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Ehrlichial diseases.
- Journal Article
- Review
- Anorexia
- Ataxia
- Colitis
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Horses
- Infectious Disease
- Potomac Horse Fever
- Theileria equi
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Vector-borne disease
Summary
The study examines seasonal diseases in horses caused by Ehrlichia equi and E. risticii, exploring their transmission methods and symptoms. It points out how E. risticii, also known as the Potomac horse fever, emerges from aquatic habitation.
Understanding Ehrlichial Diseases in Horses
Ehrlichial diseases in horses are caused by bacteria within the genus Ehrlichia. Specifically, this study explores two types of Ehrlichia – Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia risticii.
- Ehrlichia equi: E. equi is associated with a range of symptoms in horses, including high fever, depression, anorexia, limb edema, petechiation (small, pinpoint hemorrhages), icterus (jaundice), ataxia (lack of muscle coordination), and stiffness in gait. This type of bacteria is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, which are prevalent throughout the United States. The disease primarily occurs during seasonal changes when ticks are more active.
- Ehrlichia risticii: E. risticii causes what is commonly known as Potomac horse fever. This disease results in a febrile illness (fever) with varying degrees of colitis, an inflammation of the colon. Unlike E. equi, E. risticii is associated with aquatic habitats. Culprits of its transmission are aquatic animals acting as intermediary hosts or infected trematode stages that are free in water.
The study spotlights the importance of understanding these diseases to offer proper prevention measures and treatment options for infected horses. The natural route of E. risticii transmission is oral, suggesting that horses are likely infected by ingesting contaminated water or prey.
Geographic and Seasonal Distribution
The distribution of these diseases is also highlighted in the study. Ehrlichial diseases are not confined to a specific region but are prevalent throughout the United States. Their occurrence is seasonal; E. equi is primarily transmitted by ticks, more active during specific seasons, while E. risticii transmission is connected with aquatic environments, implying a tie to seasons of high water-based activity.
This key understanding of the transmission method, host range, symptoms, and seasonal occurrence of these diseases can aid in developing more targeted prevention efforts and treatment options to protect horses from these harmful bacterial infections.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA. jemadigan@ucdavis.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Vectors
- Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis / etiology
- Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Seo MG, Ouh IO, Kwak D. Detection and Genotypic Analysis of Anaplasma bovis and A. phagocytophilum in Horse Blood and Lung Tissue.. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Feb 7;24(4).
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- Arroyo LG, Moore A, Bedford S, Gomez DE, Teymournejad O, Xiong Q, Budachetri K, Bekebrede H, Rikihisa Y, Baird JD. Potomac horse fever in Ontario: Clinical, geographic, and diagnostic aspects.. Can Vet J 2021 Jun;62(6):622-628.
- Teodorowski O, Kalinowski M, Winiarczyk D, Janecki R, Winiarczyk S, Adaszek u0141. Molecular surveillance of tick-borne diseases affecting horses in Poland-Own observations.. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jul;7(4):1159-1165.
- McKenzie HC, Funk RA, Trager L, Werre SR, Crisman M. Immunogenicity of Potomac horse fever vaccine when simultaneously co-administered with rabies vaccine in a multivalent vaccine or as two monovalent vaccines at separate sites.. Equine Vet J 2019 Nov;51(6):774-778.
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