FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2018; 50(6); 793-799; doi: 10.1111/evj.12834

Respiratory disease and sero-epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in the working horses of Ethiopia.

Abstract: Pathogens are frequently implicated in equine respiratory disease. In Ethiopia, respiratory disease is a frequent cause for presentation at veterinary clinics and a priority concern for users of working horses. However, there is little existing literature on possible aetiologies. Objective: Determine prevalence of respiratory signs and exposure to major respiratory pathogens through a serological survey. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Systematically selected horses from 19 sites in central Ethiopia were examined clinically and sampled once (August-December 2013). A face-to-face interview collected data on horses' management and history. Serological testing targeted equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesviruses-1 (EHV-1) and -4 (EHV-4), equine rhinitis viruses A (ERAV) and B (ERBV), equine arteritis virus (EAV) and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi). Results: Owners reported a recent history of coughing in 38% of horses and nasal discharge in 7%. No animals were observed coughing during examination but 6% had a nasal discharge. Antibodies towards S. equi, were most prevalent (8%, 33/350). Antibodies to EAV were confirmed in one animal (0.3%). Low antibody titres to EHV-1/4 and ERA/BV suggested prior exposure but antibodies to EIV were not detected. Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression analysis for risk factors associated with S. equi serostatus showed higher odds of seropositivity in younger animals and those working less frequently. Conclusions: A single serological sample cannot describe dynamic changes in antibodies. Sampling horses at the place of work may result in healthy-worker bias. Conclusions: S. equi may be endemic in this population and contributing, in part, to the occurrence of respiratory disease. Low prevalence of antibodies to viruses, with the exception of EIV, indicates these pathogens are present, but unlikely a predominant cause of respiratory signs and noninfectious causes of disease should also be investigated. Working horses in this region would be vulnerable to incursion of equine influenza.
© 2018 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2018-05-17 PubMed ID: 29574904PubMed Central: PMC6175379DOI: 10.1111/evj.12834Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This study is about the prevalence of respiratory diseases among working horses in Ethiopia and it aims to identify the common pathogens involved. The scientists used serological testing to determine exposure to major respiratory pathogens and found evidence of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and equine arteritis virus.

Research Context

  • This research was carried out due to frequent occurrence of respiratory diseases among horses in Ethiopia.
  • Respiratory conditions could be caused by a variety of pathogens, thus necessitating a systematic and thorough study.

Objectives and Methods

  • The main objective was to determine the presence and frequency of respiratory signs and exposure to significant respiratory pathogens through a serological survey.
  • The team used a cross-sectional method, selecting horses from 19 different locations across Ethiopia for clinical examination in the period of August to December 2013.
  • Serological tests were conducted to examine the presence of equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesviruses-1 and -4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), equine rhinitis viruses A and B, equine arteritis virus (EAV) and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi.

Results and Analysis

  • From the sampoled animals, owners reported a recent history of coughing in 38% of horses and nasal discharge in only 7%.
  • Around 6% of horses were observed to have a nasal discharge on the day of examination, but none were observed coughing.
  • Antibodies for Streptococcus equi subsp. equi were the most prevalent (8% among 350 tested horses), suggesting a high exposure to this pathogen.
  • Antibodies for EAV were found in only one animal.
  • Low antibody titres for EHV-1/4 and equine rhinitis viruses A and B, suggested a past exposure but no current presence of the viruses among the horse population.
  • No antibodies for EIV were detected among the tested animals.
  • Further regression analysis modeled the risk factors for Streptococcus equi subsp. equi exposure, revealing that younger working horses and those worked less frequently were at higher risk.
  • However, the authors caution that a single set of serological tests cannot effectively capture the dynamic nature of antibody levels over time.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Streptococcus equi subsp. equi may be endemic in this horse population, contributing to the prevalence of respiratory diseases.
  • Though several viral pathogens were present, their low prevalence suggests they might not be the predominant cause of respiratory signs among these horses. Noninfectious causes should also be investigated.
  • Due to the absence of antibodies to EIV, the working horse population in this region could be particularly vulnerable to an equine influenza outbreak and should be monitored closely.

Cite This Article

APA
Laing G, Christley R, Stringer A, Aklilu N, Ashine T, Newton R, Radford A, Pinchbeck G. (2018). Respiratory disease and sero-epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in the working horses of Ethiopia. Equine Vet J, 50(6), 793-799. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12834

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 6
Pages: 793-799

Researcher Affiliations

Laing, G
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Christley, R
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Stringer, A
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Aklilu, N
  • SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
Ashine, T
  • SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
Newton, R
  • Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Radford, A
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Pinchbeck, G
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Hematocrit / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Respiratory Rate
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / microbiology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grant Funding

  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool
  • SPANA

References

This article includes 41 references
  1. nFAOSTATn. (2014) FAOSTAT, Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy.
  2. Admassu B, Shiferaw Y. The Brooke: donkeys, horses and mules – their contribution to people's livelihoods in Ethiopia. The Brooke Report .
  3. Holcombe SJ, Robinson NE, Derksen F, Bertold B, Genovese R, Miller R, de Feiter Rupp H, Carr EA, Eberhart SW, Boruta D, Kaneene JB. Effect of tracheal mucus and tracheal cytology on racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet. J. 38, 300–304.
    pubmed: 16866195
  4. Bailey CJ, Rose RJ, Reid SW, Hodgson DR. Wastage in the Australian thoroughbred racing industry: a survey of Sydney trainers. Aust. Vet. J. 75, 64–66.
    pubmed: 9034505
  5. 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. 49, 501–506.
    pmc: PMC5484383pubmed: 27565130
  6. Scantlebury CE, Zerfu A, Pinchbeck GP, Reed K, Gebreab F, Aklilu N, Mideksa K, Christley R. Participatory appraisal of the impact of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia. Prev. Vet. Med. 120, 265–276.
    pubmed: 25980831
  7. Stringer AP, Lunn DP, Reid SW. Science in brief: report on the first Havemeyer workshop on infectious diseases in working equids, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 2013. Equine Vet. J. 47, 6–9.
    pubmed: 25257182
  8. Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Johnson C, Barnett DC, Vaala W, Gutierrez C, McDaniel R, Whitehead B, Manning J. Surveillance programme for important equine infectious respiratory pathogens in the USA. Vet. Rec. 169, 12.
    pubmed: 21676986
  9. Diaz‐Méndez A, Viel L, Hewson J, Doig P, Carman S, Chambers T, Tiwari A, Dewey C. Surveillance of equine respiratory viruses in Ontario. Can. J. Vet. Res. 74, 271–278.
    pmc: PMC2949340pubmed: 21197227
  10. Ling ASG, Upjohn MM, Webb K, Waller AS, Verheyen KLP. Seroprevalence of Streptococcus equi in working horses in Lesotho. Vet. Rec. 169, 72.
    pubmed: 21709046
  11. Carlson JK, Traub‐Dargatz JL, Lunn DP, Morley PS, Kohler A, Kasper K, Landolt GA, Barnett DC, Lunn KF. Equine viral respiratory pathogen surveillance at horse shows and sales. J. Equine. Vet. Sci. 1, 1–9.
  12. Endebu‐Duguma B. Seroprevalence and risk factors for equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV‐1) and 4 (EHV‐4) in working equids, central Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, University of London.
  13. Sergeant E. Epi tools – sample size calculations. Australian Biosecurity Co‐operative Research Centre .
  14. Dohoo I, Martin W, Stryhn H. Veterinary Epidemiologic Research, 2nd edn.. VER Inc, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
  15. Gari G, Grosbois V, Waret‐Szkuta A, Babiuk S, Jacquiet P, Roger F. Lumpy skin disease in Ethiopia: seroprevalence study across different agro‐climate zones. Acta Trop. 123, 101–106.
    pubmed: 22569562
  16. Otte MJ, Gumm ID. Intra‐cluster correlation coefficients of 20 infections calculated from the results of cluster‐sample surveys. Prev. Vet. Med. 31, 147–150.
    pubmed: 9234433
  17. Laing G, Christley R, Stringer A, Radford A, Aklilu N, Newton R, Pinchbeck G. Unravelling the causes of respiratory disease in the working equids of Ethiopia. Proceedings of the 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids pp 183‐186.
  18. Carroll CL, Huntington PJ. Body condition score. Equine Vet. J. 20, 41–45.
    pubmed: 3366105
  19. Cook RF, Gann SJ, Mumford JA. The effects of vaccination with tissue culture derived viral vaccines on detection of antibodies to equine arteritis virus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vet. Microbiol. 20, 181–189.
    pubmed: 2773278
  20. Kittelberger R, McFadden AMJ, Hannah MJ, Jenner J, Bueno R, Wait J, Kirkland PD, Delbridge G, Heine HG, Selleck PW, Pearce TW, Pigott CJ, O'Keefe JS. Comparative evaluation of four competitive/blocking ELISAs for the detection of influenza A antibodies in horses. Vet. Microbiol. 148, 377–383.
    pubmed: 20843619
  21. Tse M, Kim M, Chan C‐H, Ho P‐L, Ma S‐K, Guan Y, Peiris JSM. Evaluation of three commercially available influenza A type‐specific blocking enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays for seroepidemiological studies of influenza A virus infection in pigs. Clin. Vaccine Immunol. 19, 334–337.
    pmc: PMC3294623pubmed: 22219314
  22. Goldstein H, Browne W, Rasbash J. Partitioning variation in multilevel models. Underst. Stat. 1, 23–231.
  23. Knottenbelt DC. Vital signs, normal values. Saunders Equine Formulary Ed: Knottenbelt D., W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia.
  24. Pritchard JC, Burn CC, Barr ARS, Whay HR. Haematological and serum biochemical reference values for apparently healthy working horses in Pakistan. Res. Vet. Sci. 87, 389–395.
    pubmed: 19552930
  25. Robinson C, Steward KF, Potts N, Barker C, Hammond T‐A, Pierce K, Gunnarsson E, Svansson V, Slater J, Newton JR, Waller AS. Combining two serological assays optimises sensitivity and specificity for the identification of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi exposure. Vet. J. 197, 188–191.
    pubmed: 23465547
  26. Al‐Ghamdi G. Serology study of Streptococcus equi in Saudi Arabia. Vet. Res. 5, 107–109.
  27. Newton JR, Wood JL, Dunn KA, DeBrauwere MN, Chanter N. Naturally occurring persistent and asymptomatic infection of the guttural pouches of horses with Streptococcus equi. Vet. Rec. 140, 84–90.
    pubmed: 9032908
  28. Sweeney CR, Timoney JF, Newton JR, Hines MT, Morley PS, Apley MD, Besser TE, Burney DP, Fedorka‐cray PJ, Papich MG, Traub‐Dargatz JL, Weese JS. Streptococcus equi infections in horses: guidelines for treatment, control, and prevention of strangles (ACVIM consensus statement). J. Vet. Intern. Med. 19, 123–134.
    pubmed: 15715061
  29. Fintl C, Dixon PM, Brazil TJ, Pirie RS, McGorum BC. Endoscopic and bacteriological findings in a chronic outbreak of strangles. Vet. Rec. 147, 480–484.
    pubmed: 11093400
  30. Waller A. New perspectives for the diagnosis, control, treatment, and prevention of strangles in horses. Vet. Clin. N. Am.: Equine Pract. 30, 591–607.
    pubmed: 25300634
  31. Timoney JF, Qin A, Muthupalani S, Artiushin S. Vaccine potential of novel surface exposed and secreted proteins of Streptococcus equi. Vaccine 25, 5583–5590.
    pubmed: 17360081
  32. Christley R, Hodgson D, Rose R, Wood J, Reid S, Whitear K, Hodgson JL. A case‐control study of respiratory disease in Thoroughbred racehorses in Sydney, Australia. Equine Vet. J. 33, 256–264.
    pubmed: 11352347
  33. Getachew M, Alemayehu F, Chala C, Amare B, Kassa D, Burden F, Wernery R, Wernery U. A cross‐sectional sero‐survey of some infectious diseases of working equids in Central Ethiopia. J. Vet. Med. Animal Health 6, 231–238.
  34. Gilkerson JR, Whalley JM, Drummer HE, Studdert MJ, Love DN. Epidemiology of EHV‐1 and EHV‐4 in the mare and foal populations on a Hunter Valley stud farm: are mares the source of EHV‐1 for unweaned foals. Vet. Microbiol. 68, 27–34.
    pubmed: 10501159
  35. Thomson GR, Mumford JA, Campbell J, Griffeths L, Clapham P. Serological detection of equid herpesvirus 1 infections of the respiratory tract. Equine Vet. J. 8, 58–65.
    pubmed: 177281
  36. Balasuriya UBR, Go YY, MacLachlan NJ. Equine arteritis virus. Vet. Microbiol. 167, 93–122.
    pmc: PMC7126873pubmed: 23891306
  37. Hotchkiss J, Reid S, Christley R. Construction and validation of a risk‐screening questionnaire for the investigation of recurrent airway obstruction in epidemiological studies of horse populations in Great Britain. Prev. Vet. Med. 75, 8–21.
    pubmed: 16488493
  38. Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, Mckane SA, Chandler KJ, Pinchbeck GL. Comparison of owner‐reported health problems with veterinary assessment of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Equine Vet. J. 44, 94–100.
    pubmed: 21696434
  39. Nugent J, Sinclair R, DeVries AAF, Eberhardt RY, Castillo‐Olivares J, Davis Poynter N, Rottier PJM, Mumford JA. Development and evaluation of ELISA procedures to detect antibodies against the major envelope protein (G(L)) of equine arteritis virus. J. Virolog. Meth. 90, 167–183.
    pubmed: 11064117
  40. Timoney PJ. Equine viral arteritis. OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals 1–16.
  41. . Equine Influenza. OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals Chapter 2, 1‐16.

Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Tong P, Yang E, Liu B, Tian S, Suo Y, Pan J, Dang Y, Palidan N, Jia C, Kuang L, Xie J. Identification of neuropathogenic Varicellovirus equidalpha1 as a potential cause of respiratory disease outbreaks among horses in North Xinjiang, China, from 2021-2023. BMC Vet Res 2024 Feb 27;20(1):77.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03925-zpubmed: 38413936google scholar: lookup
  2. Fisher LWS, Ceesay A, Jallow D, Hawkes SF, Showering A, Kane Y, Doumbia A, Stringer AP, Scantlebury CE. Validation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction for the detection and quantification of the nucleic acid of Histoplasma from equine clinical samples. Microbiol Spectr 2024 Apr 2;12(4):e0310023.
    doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03100-23pubmed: 38411051google scholar: lookup
  3. Moghaddam S, Lotfollahzadeh S, Salehi TZ, Hassanpour A, Manesh HT, Tamai IA. Molecular and sequencing study and identification of novel SeM-type in beta-hemolytic streptococci involving the upper respiratory tract in Iran. BMC Vet Res 2023 Oct 17;19(1):210.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03772-4pubmed: 37848882google scholar: lookup
  4. Jaramillo-Morales C, James K, Barnum S, Vaala W, Chappell DE, Schneider C, Craig B, Bain F, Barnett DC, Gaughan E, Pusterla N. Voluntary Biosurveillance of Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi in Nasal Secretions of 9409 Equids with Upper Airway Infection in the USA. Vet Sci 2023 Jan 20;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci10020078pubmed: 36851382google scholar: lookup
  5. Wondimagegnehu K, Leta S, Amenu K, Negussie H. Molecular detection and assessment of the epidemiological risk factors associated with equine herpesvirus 2 and 5 in working equids in central Ethiopia. Vet Med Sci 2022 Nov;8(6):2396-2403.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.925pubmed: 36063540google scholar: lookup
  6. Frosth S, Morris ERA, Wilson H, Frykberg L, Jacobsson K, Parkhill J, Flock JI, Wood T, Guss B, Aanensen DM, Boyle AG, Riihimäki M, Cohen ND, Waller AS. Conservation of vaccine antigen sequences encoded by sequenced strains of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan;55(1):92-101.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13552pubmed: 35000217google scholar: lookup
  7. Kalonda A, Phonera M, Saasa N, Kajihara M, Sutcliffe CG, Sawa H, Takada A, Simulundu E. Influenza A and D Viruses in Non-Human Mammalian Hosts in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Viruses 2021 Dec 2;13(12).
    doi: 10.3390/v13122411pubmed: 34960680google scholar: lookup
  8. Pinsky TC, Puja IK, Aleri J, Hood J, Sasadara MM, Collins T. A Pilot Welfare Assessment of Working Ponies on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 9;9(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9070433pubmed: 31323983google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.