Surveillance programme for important equine infectious respiratory pathogens in the USA.
Abstract: The prevalence and epidemiology of important viral (equine influenza virus [EIV], equine herpesvirus type 1 [EHV-1] and EHV-4) and bacterial (Streptococcus equi subspecies equi) respiratory pathogens shed by horses presented to equine veterinarians with upper respiratory tract signs and/or acute febrile neurological disease were studied. Veterinarians from throughout the USA were enrolled in a surveillance programme and were asked to collect blood and nasal secretions from equine cases with acute infectious upper respiratory tract disease and/or acute onset of neurological disease. A questionnaire was used to collect information pertaining to each case and its clinical signs. Samples were tested by real-time PCR for the presence of EHV-1, EHV-4, EIV and S equi subspecies equi. A total of 761 horses, mules and donkeys were enrolled in the surveillance programme over a 24-month study period. In total, 201 (26.4 per cent) index cases tested PCR-positive for one or more of the four pathogens. The highest detection rate was for EHV-4 (82 cases), followed by EIV (60 cases), S equi subspecies equi (49 cases) and EHV-1 (23 cases). There were 15 horses with double infections and one horse with a triple infection. The detection rate by PCR for the different pathogens varied with season and with the age, breed, sex and use of the animal.
Publication Date: 2011-06-15 PubMed ID: 21676986DOI: 10.1136/vr.d2157Google 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 paper focuses on the surveillance of prevalent and key viral and bacterial infections that lead to respiratory disorders in horses in the USA. The frequency, dispersion and detection rates of these diseases were investigated over a two-year period.
Research Methodology
- The research involved an extensive surveillance program across the United States where equine veterinarians were asked to participate and collect samples from horses showing symptoms of infectious upper respiratory tract disease or acute febrile neurological disease.
- The veterinarians collected blood and nasal secretions from the horses and filled in a detailed questionnaire about each case and its clinical signs.
- The samples were then tested using real-time PCR (a molecular biology technique used for amplifying and simultaneously monitoring the amplification reaction) for the presence of equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), type 4 (EHV-4), and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi – bacterial pathogens that typically infect horses.
Findings of the Study
- The surveillance program ran for 24 months and enlisted 761 participants encompassing horses, mules, and donkeys.
- Out of the total, 201 or 26.4% of initial cases resulted in a PCR-positive test for one or more of the four pathogens. This positive result signifies that the animals were infected by these pathogens.
- The most frequently detected pathogen was EHV-4, found in 82 cases, followed by EIV found in 60 cases, S.equi subspecies equi in 49 cases, and EHV-1 in 23 cases.
- Multiple infections in one animal were also found, with 15 cases containing double infections and one horse having a triple infection.
- The research highlighted that the detection rate varied based on factors such as seasonal changes, the age of the animals, breed, sex, and their usage (either domestic or work animals).
Cite This Article
APA
Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Johnson C, Barnett DC, Vaala W, Gutierrez C, McDaniel R, Whitehead B, Manning J.
(2011).
Surveillance programme for important equine infectious respiratory pathogens in the USA.
Vet Rec, 169(1), 12.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.d2157 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. npusterla@ucdavis.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Equidae / microbiology
- Equidae / virology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary
- United States / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 27 times.- 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).
- Chappell DE, Barnett DC, James K, Craig B, Bain F, Gaughan E, Schneider C, Vaala W, Barnum SM, Pusterla N. Voluntary Surveillance Program for Equine Influenza Virus in the United States during 2008-2021.. Pathogens 2023 Jan 27;12(2).
- Wilcox A, Barnum S, Wademan C, Corbin R, Escobar E, Hodzic E, Schumacher S, Pusterla N. Frequency of Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Clinically Healthy Show Horses Following a Multi-County Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-1 Myeloencephalopathy in California.. Pathogens 2022 Oct 8;11(10).
- Ahearne MM, Pentzke-Lemus LL, Romano AM, Larsen ED, Watson AM, O'Fallon EA, Landolt GA. Disease progression, pathologic, and virologic findings of an equine influenza outbreak in rescue donkeys.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Nov;36(6):2230-2237.
- Pusterla N, James K, Barnum S, Bain F, Barnett DC, Chappell D, Gaughan E, Craig B, Schneider C, Vaala W. Frequency of Detection and Prevalence Factors Associated with Common Respiratory Pathogens in Equids with Acute Onset of Fever and/or Respiratory Signs (2008-2021).. Pathogens 2022 Jul 2;11(7).
- Lee SK, Choi J, Yoon J, Jung J, Park JY, Park J, Kim Y, Park JY, Park D. Molecular Detection of Equine Adenovirus 1 in Nasal Swabs from Horses in the Republic of Korea.. Vet Sci 2022 Apr 13;9(4).
- Mureşan A, Mureşan C, Siteavu M, Avram E, Bochynska D, Taulescu M. An Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-4 in an Ecological Donkey Milk Farm in Romania.. Vaccines (Basel) 2022 Mar 18;10(3).
- Lawton KOY, Arthur RM, Moeller BC, Barnum S, Pusterla N. Investigation of the Role of Healthy and Sick Equids in the COVID-19 Pandemic through Serological and Molecular Testing.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 28;12(5).
- Pusterla N, James K, Barnum S, Delwart E. Investigation of Three Newly Identified Equine Parvoviruses in Blood and Nasal Fluid Samples of Clinically Healthy Horses and Horses with Acute Onset of Respiratory Disease.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 19;11(10).
- Brankston G, Rossi TM, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL. Diagnostic testing patterns for Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in Ontario horses during the years 2008 to 2018.. Can Vet J 2021 Jun;62(6):629-636.
- Pavulraj S, Eschke K, Theisen J, Westhoff S, Reimers G, Andreotti S, Osterrieder N, Azab W. Equine Herpesvirus Type 4 (EHV-4) Outbreak in Germany: Virological, Serological, and Molecular Investigations.. Pathogens 2021 Jun 25;10(7).
- Couetil L, Cardwell JM, Leguillette R, Mazan M, Richard E, Bienzle D, Bullone M, Gerber V, Ivester K, Lavoie JP, Martin J, Moran G, Niedźwiedź A, Pusterla N, Swiderski C. Equine Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Directions.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:450.
- Jerele S, Davis E, Mapes S, Pusterla N, Navas González FJ, Iglesias Pastrana C, Abdelfattah EM, McLean A. Survey of Serum Amyloid A and Bacterial and Viral Frequency Using qPCR Levels in Recently Captured Feral Donkeys from Death Valley National Park (California).. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 23;10(6).
- Salco R, Bowers J, Hernandez V, Barnum S, Pusterla N. Prevention of respiratory infections with alpha- and gamma-herpesviruses in weanling foals by using a modified live intra-nasal equine influenza vaccine.. Can Vet J 2020 May;61(5):517-520.
- Back H, Weld J, Walsh C, Cullinane A. Equine Rhinitis A Virus Infection in Thoroughbred Racehorses-A Putative Role in Poor Performance?. Viruses 2019 Oct 18;11(10).
- Sanz MG, Kwon S, Pusterla N, Gold JR, Bain F, Evermann J. Evaluation of equine coronavirus fecal shedding among hospitalized horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):918-922.
- Ghoniem SM, El Deeb AH, Aggour MG, Hussein HA. Development and evaluation of a multiplex reverse-transcription real-time PCR assay for detection of equine respiratory disease viruses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Nov;30(6):924-928.
- Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Rola J. Prevalence and sequence analysis of equid herpesviruses from the respiratory tract of Polish horses.. Virol J 2018 Jul 11;15(1):106.
- Smith FL, Watson JL, Spier SJ, Kilcoyne I, Mapes S, Sonder C, Pusterla N. Frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in horses recently imported to the United States.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jul;32(4):1436-1441.
- Laing G, Christley R, Stringer A, Aklilu N, Ashine T, Newton R, Radford A, Pinchbeck G. Respiratory disease and sero-epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in the working horses of Ethiopia.. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):793-799.
- Boyle AG, Timoney JF, Newton JR, Hines MT, Waller AS, Buchanan BR. Streptococcus equi Infections in Horses: Guidelines for Treatment, Control, and Prevention of Strangles-Revised Consensus Statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):633-647.
- Houtsma A, Bedenice D, Pusterla N, Pugliese B, Mapes S, Hoffman AM, Paxson J, Rozanski E, Mukherjee J, Wigley M, Mazan MR. Association between inflammatory airway disease of horses and exposure to respiratory viruses: a case control study.. Multidiscip Respir Med 2015;10:33.
- Back H, Penell J, Pringle J, Isaksson M, Ronéus N, Treiberg Berndtsson L, Ståhl K. A longitudinal study of poor performance and subclinical respiratory viral activity in Standardbred trotters.. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(1):e000107.
- Badenhorst M, Page P, Ganswindt A, Laver P, Guthrie A, Schulman M. Detection of equine herpesvirus-4 and physiological stress patterns in young Thoroughbreds consigned to a South African auction sale.. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jun 2;11:126.
- Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Wademan C, Akana N, Barnett C, MacKenzie C, Vaala W. Voluntary surveillance program for equine influenza virus in the United States from 2010 to 2013.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):417-22.
- Pusterla N, Mapes S, Wademan C, White A, Ball R, Sapp K, Burns P, Ormond C, Butterworth K, Bartol J, Magdesian KG. Emerging outbreaks associated with equine coronavirus in adult horses.. Vet Microbiol 2013 Feb 22;162(1):228-31.
- Smith KL, Li Y, Breheny P, Cook RF, Henney PJ, Sells S, Pronost S, Lu Z, Crossley BM, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UB. New real-time PCR assay using allelic discrimination for detection and differentiation of equine herpesvirus-1 strains with A2254 and G2254 polymorphisms.. J Clin Microbiol 2012 Jun;50(6):1981-8.
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