A Scoping Review of the Global Distribution of Causes and Syndromes Associated with Mid- to Late-Term Pregnancy Loss in Horses between 1960 and 2020.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
The research paper is about identifying the causes and patterns of mid- to late-term pregnancy loss in horses globally, between 1960 and 2020. The findings from the study will help develop strategies to prevent and manage equine pregnancy loss.
Overview of the Study
The study is a comprehensive review of research connected with equine pregnancy loss. It is motivated by the serious economic consequences that widespread instances of such losses can have on breeding operations and those communities that depend on them. The research took a qualitative approach, gathering and analyzing data on horse pregnancies from over 500 records.
- The analysis was guided by PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), a methodology that ensures systematic and transparent review of available literature.
- It focused on the causes and syndromes associated with equine pregnancy loss, and presented spatiotemporal distribution (geographical and chronological distribution) of these causes and syndromes across the globe.
Findings of the Study
The study resulted in invaluable findings from the data:
- Multiple correspondence analysis was conducted to find relationships between variables. This resulted in seven clusters that collected different causes, syndromes, locations, and pathology.
- The clusters imply that the related variables may indicate yet unidentified risk factors for equine pregnancy loss that future research should focus on.
Associated Health Risks on Humans
The study also raised concerns on potential threats to human health:
- Equine professionals, due to their close contact with horses, may encounter bodily fluids, placental membranes, aborted foetuses, and stillborn foals. This increases chances for zoonotic disease transmission, where diseases move from animals to humans.
- Based on the findings, there is a need for further research on equine abortion caused by zoonotic bacteria as it can cause severe illness in affected individuals.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
- Equine Specialist Consulting, Scone, NSW 2337, Australia.
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
- Diagnostic Laboratories Pty Ltd., New Lambton, NSW 2305, Australia.
- Starling Scientific, Pearl Beach, NSW 2256, Australia.
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
- Scone Equine Hospital, Scone, NSW 2337, Australia.
- Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2008, Australia.
Grant Funding
- PRJ-011719 / Agrifutures Australia
Conflict of Interest Statement
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