Advances in equine immunology: Havemeyer workshop reports from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Hortobagy, Hungary.

The researchers have reported on two major workshops focused on horse immunology, that took place in Santa Fe, USA, and Hortobagy, Hungary in 2001. The meetings underpinned the importance of equine immunology in controlling common infectious diseases and immunopathological conditions.

Background on Horse Immunology

• Horses have played a crucial role in the development of many scientific breakthroughs in immunology – the study of the immune system. The immune system in horses defend against diseases and immunopathologic conditions (diseases caused by an abnormal or inappropriate immune response).
• Today, equine immunology remains a very active field of study, contributing to our understanding of how to better manage common infectious diseases in horses and gain insights from a comparative standpoint to human immunology.

Workshops on Equine Immunology

• In 2001, two key workshops on horse immunology were held in Santa Fe, United States, and Hortobagy, Hungary. The researchers point out that these workshops received major support from the Havemeyer Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes horse health research.
• The workshops gathered researchers, horse health experts, and animals scientists who were able to exchange knowledge, ideas and discuss various themes in horse immunology.

Summary of Meeting Outcomes

• This article primarily serves as a summary of the scientific themes discussed and focussed on in these two workshops. The details of the discussions, findings, theories, or conclusions from the workshops are not provided in the abstract.
• The publication of such proceedings can provide a valuable snapshot of the state of the field at the time of the meetings, and the directions that research may take in the future.