Equine Brucellosis: Current Understanding and Challenges.
Abstract: Brucellosis in equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, is characterized by abscesses in tendons, bursae, and joints. Reproductive disorders, which are common in other animals, are rare in both males and females. Joint breeding of horses, cattle, and pigs was found as the main risk factor for equine brucellosis, with the transmission from equines to cattle or among equines possible, although unlikely. Hence, evaluation of the disease in equines can be considered an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of brucellosis control measures employed for other domestic species. Generally, the disease in equines reflects disease status in the sympatric domestic species, mainly cattle. It is important to note that in equines, the disease has no validated diagnostic test, which limits the interpretation of available data. Finally, it is important to mention that equines also represent significant Brucella spp. infection sources for humans. Considering the zoonotic aspect of brucellosis, the significant losses due to infection, and the representativeness of horses, mules, and donkeys in the society, as well as the continuous efforts to control and eradicate the disease in livestock, in this review, we covered the various aspects of brucellosis in equines and compile the sparse and diffuse information on the subject.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2023-04-16 PubMed ID: 37072072DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104298Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Brucellosis
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Mule
- Public Health
- Reproduction
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
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The research article discusses the disease Brucellosis in equines (horses, mules, donkeys) and how it’s seen as an indicator of the effectiveness of controls in other domestic species. It also emphasizes the current limitations such as the lack of a validated test to diagnose the disease in equines and the difficulty in interpreting available data.
Understanding Equine Brucellosis
- Brucellosis in equines is described to be characterized by abscesses in various parts of the animals’ bodies such as tendons, bursae, and joints.
- Unlike in other animals, reproductive disorders due to Brucellosis are rare in both male and female equines.
- The research has found that the main risk factor for equine brucellosis is the joint breeding of horses, cattle, and pigs. However, transmission of the disease from equines to cattle or among equines themselves is possible but unlikely.
Equine Brucellosis as an Indicator
- The research suggests that the evaluation of Brucellosis in equines can be an indirect way to measure the effectiveness of control measures taken for Brucellosis in other domestic species.
- In general, it is observed that the existence of the disease in equines reflects the status of the disease in sympatric domestic species, with cattle being the main comparison.
Limitations and Risks of Equine Brucellosis
- The research highlights that there is currently no validated diagnostic test for detecting Brucellosis in equines. This absence of a reliable test limits the interpretation of data available on the disease in these species.
- Sinificant concern is shown for equines also being significant sources of Brucella spp. infection in humans, thus emphasizing the zoonotic aspect of Brucellosis.
- Brucellosis in equines can cause significant losses and public health issues, considering the common usage of horses, mules, and donkeys in society.
Need for Further Research
- The research concludes by emphasizing the need for a consolidated effort to understand and control Brucellosis in equines, in addition to other livestock, due to the significant impact of the disease on both equine health and public health.
Cite This Article
APA
Dorneles EMS, Santana JA, Costa ACTRB, Junqueira DG, Heinemann MB, Lage AP.
(2023).
Equine Brucellosis: Current Understanding and Challenges.
J Equine Vet Sci, 127, 104298.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104298 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, São Francisco, Caixa Postal 567, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, São Francisco, Caixa Postal 567, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Professor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87. Butantã. São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, São Francisco, Caixa Postal 567, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: alage@vet.ufmg.br.
MeSH Terms
- Male
- Female
- Horses
- Animals
- Humans
- Cattle
- Swine
- Brucellosis / diagnosis
- Brucellosis / epidemiology
- Brucellosis / veterinary
- Equidae
- Risk Factors
- Cattle Diseases
- Horse Diseases
- Swine Diseases
Citations
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