Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans, with horses acting as potential hosts or vectors. These diseases can result from various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, which can be transmitted through direct contact, vectors like mosquitoes, or environmental exposure. Horses can carry zoonotic pathogens such as Salmonella, West Nile Virus, and Leptospira, posing health risks to humans, particularly those working closely with equines. Understanding the transmission dynamics, prevention strategies, and control measures helps safeguard both equine and human health. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of zoonotic diseases associated with horses.
Aguilar CM, Fernández E, de Fernández R, Deane LM.During an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a locality (Las Rosas, Cojedes State, Venezuela) previously non-endemic, 12.9% of humans, 7% of dogs and 21.4% of donkeys (Equus asinus) had lesions with parasites. The agent in the three hosts was identified as Leishmania braziliensis, subspecies braziliensis at least in man and donkey. The probable vector was Lutzomyia panamensis. No infection was found in a small sample of wild mammals examined. The outbreak was apparently linked with the importation of donkeys with ulcers, from endemic areas. The authors call attention to the fact that not o...
Debarbat F, Mollaret HH, Mailloux M.Bovine leptospirosis is a typical form in the island of Reunion. It appears during the second part of the rain season. The clinical picture of equine leptospirosis is acute hepatonephritis. About 10 serogroups are found in bovines, with greater frequency for Sejroë and Hebdomadis. In horses, the prevailing serogroups are Autumnalis, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Grippotyphosa.
Rosef O, Gondrosen B, Kapperud G, Underdal B.A total of 1,262 domestic and wild mammals from Norway were surveyed for fecal carriage of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Of the five species of domestic mammals examined, the highest isolation rate was recorded among swine (100.0%), followed by sheep (8.1%) and cows (0.8%). No strains were recovered from horses or goats. Among wild mammals, C. jejuni was isolated from 1 of 23 hares, and no isolated were obtained from three species of cervids and three species of rodents. Of the 133 Campylobacter strains isolated, 114 were classified as C. coli, 18 were C. jejuni biotype 1, and 1...
Olson JG, Ksiazek TG, Gubler DJ, Lubis SI, Simanjuntak G, Lee VH, Nalim S, Juslis K, See R.Sera were collected from humans, cattle, horses, goats, ducks, chickens, wild birds, bats and rats in Lombok, Indonesia, and were tested by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) for antibodies to JE, ZIKA, CHIK and RR. Selected sera were tested by microneutralization tests for antibodies to the following viruses: JE, ZIKA, MVE, TMU, LGT, KUN, SEP, DEN-2, CHIK, RR, GET, SIN, BUN, BAT and BAK. Human sera had JE HI antibody in 135 (30%) of 446 tested. Neutralization tests indicated that DEN-2, ZIKA, TMU, KUN and SEP may have caused flavivirus infections. Antibodies to other arboviruses tested for wer...
Ryder E, Ryder S.Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus has been implicated as producing alterations in glucose metabolism in animals. We performed oral glucose tolerance tests and measured serum immunoreactive insulin responses in 13 patients who were infected by VEE virus during an epidemic in 1969, in Zulia State, Venezuela. No significant alterations in the glucose tolerance test were found. Sera of 86 diabetic outpatients and 98 control individuals with normal glycemia at a local hospital were tested for antibodies to VEE virus by hemagglutination inhibition. No statistically significant difference wa...
Watts DM, LeDuc JW, Bailey CL, Dalrymple JM, Gargan TP.Serological data accumulated during the past decade indicated that a variety of feral and domestic animals of the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (DelMarVa) Peninsula were infected with Jamestown Canyon (JC) and/or Keystone (KEY) viruses (Bunyaviridae, California serogroup). Neutralizing (N) antibody to JC virus was most prevalent in white-tailed deer, sika deer, cottontail rabbits and horses. KEY virus N antibody was detected most frequently in gray squirrels and domestic goats. N antibody indicative of past infection by one or both viruses also was found in raccoons, horses and humans. JC and/or ...
Marshall ID, Brown BK, Keith K, Gard GP, Thibos E.There was extensive and exuberant breeding of waterbirds before and during an epidemic of arboviral encephalitis in the Murray Valley of south eastern Australia in 1974. As estimated by haemagglutination inhibition tests on 432 bird sera collected between 4th and 13th February, 1974, infection with Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Kunjin virus and possibly other flaviviruses was concentrated in species of the Order Ciconiiformes (55% positive) and Pelecaniformes (41%), compared with only 5% in Anseriformes. Although Sindbis virus infections were also highest in these 2 Orders (56% and 46%, re...
Kunkle GA, Greiner EC.An episode of dermatitis in 12 horses and many animal handlers in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of Florida was attributed to the straw itch mite, Pyemotes tritici. The mite was found in abundance alfalfa hay that recently had been delivered to the hospital. Papules were the most common cutaneous lesions, and these developed on areas of the body to which the mites had easiest access. The clinical course was self-limiting, remitting when the hay supply was depleted.
Dibb WL, Digranes A, Tønjum S.Perforation is the most serious complication of fibreoptic endoscopy.1
The commonest site of perforation during upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy is the oesophagus,' but predisposing factors have not been
fully documented. We report a retrospective survey of major endoscopy
units in the United Kingdom and attempt to identify the factors associated with oesophageal perforation.
Okoh AE.Between 1944 and 1977, the distribution of confirmed cases of rabies in farm livestock in Nigeria were 15 in cattle, 8 in goats, 4 each in sheep, pigs and horses and two in donkeys respectively. The less-cared-for pastoralist sheep - dogs as well as stray dogs have so far been the sole propagating animal species of rabies to farm livestock although wild fauna have been suspected. The fact that cases are sporadic and lower incidence of livestock rabies is generally reported than the number that actually occurs makes the formulation of a definite control measures difficult. The need to educate n...
Gibbons DF.Salmonellosis in Equidae occurs sporadically throughout the world; the incidence recorded ranges from less than 1 per cent to as much as 27 per cent. In 1976 there was a significant increase in disease and mortality caused by salmonellosis in horses in Britain and treatment was less successful than with other species. Data revealed a general progressive shift away from species specific salmonella serotypes towards the ubiquitous but less discerning strains of Salmonella typhimurium. The role of predisposing causes is assessed and treatment, prevention and zoonitic importance commented upon.
Higgins R, Cayouette P, Hoquet F, De LaSalle F.During a period of 30 months, from January 1977 to June 1979, Leptospira agglutinins were detected in 355 (6%) of 5841 bovine sera, 52 (10.1%) of 511 porcine sera, one (5%) of 20 equine sera and one (12.5%) of eight canine sera. Bovine, porcine and equine sera reacted predominantly with L. pomona. Reactors to L. hardjo/sejroe, L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. grippotyphosa were also detected in cattle. One porcine serum reacted with L. grippotyphosa and one canine serum with L. icterohaemorrhagiae. Al the sera originated from suspected cases of leptospirosis.
Willeberg P, Ruppanner R, Behymer DE, Haghighi S, Kaneko JJ, Franti CE.The prevalence of agglutinating serum antibodies against Coxiella burnetii, the cause of Q fever in humans, was tested in a hospital population of companion animals and livestock in California during 1973--1975. A sample of stray dogs was also tested. Among the hospitalized animals 346 (48%) of 724 dogs, 7 (9%) of 80 cats, 9 (32%) of 28 cattle and 31 (26%) of 121 horses had antibodies against C. burnetii. Of 316 stray dogs 208 (66%) were seropositive. The overall prevalence of 53% among 1040 dogs tested was comparable to the 63% antibody prevalence found in an earlier survey among coyotes and ...
Mantovani A, Filippini I, Bergomi S.The present article completes the information already given in previous papers (Mantovani et al., 1976; Bellani et al., 1977; Mantovani, 1978) and is connected with the research on the infection of horses by Pampiglione et al. (1978). In September 1975 an epidemic of Trichinellosis involving at least 89 people was reported at Bagnolo in Piano (Reggio Emilia). This present article describes the epidemiological investigations. In the introductory part, the Trichinellosis outbreaks are summarized which were reported in Italy during this century along with research on domestic and wild animals. Th...
Sharma VD, Sethi MS, Yadav MP, Dube DC.Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in man and animals was studied during the years 1976 and 1977. Samples were collected from Hospitals/slaughter houses/livestock farms located in Delhi and different districts of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). The sera samples tested were from 1685 men, 1607 goats, 438 sheep, 244 pigs, 361 cattle, 551 buffalos, 50 dogs, 318 equine and 43 free living animals. The percentage of seropositivity, excluding doubtful ones, was recorded as: man 0.89, goat 5.53, sheep 3.42, pigs 15.98, cattle 6.37 buffalo 4.9 and equine 12.89. Additionally an evidence of agglutinins was also detect...
Cinco Del Fabbro M, Dougan R, Jelincic A, Piacentini I.The macroagglutination test, according Mailloux, was investigated for its feasibility in the rapid diagnosis of human and animal leptospirosis. Suspected sera examinated by Mailloux test, were also examinated by Complement Fixation and Microagglutination; the results suggest that: Mailloux macroagglutination is the serological test of choice, for screening of animal and human sera, mostly if it is not needed to know the infecting serovar.
Pospísil L.Glanders (malleus), attacking equids and transmissible to humans, does not occur in our geographical area any more, but world-wide eradication has not yet been achieved. Cases of glanders have been reported from India, Iraq, Mongolia and China and in 2001 also from South America. The disease is caused by Burkholderia mallei (earlied known as Bacillus, Pfeiferella, Loefflerella, Malleomyces, Actinobacillus, or Pseudomonas mallei). The continual interest of microbiologists in the causative agents indicates that glanders cannot be regarded as a closed historic episode. Occupational infections of ...