Voluntary Biosurveillance of Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi in Nasal Secretions of 9409 Equids with Upper Airway Infection in the USA.
Abstract: This study aimed to describe selected epidemiological aspects of horses with acute onset of fever and respiratory signs testing qPCR-positive for and to determine the effect of vaccination against on qPCR status. Horses with acute onset of fever and respiratory signs from all regions of the United States were included in a voluntary biosurveillance program from 2008 to 2020 and nasal secretions were tested via qPCR for and common respiratory viruses. A total of 715/9409 equids (7.6%) tested qPCR-positive for , with 226 horses showing coinfections with EIV, EHV-1, EHV-4, and ERBV. The median age for the qPCR-positive horses was 8 ± 4 years and there was significant difference when compared to the median age of the qPCR-negative horses (6 ± 2 years; = 0.004). Quarter Horse, Warmblood, and Thoroughbred were the more frequent breed in this horse population, and these breeds were more likely to test qPCR-positive for compared to other breeds. There was not statistical difference for sex between qPCR-positive and qPCR-negative horses. Horses used for competition and ranch/farm use were more likely to test qPCR-positive for ( = 0.006). Horses that tested qPCR-positive were more likely to display nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, anorexia, and ocular discharge compared to horses that tested qPCR-negative ( = 0.001). Vaccination against was associated with a lower frequency of qPCR-positive status.
Publication Date: 2023-01-20 PubMed ID: 36851382PubMed Central: PMC9962190DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020078Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses a study conducted on horses in the United States from 2008 to 2020, monitoring for the presence of Streptococcus equi bacteria in the nasal secretions of equids showing symptoms of upper respiratory infections. Despite vaccination efforts, 7.6% of the horses tested were found to be positive for the bacteria strain.
Objective of the Research
- The primary goal of this study was to observe and gather data on horses displaying symptoms of fever and respiratory signs that tested positive via qPCR for Streptococcus equi, a bacteria typically associated with upper respiratory infections in horses.
- Alongside this, the study sought to assess the effectiveness of vaccinations against Streptococcus equi, by comparing the qPCR status of vaccinated horses with those that were unvaccinated.
Methodology
- The study took place over a twelve-year period, from 2008 to 2020, and included horses from all regions of the United States.
- Nasal secretions were collected from a total of 9409 horses which were experiencing symptoms of acute fever and respiratory issues. These samples were then tested using qPCR for the presence of Streptococcus equi and also for common respiratory viruses.
Findings
- The qPCR test returned positive results for Streptococcus equi in 715 equids (or 7.6% of the study population). Of these, 226 horses were found to have co-infections with equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4), and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV).
- The median age of the horses testing positive for Streptococcus equi was 8 years, while the median age of horses testing negative was 6 years. This age difference was found to be statistically significant.
- The most commonly affected breeds included Quarter Horses, Warmbloods, and Thoroughbreds. These breeds were also more likely to test positive for Streptococcus equi when compared to other horse breeds.
- The study found no significant difference in the likelihood to test positive for the bacteria between different genders of horse.
- Horses used for competition or on a ranch/farm were more likely to test positive for Streptococcus equi.
- Horses that tested positive for the bacteria were more likely to show symptoms such as nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, anorexia, and ocular discharge when compared to those testing negative.
- Vaccination against Streptococcus equi was generally associated with a lower likelihood of testing positive for the bacteria. This suggests that the vaccine was at least partially effective as a preventative measure against the nasal bacteria.
Cite This Article
APA
Jaramillo-Morales C, James K, Barnum S, Vaala W, Chappell DE, Schneider C, Craig B, Bain F, Barnett DC, Gaughan E, Pusterla N.
(2023).
Voluntary Biosurveillance of Streptococcus equi Subsp. equi in Nasal Secretions of 9409 Equids with Upper Airway Infection in the USA.
Vet Sci, 10(2), 78.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10020078 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ 07940, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Grant Funding
- 1 / Merck Animal Health
Conflict of Interest Statement
C.J.-M., K.J., S.B. and N.P. declare no conflict of interest. W.V., D.E.C., C.S., B.C., F.B., D.C.B. and E.G. work for Merck Animal Health.
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