused by influenza A H3N8 subtype virus occurred in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales in August 2007. Infection in the Australian horse population was associated with the introduction of infection by horses from overseas. The first case of EI in Queensland was detected on 25 August 2007 at an equestrian sporting event. Infection subsequently spread locally and to other clusters through horse movements prior to the implementation of an official standstill. There were five main clusters of infected properties during this outbreak and se...
Franzén Lindgren E, Hammarqvist F, Ahl Hulme R.Horse-riding is practiced on a regular basis by 500,000 people in Sweden. It is reputed to be one of the most dangerous sports. On average, there were 1756 acute injuries and three fatalities each year between 1997 and 2014 in Sweden related to horses. The primary aim of this study was to outline the injury spectrum related to equestrian activities cared for at a large Swedish trauma centre. The secondary aim was to identify trends in clinical outcomes and to investigate the association between age and such outcomes. Methods: The electronic medical records system at Karolinska University Hosp...
Owen R, Fullerton JN, Tizard IR, Lumsden JH, Barnum DA.Clinical, bacteriological, serological and haematological observations were made on 13 adult ponies orally inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium. The results were compared to two control ponies and four others infected by accidental transmission. The clinical responses in inoculated ponies included pyrexia lasting four days and neutropaenia during the first five days after inoculation followed by a neutrophilia. Pyrexia and neutropaenia was associated with maximal shedding of organisms in the rectal faeces. Changes in the character of the faeces occurred between one and two days after inocula...
Dahl E.During a 2-year period all Casualty Department data charts with the diagnosis "animal bite" were reviewed as part of internal quality control. Of 1,051 recorded episodes, 503 (48%) were women and 147 (14%) children under 16 years of age. 951 (90%) wounds were treated without closure. Half of the patients were not given antibiotics on the first visit, whereas one third were given penicillin. Tetanus status had been evaluated on 1,015 (97%) charts. Most bites were caused by dogs (76%), cats (17%), and horses (2%). Children were the victims of 118 (15%) dog bites, eight (4%) cat bites, and ten (5...
Baigazinov ZА, Lukashenko SN, Panitsky АV, Kadyrova NZ, Karatayev SS, Mamyrbayeva АS, Baigazy SА, Bazarbaeva АМ, Kabdyrakova AB....Horses are important food sources in several countries however, data on their radionuclide uptake is less available than for many other farm animals. Information on the transfer of artificial radioisotopes from the environment to the food supply is necessary for internal dose assessment and assuring the safety of the population relying on this food source. This study provides data for a less studied farm animal and, in the case of Am and Pu, relatively poorly studied radionuclides with respect to transfer to animal products. The transfer parameters for Pu, Am, Cs and Sr to the organs of 1-year...
Attili AR, Kennerman E, Takai S, Or ME, Marenzoni ML, Torun S, Pieramati C, Kayar A, Golcu E, Parkan C, Yilmaz Z, Gonul R, Valente C, Cuteri V.In order to assess the Rhodococcus equi infection in three provinces of Turkey (Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul), 696 sera from healthy foals and adult horses were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 6939) as antigen. 103 sera (14.80%) with titres >0.646 resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P=0.0053) in male than in female horses of Istanbul province, although higher antibody titres (mean value) were observed in the female group of Bursa and Izmir provinces with differences estimated between provinces (P=0.0002). Seroprevalence was correlated wit...
Vilibić-Čavlek T, Barbić Ljubo , Stevanović V, Mlinarić-Galinović G.Usutu virus (USUV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis serocomplex. The virus was discovered in 1959 in South Africa and has emerged since 1996 causing epizootics with high avian mortality in Europe. The importance of USUV in humans is not fully understood. However, several human clinical cases of USUV infection described so far indicate the role of this virus as an antropozoonotic agent. In Croatia, serologic evidence of USUV was first documented in 2011 in two horses from Zagreb and Sisak-Moslavina County. In 2012, USUV neutralizing antibodies were fou...
Manteca Vilanova X, Beaver B, Uldahl M, Turner PV.Various pharmaceutical products have been derived from horse blood and urine for over a century. Production of biologics and therapeutics from these samples is a niche industry and often occurs in regions with little regulation or veterinary oversight. To ensure good welfare of horses maintained for these purposes, guidance has been developed to support the industry.
Luczkowiak J, Radreau P, Nguyen L, Labiod N, Lasala F, Veas F, Herbreteau CH, Delgado R.Several anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have received emergency authorization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. However, most of these mAbs are not active against the highly mutated Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariants. We have tested a polyclonal approach of equine anti-SARS-CoV-2 F(ab')2 antibodies that achieved a high level of neutralizing potency against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern tested including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12 and BA.4/5. A repertoire of antibodies targeting conserved epitopes in different regi...
Westermann CM, Boerma S, van Nieuwstadt RA.Since the only registrated anti-ectoparasiticum for horses (foxim) is no longer available in The Netherlands, some cases of amitraz intoxication of the horse have occurred. In this article the literature concerning amitraz intoxications and experiments will be discussed and some cases will be described.
Popot MA, Ho ENM, Stojiljkovic N, Bagilet F, Remy P, Maciejewski P, Loup B, Chan GHM, Hargrave S, Arthur RM, Russo C, White J, Hincks P, Pearce C....Cobalt is an essential mineral micronutrient and is regularly present in equine nutritional and feed supplements. Therefore, cobalt is naturally present at low concentrations in biological samples. The administration of cobalt chloride is considered to be blood doping and is thus prohibited. To control the misuse of cobalt, it was mandatory to establish an international threshold for cobalt in plasma and/or in urine. To achieve this goal, an international collaboration, consisting of an interlaboratory comparison between 5 laboratories for the urine study and 8 laboratories for the plasma stud...
Fuehrer HP, Alho AM, Kayikci FN, Shahi Barogh B, Rosa H, Tomás J, Rocha H, Harl J, Madeira de Carvalho L.Vector-borne diseases of zoonotic and/or veterinary relevance have been increasingly reported in horses globally, although data regarding working and military horses is lacking. Portuguese military horses may constitute a risk group for these pathogens, as they frequently work outdoors in various regions of the country. This study included 101 apparently healthy horses belonging to the Portuguese National Republican Guard. Blood samples were analyzed to determine the presence and prevalence of piroplasms, Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsia spp., and filarioid helminths. Overall 32.7% of the horses ga...
Jarvis JA, Franke MA, Davis AD.An examination using the routine rabies direct fluorescent antibody test was performed on rabies or Eastern equine encephalitis positive mammalian brain tissue to assess inactivation of the virus. Neither virus was inactivated with acetone fixation nor the routine test, thus laboratory employees should treat all samples as rabies and when appropriate Eastern equine encephalitis positive throughout the whole procedure.
Kelly AP, Jones RT, Gillick JC, Sims LD.An outbreak of nervous disease in Standardbred horses occurred near Bendigo, in south-eastern Australia, in October 1980. Over a two week period 11 horses in four training stables were affected with gait abnormalities, depression and recumbency. Eight of the 11 died. The results of an investigation implicated Clostridium botulinum toxin as the cause. The toxin was food-borne as a contaminant of oaten chaff.
Annand EJ, Reid PA, Johnson J, Gilbert GL, Taylor M, Walsh M, Ward MP, Wilson A, Degeling C.Hendra virus (HeV) is endemic in Australian flying foxes, posing a threat to equine and human health. Equine vaccination remains the most effective risk mitigation strategy. Many horses remain unvaccinated - even in higher-risk regions. Debate surrounding the vaccine's use is characterised by conflicting perspectives, misunderstanding and mistrust. Private veterinary practitioners are critical to early identification of public health risk through recognition, sampling and management of suspect-equine-HeV-cases. However, managing such cases can be burdensome, with some veterinarians opting not ...
Donahue JM.Eighty-seven of 283 isolates of salmonellae recovered from horses in Kentucky by the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center from July 1, 1980 through June 30, 1984 were Salmonella agona. No isolations of S agona were made from Jan 1, 1972 through June 30, 1980. Salmonella agona was isolated from horses on 56 farms and most of the isolations were made in the spring. All age classes of horses were involved. Clinical forms of salmonellosis observed were diarrhea, septicemia, infertility, and abortion. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined for 83 of the 87 isolates, and 79 were resistant to mul...
Rodríguez-Valencia V, Olive MM, Le Goff G, Faisse M, Bourel M, L'Ambert G, Vollot B, Tolsá-García MJ, Paupy C, Roiz D.The spread of the West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) flaviviruses in Europe in recent decades highlights the urgent need to understand the transmission networks of these pathogens as a basis for effective decision-making. These viruses are part of a complex disease cycle that involves birds as principal hosts and humans and horses as dead-end hosts. Our study aims to uncover the intricate relationships between the main mosquito vector of these viruses, Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) and its feeding preferences based on the forage ratio among several host species, primarily birds in a lan...
Nicholson SS.Grasses that are essential components of livestock grazing programs sometimes are the source of tremorgenic toxicants to the animals consuming them. Morbidity can be high but mortality need not be if management closely observes the cattle daily and removes them at first sign of trouble. Specific treatment generally is not available nor needed. Survivors recover completely within a few days or weeks, except in chronic phalaris poisoning, where sheep and cattle may die after prolonged illness--or at least not make an economical recovery. Certain poisonous plants are responsible for tremorgenic s...
Javanshir A, Tavassoli M, Esmaeilnejad B.Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of "surra" is enzootic in Iran. The current study aimed to detect T. evansi in horses from different regions of Iran using morphological, serological, and molecular methods. In 2021, 400 blood samples were collected from horses in eight regions. Eighty horses showed clinical signs such as cachexia (n = 64), fever (n = 36), foot edema (n = 40), and abdominal edema (n = 32), and 320 horses appeared healthy. All samples from the studied regions were evaluated for the presence of trypanosomes using direct analysis of blood smears, mercuric chloride, and PCR-...
Bustos CP, Marfil MJ, Lanza NS, Guida N.Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is the etiologic agent of strangles, an infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract and head and neck lymph nodes of equines. Routine antimicrobial therapy includes penicillin (PEN) as antibiotic of first choice. Streptococci are usually susceptible to PEN and only a few antimicrobial studies had been performed. The aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of S. equi from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ninety-two isolates were studied by the single disk method to PEN, cefotaxime, erythromycin (ERY), tetracycline, enrofloxacin ...
Sukmawinata E, Sato W, Uemura R, Kanda T, Kusano K, Kambayashi Y, Sato T, Ishikawa Y, Toya R, Sueyoshi M.In this study, the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) enterococci was evaluated in Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses in Japan. Fecal samples were collected from 212 healthy TB racehorses at the Miho and Ritto Training Centers of the Japan Racing Association from March 2017 to August 2018. Isolation and identification were performed by enterococcus selective medium and confirmed to the species using MALDI-TOF MS. Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test against 11 antimicrobials by minimum inhibitory concentration based on recommenda...