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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.
Serological detection of St. Louis encephalitis virus and West Nile virus in equines from Santa Fe, Argentina. St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) present ecological and antigenic similarities and are responsible for serious human diseases. In addition, WNV is a significant pathogen in terms of equine health. The purpose of our study was to analyse the seroprevalence of SLEV and WNV in equine sera collected in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. The seroprevalence determined using the plaque reduction neutralisation test was 12.2% for SLEV, 16.2% for WNV and 48.6% for a combination of both viruses. These results provide evidence of the co-circulation of SLEV and WNV in equines in Sa...
Serological investigations on West Nile virus in birds and horses in Shanghai, China. West Nile virus (WNV) infection is an emerging zoonosis that threatens global public health. In this study, a total of 95 bird serum samples from 14 species and 341 horse serum samples were collected from 2008 to 2010 in Shanghai, China. All serum samples were screened initially for WNV-reactive antibodies using a competitive ELISA. The positive samples detected by ELISA were further confirmed using a plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for WNV and its most closely related flaviviruses in the area to avoid false positives due to cross-reactivity. Five (5·3%) of the bird serum samples ...
Glanders in animals: a review on epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and countermeasures. Glanders or farcy, caused by Burkholderia mallei, is an infectious and zoonotic disease of solipeds. Horses, donkeys and mules are the only known natural reservoir of B. mallei. Although glanders has been eradicated from most countries, it has regained the status of a re-emerging disease because of the numerous recent outbreaks. Pre-symptomatic or carrier animals are the potential source of infection for the healthy equine population and play a crucial role in the spreading of the infectious agent. Glanders is characterized by ulcerating nodular lesions of the skin and mucous membrane. Genera...
Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in asymptomatic horses and donkeys from southeast Turkey. In order to assess the level of Rhodococcus equi infection in southeast Turkey, 679 sera from healthy foals and adult horses and 78 sera from donkeys were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 33701) as antigen. Eighty (11.7%) sera from horses and 9 (11.5%) sera from donkeys with titres >0.85 were positive. The prevalence of seropositive horses in Sanliurfa Province was higher than in Diyarbakir Province; 56 (13.9%) horses in Sanliurfa Province and 24 (8.7%) horses in Diyarbakir Province were defined as seropositive. In Sanliurfa Province 14.5% of female (n=343) an...
Use of sentinel serosurveillance of mules and donkeys in the monitoring of West Nile virus infection. A cross-sectional study was carried out on clinically normal mules and donkeys in a region of southern Spain to assess the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) following detection of infection in contiguous horse and human populations. Antibodies against WNV were detected by a blocking ELISA and micro-virus neutralisation test in 12/165 (7.3%; CI(95%) 4.3-11.3) of the animals sampled. Even though the individual seroprevalence was higher in mules (9.6%; 8/83) than in donkeys (4.9%; 4/82), the difference was not statistically significant. Nine of 90 herds (10.0%; CI(95%) 3.8-16.2) contained a...
Specific detection of all members of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis complex: development of a RT-Nested PCR. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) complex belongs to alphavirus genus in the family Togaviridae. Several species of this complex are pathogenic to humans. VEE infections can produce severe or mild disease, and many cases remain undiagnosed. A specific and sensitive reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-Nested PCR) method was developed for the detection of all VEE subtypes, including Rio Negro Virus (RNV) (subtype VI), which circulates only in Argentina. Degenerated primers were designed and thermal cycling parameters were standardized. This technique is suitable for rap...
Rapid and sensitive analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone in equine plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a psychoactive drug with potent stimulant properties and potential for abuse and drug dependency. MDPV was recently classified as a Class I drug by Racing Commissioners International, indicating that it is a banned substance in equine athletes because it lacks therapeutic value in horses. To enforce this ban, a sensitive and fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was needed. It is for this reason that this method was developed for quantification and confirmation of MDPV in equine plasma. Sample preparation involved liquid-liquid extr...
CACG: a database for comparative analysis of conjoined genes. A conjoined gene is defined as one formed at the time of transcription by combining at least part of one exon from each of two or more distinct genes that lie on the same chromosome, in the same or opposite orientation, which translate independently into different proteins. We comparatively studied the extent of conjoined genes in thirteen genomes by analyzing the public databases of expressed sequence tags and mRNA sequences using a set of computational tools designed to identify conjoined genes on the same DNA strand or opposite DNA strands of the same genomic locus. The CACG database, avail...
Spreading of West Nile virus infection in Croatia. West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with rapid global expansion. The virus circulation is confirmed in many countries of Mediterranean Basin and Southern and Central Europe. In our study detection of specific WNV antibodies was performed in horses and cattle sera samples collected from October 2010 to April 2011. Serum samples were randomly taken from different parts of Croatia and tested by IgG and IgM ELISA. Positive serological results were confirmed by virus neutralization assay (VN-assay) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Results showed that WNV antibodie...
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic horses in Durango State, Mexico. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in horses in Mexico is unknown. Therefore, antibodies to T. gondii were assessed in 495 horses in Durango State, Mexico, using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Horses were from 18 farms in 3 municipalities in the valley region of Durango State. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 30 (6.1%) of 495 horses, with MAT titers of 1:25 in 19, 1:50 in 6, and 1:100 in 5. Seropositive horses were found in 8 (44.4%) of 18 farms sampled in all 3 municipalities. Age, gender, and breed of horses did not influence significantly the seroprevalence of T....
[Claude Bourgelat and the creation of the first veterinary schools]. The first veterinary school in the world was created in Lyon in 1761 by an equerry, Claude Bourgelat (1712-1779), a man renowned for his skill in horsemanship and horse medicine, a man fully able to understand the issues of his time. Aware of the scope of the physiocratic movement and of the need to improve the health of farm animals, he was able to understand the expectations of Henri-Léonard Bertin, Minister of King Louis XV, in proposing the creation of an establishment, breaking with traditional farriery. The creation of the Veterinary School of Lyon would mark a milestone: the considerat...
Subclinical leptospirosis may impair athletic performance in racing horses. The infection by Leptospira in horses, in both its acute disease and subclinical forms, is very common, particularly in endemic regions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of subclinical leptospirosis in the athletic performance of racing thoroughbred horses. Athletic performance of 119 racing Thoroughbred horses from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was calculated by assigning a point value for the results in racing (performance index (PI)), and serology for leptospirosis was conducted. A total of 85 (71.4 %) horses showed reactive titers (≥ 100), and of which 52 had ...
Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in horses. Analogous to the situation in human medicine, contemporary practices in horse management, which incorporate lengthy periods of physical inactivity coupled with provision of nutritional rations characterized by inappropriately high sugar and starch, have led to obesity being more commonly recognized by practitioners of equine veterinary practice. In many of these cases, obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and glucose intolerance. An equine metabolic syndrome (MS) has been described that is similar to the human MS in that both IR and aspects of obesity represent cornerstones of it...
Detection of Neospora sp. antibodies in cart horses from urban areas of Curitiba, Southern Brazil. Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite which affects dogs as definitive hosts and several mammalian species as intermediate hosts mainly causing abortions and central nervous system disorders. The reemerging population of cart horses for carrying recycling material in urban areas of major cities in Brazil may have an impact on disease spreading, and these animals may be used as sentinels for environmental surveillance. Thus, the present study investigated the frequency of Neospora sp. antibodies in cart horses from Curitiba and surrounding areas, Paraná State, Southern Brazil. IgG antibodie...
An outbreak of equine botulism type A associated with feeding grass clippings. In September 2010, an outbreak of type A botulism involved 4 horses in northern California that were fed grass clippings obtained from a nearby park. All 4 animals developed a progressive flaccid paralysis syndrome clinically consistent with exposure to preformed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Within 48 hr of consuming the grass clippings, all 4 horses showed marked cervical weakness (inability to raise their heads to a normal position) and died or were euthanized within 96 hr. One horse was submitted for diagnostic examination and subsequent necropsy. At necropsy, extensive edema wa...
Quantitative real-time PCR for detection of the neurotoxin gene of Clostridium botulinum type B in equine and bovine samples. Clostridium botulinum type B is estimated to cause more than 85% of cases of equine botulism in the United States, as well as many outbreaks in cattle. In this study, a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of the neurotoxin gene of C. botulinum type B was compared to the mouse bioassay using 45 positive and 43 negative samples of equine, bovine or associated environmental origin. The sensitivity of the qPCR assay was 96%, whereas the sensitivity of the mouse bioassay was 84%. The specificity of the qPCR assay was 95% and the specificity of the mouse bioassay was 100%....
Characterization of virulent West Nile virus Kunjin strain, Australia, 2011. To determine the cause of an unprecedented outbreak of encephalitis among horses in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011, we performed genomic sequencing of viruses isolated from affected horses and mosquitoes. Results showed that most of the cases were caused by a variant West Nile virus (WNV) strain, WNV(NSW2011), that is most closely related to WNV Kunjin (WNV(KUN)), the indigenous WNV strain in Australia. Studies in mouse models for WNV pathogenesis showed that WNV(NSW2011) is substantially more neuroinvasive than the prototype WNV(KUN) strain. In WNV(NSW2011), this apparent increase in vir...
The influence of meteorology on the spread of influenza: survival analysis of an equine influenza (A/H3N8) outbreak. The influences of relative humidity and ambient temperature on the transmission of influenza A viruses have recently been established under controlled laboratory conditions. The interplay of meteorological factors during an actual influenza epidemic is less clear, and research into the contribution of wind to epidemic spread is scarce. By applying geostatistics and survival analysis to data from a large outbreak of equine influenza (A/H3N8), we quantified the association between hazard of infection and air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind velocity, whilst controlling for prem...
Antimicrobial resistance in faecal Escherichia coli isolates from horses treated with antimicrobials: a longitudinal study in hospitalised and non-hospitalised horses. The objective of this study was to examine the emergence and persistence of antimicrobial resistant faecal Escherichia coli in horses treated with antimicrobial drugs in a hospital and community setting. Faecal samples were collected from hospitalised (n=56) and non-hospitalised (n=14) horses treated with antimicrobials, and 10 non-treated hospitalised controls. Samples were obtained pre-treatment and 5 days later in all horses, and 2 weeks and 2 months after treatment in treated horses. Susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials was tested via disc diffusion on up to 3 E. coli isolates per sample. P...
Longitudinal study of Clostridium difficile and antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli in healthy horses in a community setting. Point prevalence studies have reported carriage rates of enteric pathogens in healthy horses, but longitudinal data are lacking. Commensal E. coli is an indicator organism to evaluate antimicrobial resistance of enteric bacteria, yet there are limited data for horses. The objectives of this study were to investigate and molecularly characterize isolates of Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella, collected sequentially over a one year period, and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile for E. coli. Fecal samples were collected monthly from 25 adult horses for o...
Seroprevalence study on Theileria equi and Babesia caballi antibodies in horses from central province of Saudi Arabia. In total, 241 sera from clinically healthy adult horses were collected from 6 locations in Saudi Arabia and examined for Theileria equi and Babesia caballi antibodies by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Antibodies to Theileria equi were detected in 25 horses (10.4%) while the antibodies to Babesia caballi were observed in 18 horses (7.5%). In addition, 7 serum samples were positive for antibodies to both parasites (3%). The horses sampled in Al-Janadriah had the highest prevalence of infection with T. equi at 16.5% and with B. caballi at 8.8%, while the lowest prevalence of infection wit...
Pulmonary Disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a Horse: Zoonotic Concerns and Limitations of Antemortem Testing. A case of pulmonary tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed in a horse. Clinical evaluation performed prior to euthanasia did not suggest tuberculosis, but postmortem examination provided pathological and bacteriological evidence of mycobacteriosis. In the lungs, multiple tuberculoid granulomas communicating with the bronchiolar lumen, pleural effusion, and a granulomatous lymphadenitis involving mediastinal and tracheobronchial lymph nodes were found. Serologic response to M. tuberculosis antigens was detected in the infected horse, but not in the group of 42 potential...
Ecological aspects of hendra virus. Hendra virus, a novel and fatally zoonotic member of the family Paramyxoviridae, was first described in Australia in 1994. Periodic spillover from its natural host (fruit bats) results in catastrophic disease in horses and occasionally the subsequent infection of humans. Prior to 2011, 14 equine incidents involving seven human cases (four fatal) were recorded. The year 2011 saw a dramatic departure from the sporadic incidents of the previous 16 years, with a cluster of 18 incidents in a single 3-month period. The fundamental difference in 2011 was the total number of incidents, the geographic ...
Henipaviruses in their natural animal hosts. Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) form a separate genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae, and are classified as biosafety level 4 pathogens due to their high case fatality rate following human infection and because of the lack of effective vaccines or therapy. Both viruses emerged from their natural reservoir during the last decade of the twentieth century, causing severe disease in humans, horses and swine, and infecting a number of other mammalian species. The current review summarizes our up to date understanding of pathology and pathogenesis in the natural reservoir spe...
