Topic:Public Health
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.
Fatalities caused by nonvenomous animals: a ten-year summary from Sweden. All 58 deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden 1975-1984 were scrutinized. In 38 cases horses were involved, in 16 cattle and in one case each a moose, a lion, a dog and a ram. In the horse-related fatalities, the most common cause of accident was that the horse bolted or reared, causing the rider to fall off the horse or the cart or sulky. Falls were thus associated with 22 horse-related deaths. In cattle-related accidents, all fatalities where the cause of accident was known occurred due to aggressive behaviour of the animal. In horse-related accidents, head injuries dominated, while ...
Application of high-performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to the investigation of cadmium speciation in pig kidney following cooking and in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion. The speciation of cadmium in retail pig kidney has been examined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled directly to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Approximately 35% of the cadmium from uncooked kidney was soluble after aqueous extraction at pH 8 and SEC - ICP-MS revealed three discrete peaks whose retention times corresponded to estimated relative molecular masses of 1.2 x 10(6), 7.0 x 10(4) and 6 x 10(3)-9 x 10(3). In the cooked kidney, 35% of the Cd was soluble and was all associated with a peak of a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 6 x 10(3)-9 x 10(3). After s...
The cadmium status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area. The Cd status of animals is best reflected by kidneys and much worse by liver and hair. Breed (heavy- and warm-blooded horses) only took an insignificant effect on the Cd content of kidneys and liver. On the average, however, warm-blooded horses stored more Cd than heavy ones. Geldings from Cd-exposed living areas accumulated insignificantly more Cd in liver, kidneys and hair than mares. The influence of age on the Cd content of kidneys and liver of Cd-exposed horses was significant. The Cd exposure of a living area was very well reflected by kidneys and liver. On the average, horses from two ...
The lead status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area. The breed of horses took a significant effect on the Pb content of animals with a normal Pb supply. Warm-blooded horses stored more Pb in skeleton, kidneys, liver and cerebrum than heavy horses. The sex only had the trend of influencing the Pb status. Mares with a normal Pb supply incorporated more Pb than geldings. Age only took a slight effect on the skeleton. Older horses stored more Pb in the metatarsal bone than younger ones. The Pb content of horse meat was not influenced by Pb exposure. Pb was not additionally deposited in the musculature. The Pb offer of the living area took a signific...
Tremorgenic syndromes in livestock. 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...
[The dust and microbial content in a horse stable during the use of a dust-binding agent]. Dust in horse barns is assumed to contribute to pulmonary disease, it is attempted to reduce the airborne dust by soaking or sprinkling the hay before feeding. Both means cause considerable efforts and increase the relative humidity of the air. This is why a commercial dust-binding agent (Revesto pur) was used in a pilot investigation which was carried out during 2 weeks - one week for control and one week using the agent - in a private horse barn where three horses were regularly stable. The airborne dust was measured by a continuously working instrument. Once a day (7.00 a.m.) the number of ...
[Anthrax in Chad: a zoonosis that still exists today]. An epidemic of human and animal anthrax raged in Chad mainly in the Department of Chari Baguirmi from September to December 1988, infesting more than 50% of donkeys and horses. 716 human cases have been reported, with 88 deaths. Thanks to a geographical distribution of animal and human prevalence, one sees immediately the interdependency between sanitary state of live-stock and public health. An unusual means of transmission from donkey to donkey by insects as the vector is suggested to explain the intensity of animal epidemics. Two strains of B. anthracis were isolated and described. Systemat...
Toxicity of field samples and Fusarium moniliforme from feed associated with equine-leucoencephalomalacia. Feed samples of corn, pelleted feed, and oats associated with equine leucoencephalomalacia (ELEM) were obtained from North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, and Oklahoma. These samples contained a high colony density of Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon which ranged from 64 to 87% of the total fungi. Fifty-nine F. moniliforme strains were isolated. Isolates of F. moniliforme in feed samples from Illinois, Indiana, and Oklahoma were cultured on corn. The fermented corn, mixed with regular feed and fed to one-day-old ducklings, effected a high mortality coefficient (average 55%). Methanol extracts of corn...
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp in equids in Louisiana. In 1985, 22 pony foals reared in a helminth-free environment were tested daily for oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp by use of fecal flotation. Oocysts were found in all foals. Oocysts were first observed in feces collected from foals 9 to 28 days after birth. The mean period of oocyst shedding was 10 days and ranged from 2 to 18 days in individual foals. Diarrhea was observed in 14 of 22 (64%) foals and began before the period of oocyst shedding. Fecal samples also were examined for other infective agents. Salmonella poona was isolated from 1 foal that did not have diarrhea, and coronavirus parti...
People and Horses: The Risks of Riding. Horseback riding carries several risks, some of which can be minimized if riders take riding lessons, wear proper headgear and footgear, and remember that they are on top of a large, willful animal.
Monensin poisoning in horses – an international incident. Several hundred Michigan horses were accidentally exposed to varying levels of monensin. Severity of effects was proportional to the level of feed contamination; sudden death resulted on at least two premises. Acute signs of cardiovascular impairment occurred on one premises having received feed containing over 200 grams of monensin per tonne. Gross and histological postmortem lesions consisted of acute myocardial necrosis. Although only circumstantially confirmed, investigations led to the suspicion that the source of poisoning was a ration formulation error in a feedmill in southwestern Onta...
The epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in Great Britain. V. The status of subspecies of Echinococcus granulosus in Great Britain. Twenty-five years ago Williams and Sweatman suggested that in Great Britain there are two subspecies of Echinococcus granulosus--E. granulosus granulosus and E. granulosus equinus. Echinococcus granulosus granulosus does not mature either in foxes or in horses: E. granulosus equinus will mature in either. The prepatent period of E. granulosus granulosus in the definitive host is about 42 days while that of E. granulosus equinus is about 70 days. Each subspecies has a characteristic morphology. More recently, in the course of seven experiments, dogs, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes crucigera), arctic ...
Complement fixing antibodies against arboviruses in horses at Lagos, Nigeria. Sixty-two sera horse collected from two stables at Lagos, Nigeria, were tested for complement fixing antibody to 8 arbovirus antigens; Chikungunya, Igbo-Ora, Yellow fever, Wesselsbron, West Nile, Potiskum, Uganda S and Rift Valley fever. Ten per cent of the horse sera examined contained CF antibody to one or more of the test antigens and indicated considerable arbovirus activity in the two stables. Reactions with flavivirus antigens were most common and the highest antibody titres were obtained with Wesselsbron and Yellow fever viruses. Eleven per cent of the sera tested reacted with alphaviru...
Lethal horse-riding injuries. Riding accidents can be of a serious nature. Knowledge of risk factors is of essential value in the prevention of injuries. From the years 1969 through 1982 a series of 53 lethal riding injuries is analysed with reference to the rider, the horse, and the environment. Craniocerebral injuries dominate in this series, indicating the importance of adequately protecting helmets. Among the victims the female sex is dominating before the age of 25 and the males above this age. Older horses are less frequently involved in these accidents than younger ones. A long training period for riders under surve...