AAEP 2002: Infectious Disease Forum

With West Nile virus (WNV) marching across the United States and affecting both horses and humans, infectious disease prevention has been a hot topic in barns, the media, veterinary clinics, and elsewhere. During the Infectious Disease forum, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Equine Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and

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With West Nile virus (WNV) marching across the United States and affecting both horses and humans, infectious disease prevention has been a hot topic in barns, the media, veterinary clinics, and elsewhere. During the Infectious Disease forum, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of Equine Medicine at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Biomedical Sciences Department in Fort Collins, Colo.; and Steve Conboy, DVM, a private practitioner in Lexington, Ky., three infectious diseases were discussed by attendees–Clostridium difficile-associated disease, WNV, and strangles.

Clostridium difficile-associated Disease
Traub-Dargatz started the discussion with whether people recognize disease associated with C. difficile in clinical settings. C. difficile is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that can cause disease in both foals and adults. Typically C. perfringens and C. difficile both cause diarrhea in foals;, however, diarrhea caused by C. perfringens is more common than C. difficile and has a much higher mortality rate. C. difficile can be very difficult to culture, therefore it might not be diagnosed based on culture of feces from ill animals

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Sarah Evers Conrad has a bachelor’s of arts in journalism and equine science from Western Kentucky University. As a lifelong horse lover and equestrian, Conrad started her career at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care magazine. She has also worked for the United States Equestrian Federation as the managing editor of Equestrian magazine and director of e-communications and served as content manager/travel writer for a Caribbean travel agency. When she isn’t freelancing, Conrad spends her free time enjoying her family, reading, practicing photography, traveling, crocheting, and being around animals in her Lexington, Kentucky, home.

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