Vaccinations for Horses

Vaccines have been true godsends the world over. Diseases that once laid waste to large segments of the human population now are held in check by vaccines. One of those killing diseases, smallpox, has been eradicated. Much the same has happened

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Vaccines have been true godsends the world over. Diseases that once laid waste to large segments of the human population now are held in check by vaccines. One of those killing diseases, smallpox, has been eradicated. Much the same has happened in the equine population, although perhaps in less dramatic terms–that is until just recently. The current drama is being produced by research involving DNA vaccines. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed an effective DNA vaccine for equine influenza, and ongoing research is aimed at making it even more effective. In Australia, scientists believe they are on the threshold of an effective DNA vaccine to control herpes-virus 1 (rhinopneumonitis), the deadly virus that can cause abortion in horses.

In addition, it is hoped that in the near future, a DNA vaccine for rotavirus will be available, as well as one for equine infectious anemia.

All in all, the future is as bright as it has ever been in the field of vaccines. Those that are available now have some drawbacks, and the same might ultimately be found for DNA vaccines. However, at the moment, the potential advantages of DNA vaccines seem to outweigh by far any disadvantages.

The advantages of DNA vaccines were best summed up by Tom Chambers, PhD, of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky

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Les Sellnow was a prolific freelance writer based near Riverton, Wyoming. He specialized in articles on equine research, and operated a ranch where he raised horses and livestock. He authored several fiction and nonfiction books, including Understanding Equine Lameness and Understanding The Young Horse. He died in 2023.

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