African horse sickness.
Abstract: AHS is a noncontagious vector-borne disease of Equidae caused by Orbiviruses. Species susceptibility in decreasing order is horses, mules, donkeys, and zebras. The main vectors of AHS are culicoides. The disease is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, but epizootics have occurred outside of this area on several occasions. The most recent outbreaks outside of the endemic area were in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal between 1987 and 1990. AHS causes mortality up to 95% and is classically divided into four clinical forms: the pulmonary, cardiac, mixed, and horse fever forms. Pathologic changes are subcutaneous and intermuscular edema and lung edema. The most consistent clinical signs include fever, nonpurulent conjunctivitis, and increased respiratory rate. Prevention and control measures include quarantines, control of insects, and vaccination. There is no treatment for AHS. Neurotropic strains of AHSV may cause retinitis and encephalitis in humans.
Publication Date: 1993-08-01 PubMed ID: 8358648DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30402-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
- African Horse Sickness
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Endemic Disease
- Epizootic
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Medicine
- Equine Science
- Equine Studies
- Horses
- Vector-borne disease
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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This research paper provides a detailed investigation of African Horse Sickness (AHS), a disease predominantly found in horses that is non-contagious but spread by a specific type of virus carried by insects, and the associated risks and prevention measures.
Examining African Horse Sickness
The research paper investigates the disease known as African Horse Sickness (AHS). This vector-borne disease predominantly affects horses, however, it can also afflict other species from the Equidae family such as mules, donkeys, and zebras.
- The disease is caused by a collection of viruses known as Orbiviruses.
- It is spread predominantly by vectors named culicoides, a type of biting insect.
- Since the disease is vector-borne, it is non-contagious and can only be spread via the bite of an infected vector.
Geographical Spread and Impact
Typically endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHS occasionally spreads to regions outside this locale leading to widespread outbreaks also known as epizootics.
- Infamous outbreaks outside of the endemic areas were recorded in Spain, Morocco, and Portugal between 1987 and 1990.
- AHS carries a high mortality rate, with up to 95% of infected animals not surviving the disease.
Clinical Forms and Symptoms
The paper explores the various clinical forms that AHS can take, including the pulmonary, cardiac, mixed and horse fever forms.
- Characteristics that may signpost the presence of the disease include fever, increased respiratory rate, subcutaneous and intermuscular edema, lung edema, and nonpurulent conjunctivitis.
- Specifically, neurotropic strains of AHSV (the virus causing AHS) may cause retinitis and encephalitis in humans, indicating the potential for cross-species transmission.
Prevention and Treatment
Given its high mortality rate and the lack of any definitive treatment for AHS, prevention and control are key to managing this disease.
- The suggested control mechanisms detailed in the paper include establishing and enforcing quarantines, controlling populations of carrier insects, and rolling out vaccination programs.
- The lack of cure underscores the importance of these prevention strategies in stemming the spread of AHS.
Cite This Article
APA
House JA.
(1993).
African horse sickness.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 9(2), 355-364.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30402-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Greenport, New York.
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / diagnosis
- African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
- African Horse Sickness / prevention & control
- African Horse Sickness Virus / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Ceratopogonidae / microbiology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Horses
- Humans
- Insect Vectors / microbiology
- Perissodactyla
References
This article includes 53 references
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Ma X, Zhang M, Zhang X, Qi T, Zhang W, Zhao Y, Na L, Zhang Y, Wang XF, Wang X. Construction and Immunogenicity Evaluation of a Recombinant Fowlpox Virus Expressing VP2 Gene of African Horse Sickness Virus Serotype 1. Microorganisms 2025 Dec 9;13(12).
- Calvo-Pinilla E, Jiménez-Cabello L, Utrilla-Trigo S, Illescas-Amo M, Ortego J. Cytokine mRNA Expression Profile in Target Organs of IFNAR (-/-) Mice Infected with African Horse Sickness Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Feb 8;25(4).
- Serroni A, Traini S, Iorio M, Mangone I, Di Gialleonardo L, Molini U, Khaiseb S, Mercante MT, Di Ventura M, Caporale M. Whole-Genome Sequence and Assembly of Eight Africa Horse Sickness Virus Strains Collected in Namibia and South Africa. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023 Apr 18;12(4):e0103422.
- Marín-Lopez A, Calvo-Pinilla E, Moreno S, Utrilla-Trigo S, Nogales A, Brun A, Fikrig E, Ortego J. Modeling Arboviral Infection in Mice Lacking the Interferon Alpha/Beta Receptor. Viruses 2019 Jan 8;11(1).
- Zwart L, Potgieter CA, Clift SJ, van Staden V. Characterising Non-Structural Protein NS4 of African Horse Sickness Virus. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0124281.
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