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A nationwide surveillance scheme for equine grass sickness in Great Britain: results for the period 2000-2009.
Abstract: Equine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Great Britain (GB). The first nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS was developed to obtain information on the occurrence of EGS and to help facilitate future proposed intervention studies, such as vaccine trials. Objective: To collect both retrospective and prospective data on cases of EGS occurring in GB since 2000 and to assess potential risk factors for categories of EGS and survival after chronic EGS. Methods: Prospective data were collected using a nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS that was developed and initiated in 2007. Data were collected by means of postal and online questionnaires documenting both retrospective premises-level and prospective case-level information. Data on outcomes of EGS category and survival after chronic grass sickness (CGS) were analysed using univariable logistic regression. Results: Descriptive data for 1410 EGS cases occurring in GB in the decade between the beginning of 2000 and the end of 2009 are presented. Univariable logistic regression analyses identified that CGS cases in Scotland were significantly more likely to survive than those occurring elsewhere in GB. There was no relationship between case details and the category of EGS or the outcome among CGS cases. Conclusions: EGS affected equids throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Although an overall average of 141 cases were reported to the nationwide surveillance scheme annually, this number of cases was not consistent between years. Around 50% of CGS cases survived, although regional differences in survival rates existed, probably due to variation in expertise of care and/or disease severity. Conclusions: This study provides information on the spatiotemporal occurrence of EGS in GB during the last decade. Data from the nationwide surveillance scheme can be used in developing protocols for future intervention studies such as Clostridium botulinum vaccine trials.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-06-08 PubMed ID: 21649713DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00364.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examines the incidence of Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) in Great Britain from 2000 to 2009, and explores potential risk factors for this fatal equine disease. The study found that the number of cases varied by year and region, with Scotland showing a significantly higher survival rate for Chronic Grass Sickness (CGS), a type of EGS.
Methodology
- The study was conducted using retrospective and prospective data collected through a nationwide surveillance scheme. This was the first surveillance scheme of its kind for EGS in Great Britain, aiming to gather information about the disease’s prevalence and to support future research, including vaccine trials.
- Data was collected via postal and online questionnaires. Both premise-level historical information and case-level prospective particulars were gathered. This provided a holistic view of incidence cases, including variables like location, time, and survival outcomes.
- The data was then analyzed using a univariable logistic regression to derive a relationship between incidence specifics and the category of EGS or outcome among CGS cases.
Results
- The study looked at data from 1410 EGS cases occurring in England, Scotland, and Wales from the start of 2000 to the end of 2009.
- It was discovered that CGS cases in Scotland had a significantly higher survival rate compared to other regions in Britain.
- The data did not show any clear relationship between case details and the category of EGS or the outcome among CGS cases.
Conclusions
- EGS was found to affect equids across England, Scotland, and Wales during the decade of study.
- The annual incidence averaged 141 cases, though this figure varied from year to year, indicating possible seasonal or external factors influencing the disease occurrences.
- About 50% of CGS cases survived. The study suggests that regional differences in survival rates might be due to variation in the quality of care provided or disease severity.
- The information collected through this surveillance scheme can be invaluable for future intervention studies, such as devising protocols for Clostridium botulinum vaccine trials.
Cite This Article
APA
Wylie CE, Proudman CJ, McGorum BC, Newton JR.
(2011).
A nationwide surveillance scheme for equine grass sickness in Great Britain: results for the period 2000-2009.
Equine Vet J, 43(5), 571-579.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00364.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. claire.wylie@aht.org.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Polyneuropathies / epidemiology
- Polyneuropathies / veterinary
- Population Surveillance
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Time Factors
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Randleff-Rasmussen PK, Leblond A, Cappelle J, Bontemps J, Belluco S, Popoff MR, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Tapprest J, Tritz P, Desjardins I. Development of a clinical prediction score for detection of suspected cases of equine grass sickness (dysautonomia) in France. Vet Res Commun 2018 Mar;42(1):19-27.
- Cruz Villagrán C, Schumacher J, Donnell R, Dhar MS. A Novel Model for Acute Peripheral Nerve Injury in the Horse and Evaluation of the Effect of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Applied In Situ on Nerve Regeneration: A Preliminary Study. Front Vet Sci 2016;3:80.
- Harte T, Smith D, Moore J, Wells B. Review of published research on primary dysautonomia of domestic animals. Vet Rec 2026 Jan 3;198(1):e30-e40.
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