Ocular disease in working horses in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Abstract: Ocular disease is a frequent finding in working horses. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and types of ocular pathology, and explore risk factors potentially associated with disease within a population of working horses in Ethiopia. In total, 1049 horses were selected from horses attending clinics run by the Society for Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA). Each had an ophthalmic examination conducted under field conditions using a pen-torch. All owners completed a short questionnaire. The prevalence of ocular abnormalities was 23.5 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 18.0 per cent to 30.1 per cent) and the percentage of horses with an abnormality in at least one eye was 43 per cent (95 per cent CI 28.7 per cent to 58.4 per cent), although this varied between towns. Mild eye pathology and end-stage disease with irreversible pathology were most common. There were significantly more eye abnormalities in the right eye compared with the left, and older horses were more likely to have ocular pathology. Only 55.1 per cent of owners had noticed there was an ocular abnormality present, and only 2.2 per cent had received any previous treatment for eye disease. Only 1.9 per cent presented to the clinic because of an eye problem. There appears to be either a lack of owner awareness, or a low perception of the importance of eye disease among owners.
Publication Date: 2012-11-15 PubMed ID: 23155077DOI: 10.1136/vr.100802Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article reports on the commonality and type of eye diseases in working horses in Ethiopia. It also explores factors that may be linked to the occurrence of these diseases.
About the Research
The research was a cross-sectional study carried out on working horses in Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to:
- Determine the prevalence and type of ocular (eye) diseases found in these horses
- Understand the risk factors that could be connected with these diseases.
Method of Data Collection
- The study sample consisted of 1049 horses that attended clinics run by the Society for Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA).
- Each horse underwent an ocular examination in the field, performed with just a pen-torch.
- Horse owners answered a brief questionnaire about their horses’ health.
Findings of the Study
- The examination revealed that 23.5% of horses (with a confidence interval of 18.0% to 30.1%) had ocular abnormalities.
- 43% of horses (with a confidence interval of 28.7% to 58.4%) had an abnormality in at least one eye, though the prevalence varied among towns.
- The types of abnormalities most frequently found were mild forms of eye pathology, as well as end-stage disease, which brought irreversible damage to the eye.
- There were significantly more eye abnormalities in the right eye than in the left, and older horses were more prone to eye pathology.
Owner Awareness and Response
- Only 55.1% of horse owners were aware of the ocular abnormalities in their animals.
- A meager 2.2% had sought prior treatment for eye disease.
- Only 1.9% of the horses were brought to the clinic because of eye-related issues, suggesting either a lack of awareness or a low perception of the severity of eye disease among owners.
This research surface two main problems: lack of awareness about eye diseases among horse owners and insufficient attention paid to the importance of these diseases, which could lead to irreversible damage.
Cite This Article
APA
Scantlebury CE, Aklilu N, Reed K, Knottenbelt DC, Gebreab F, Pinchbeck GL.
(2012).
Ocular disease in working horses in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Vet Rec, 172(4), 99.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.100802 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK. scantlebury@liverpool.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Aging / pathology
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Awareness
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Ethiopia / epidemiology
- Eye Diseases / epidemiology
- Eye Diseases / pathology
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Tahoun A, Elnafarawy HK, El-Sharkawy H, Rizk AM, Alorabi M, El-Shehawi AM, Youssef MA, Ibrahim HMM, El-Khodery S. The Prevalence and Molecular Biology of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Healthy and Diseased Equine Eyes in Egypt. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022 Feb 10;11(2).
- Paschalis-Trela K, Cywińska A, Trela J, Czopowicz M, Kita J, Witkowski L. The prevalence of ocular diseases in polish Arabian horses. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 7;13(1):319.
- Stringer AP, Christley RM, Bell CE, Gebreab F, Tefera G, Reed K, Trawford A, Pinchbeck GL. Owner reported diseases of working equids in central Ethiopia. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):501-506.
- Merridale-Punter MS, Elias B, Wodajo AL, El-Hage CM, Zewdu H, Tesfaye R, Hailegebreal G, Sori T, Wiethoelter AK, Hitchens PL. Putting the cart before the horse: mixed-methods participatory investigation of working equid harnessing practices in three selected towns of the Oromia national regional state in Ethiopia. BMC Vet Res 2024 Mar 22;20(1):113.
- Yalew A, Darge D, Melake BM. Assessment of community-based intervention approaches to improve the health and welfare of working donkeys in selected areas of Sidama region, Southern Ethiopia. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1253448.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
