TheHorse.com logo
Sign In or Create a Login
for access to 15,300+ articles
News and veterinarian-approved articles on
equine health care from The Horse magazine.



Go to Article #:
 
Adoptable Horse
Sponsored By Exclusively Equine


Get a DVM
Article Library

Please Note: We have put articles into topic categories only when they are focused on those topics, not just if they mention the topic once. If you are having trouble finding something, please use the search box above.

Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Infectious Diseases > General Infectious Disease Information


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Guttural Pouch Anatomy, Problems Reviewed for World Equine Vets
Guttural pouches are more than just ill-defined air-filled vats located somewhere in the horse's head, said Julie Fjeldborg, DVM, PhD, an associate professor in the department of large animal sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, during the 11th Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association, which was held Sept. 24-27, 2009, ... Read full story
 11/8/2009
Researchers Track EHV-5 Incidence, Effects in Europe
Equine herpesvirus-5, which had previously been reported in horses in the United States, is also present in the European horse population, researchers recently reported. They found the virus in horses without any signs of disease (known as subclinical infection) and those with various respiratory signs or fatigue. "EHV-5 is more or less considered ... Read full story
 11/6/2009
Piroplasmosis: Texas Horse Owners Urged to Check Regulations Before Hauling
A number of U.S. states and Canada have imposed movement restrictions or additional entry requirements for horses from Texas after equine piroplasmosis, a tick-transmitted blood disease of equine animals, was detected in South Texas in mid-October. Equine piroplasmosis can be carried and transmitted by as many as 15 species of ticks. Although ticks ... Read full story
 11/4/2009
Disease Defense: National Veterinary Stockpile
The introduction of a damaging animal disease like foot-and-mouth could devastate American animal agriculture, harm the economy, and, for zoonotic reasons, threaten the public's health. Having enough resources for a rapid response is crucial. The National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), part of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary ... Read full story
 10/26/2009
Understanding Antibody Titers  *
One of the most often used and least understood immunological terms is antibody titer. But what does titer mean, and how can this information be used in assessing the immune status of a horse? A titer is defined as the concentration of specific antibodies in the blood that recognize a particular agent, such as equine influenza virus. The titer is ... Read full story
 10/20/2009
Equine Disease Report: Second Quarter 2009  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was recorded in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom (UK). One case of Taylorella equigenitalis infection was confirmed in France. The number of CEM-carrier animals detected in the USA since ... Read full story
 10/1/2009
Study: Neurologic Strain of Equine Herpesvirus-1 Increasing   *
The number of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) infections caused by the neuropathogenic form of the virus has been steadily increasing over the past 51 years, report researchers from the University of Kentucky. Clinical observations suggest that neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1 (i.e., strains of EHV-1 with a single mutation in the gene that encodes ... Read full story
 9/23/2009
Secondhand Tack and Disease
Watch out for contagious consignments; don�t bring a disease home to your horses when buying used tack or even sharing equipment with your friends. Buying used tack can be a boon for your pocketbook, giving you a chance to own that perfect saddle or bridle for a lot less than it would cost new. The downside is that secondhand equipment can sometimes ... Read full story
 9/1/2009
Diseases Potentially Spread from Horses to Humans Via Bites Reviewed   *
The long list of diseases that humans could potentially contract after being bitten by a horse gives new meaning to the old adage, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." According to the report, "That Horse Bit Me: Zoonotic Infections of Equines to Consider After Exposure Through the Bite or the Oral/Nasal Secretions," more than 100,000 emergency ... Read full story
 8/26/2009
Vets to Participate in National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps  *
Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students can participate in the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced. The Animal Health Emergency Response Corps, a program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, ensures that critical veterinary staffing needs are met ... Read full story
 8/13/2009
Research in Horses Shows Parasite that Causes Babesiosis Can Be Eliminated  *
Many countries in the world outside of the United States are home to the parasite Babesia caballi, which can cause illness or death in horses. Some infected horses might recover and become inapparent carriers of the parasite. According to a recent study high doses of imidocarb dipropionate eliminated the parasite Babesia caballi in infected horses. ... Read full story
 8/7/2009
Livestock Antibiotic Bill in the Works   *
A congressional committee recently held a hearing on a bill that proposes severe restrictions on the use of antibiotics in food animals. The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009 would ban "non-therapeutic" uses of antibiotics that are also used in humans. It is hoped that this would prevent antibiotic resistance and preserve ... Read full story
 7/27/2009
Ireland's EIA Experience: What Did We Learn?   *
In 2006, Ireland was rocked by an outbreak of equine infectious anemia (EIA) that was rapidly contained by veterinarians and the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (read more). Despite their quick action, the fallout from this outbreak has been widespread. In the three years since the outbreak, veterinarians and scientists have been ... Read full story
 7/18/2009
Old Horse Immune Function: Is Gene Length Key?   *
Is it possible genes that become shorter as horses age could be the key to how well that animal's immune system works? The availability of horses 20 years old and older on the University of Kentucky's Maine Chance Farm and on farms in the Lexington area was one of the things that interested David Horohov, PhD, William Robert Mills Chair in Equine ... Read full story
 7/16/2009
Simple Steps to Reduce Infectious Horse Disease Risk  *
Infectious diseases are a constant risk to the health and welfare of horses. Along with vaccination, preventive management techniques are critical to disease prevention. Horse owners should: Develop a comprehensive biosecurity plan with a veterinarian and communicate it to all employees. This plan should include disinfection of stalls, barn equipment, ... Read full story
 7/15/2009
Horse Quarantine Facility Regulations Amended  *
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the regulations pertaining to the importation of horses to establish standards for the approval of permanent, privately owned quarantine facilities for horses. APHIS is taking this action because regional and seasonal demand for quarantine services for horses often exceeds the ... Read full story
 7/4/2009
International Equine Disease Report, First Quarter 2009  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was confirmed on four premises in France. In December 2008, four stallions (three Quarter Horses, one American Paint) were identified as CEM positive in Kentucky. The stallions had stood the 2008 breeding ... Read full story
 6/30/2009
Ontario Veterinary College Opens Isolation Unit  *
A new large animal isolation unit that sets the standard for patient housing and infection control opened May 25 at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Animals showing signs of infectious disease will immediately be directed to the isolation unit. These potentially infectious animals will be separated from other patients, ... Read full story
 6/16/2009
New TheHorse.com Equine Fact Sheets Available   *
TheHorse.com launched the first in a series of Fact Sheets on Jan. 13 to widespread acclaim. This week we present more Fact Sheets on topics our readers have indicated are important to them based on searched terms, reader views on that topic, surveys/polls, and personal communications. Following are the newest Fact Sheets now available on TheHorse.com: ... Read full story
 6/4/2009
Best Biosecurity Boots, AAEP 2008   *
We're all familiar with the medical/veterinary axiom: First do no harm. A recent Colorado State University (CSU) study extended this principle to biosecurity for ambulatory veterinarians: First, don't bring any diseases into a patient's stall, and don't take any out to spread to other patients. For this study, researchers investigated the durability ... Read full story
 5/24/2009
Building Immunity  *
The foal’s immune system is almost a blank slate at birth; researchers are figuring out how to best protect horses as they grow. The process of building immunity against disease-causing pathogens for a horse begins with a foal's first sip of colostrum after birth. Foals are born without much protection against the world outside the uterus. The mare's ... Read full story
 5/1/2009
Keeping Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis 'Foreign'  *
Most horse owners are familiar with Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, if only through the statement they receive from their veterinarian following their horses' annual vaccinations. But there's another "EE" that, while long absent from the United States, should not be forgotten: Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, or VEE. The zoonotic ... Read full story
 4/23/2009
Table Topic: Infectious Disease   *
Several topics were discussed at the infectious diseases table topic at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention held in San Diego, Calif. Bonnie Barr, VMD, from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, and Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, from Colorado State University, facilitated the session. The first topic discussed was ... Read full story
 4/14/2009
Commentary: Epidemiology a Key Component of Equine Health  *
"Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specific populations and the application of this study to control health problems." - J.M. Last: A Dictionary of Epidemiology, ed 2. New York, Oxford University Press, 1988. While a definition is a good place to start when thinking about the role ... Read full story
 4/6/2009
International Equine Disease Report, Fourth Quarter 2008  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: Two cases of contagious equine metritis (CEM) were confirmed in non-Thoroughbred horses in France. As of Feb. 23 the USDA reported 11 non-Thoroughbred stallions positive for (CEM) during the recent outbreak--four in Kentucky, three ... Read full story
 4/1/2009
UK Donkey Rescue Urges Awareness of Foreign Disease Risk   *
The number of donkeys being rescued and imported from Europe into the UK is at an all-time high, according to the Devon-based Donkey Sanctuary. Any donkeys of unknown origin might potentially carry exotic diseases--posing a risk to the UK's domestic equine population. The Donkey Sanctuary is concerned that there are currently no requirements for ... Read full story
 3/20/2009
Vaccinations Not a Place to Cut Back, Vets Say  *
In today's economy, many horse owners are looking for ways to cut back on expenses--but skimping on equine vaccinations should not be one of them. "People are looking for ways to cut costs, and preventive care seems like an obvious choice to them because they're not 'emergency' expenses," said Kimberly Anne May, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, of the American ... Read full story
 3/18/2009
MRSA Awareness is Mission of British Foundation   *
In recent years, infections and fatalities due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been making the news. However, information specific to equids has sometimes been hard to come by. British actress and broadcaster Jill Moss has thrown herself into changing that reality with the Bella Moss Foundation (BMF), named for Moss' Samoyed ... Read full story
 3/2/2009
Disease Risks at Shows and Events  *
Common sense and careful attention to detail can help reduce the risk of disease in your traveling horse. Just as when a bunch of people are confined to a relatively small space, such as in an office or airplane, when horses congregate in large numbers there is always the possibility of passing disease between individuals. Some events pose a higher ... Read full story
 3/1/2009
AAEP 2008: MRSA More Common in Horse People  *
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial infections have become hot news lately, especially among horse people. This topic likely won't die down soon because recent research shows that MRSA is up to 10 times more common in equine veterinarians than in the general population--and that it can spread from horses to humans. "MRSA ... Read full story
 2/5/2009
Questions to Ask Before Breeding a Mare  *
Thinking of breeding your mare this spring? The recent outbreak of contagious equine metritis (CEM, which is caused by bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis) in the United States and the previous outbreak of equine viral arteritis (EVA) have underscored the importance of doing your homework when lining up a stallion. While not all diseases are avoidable ... Read full story
 2/2/2009
New Fact Sheets Available on TheHorse.com  *
TheHorse.com launched the first in a series of Fact Sheets on Jan. 13 to widespread acclaim. This week we present more Fact Sheets on topics that our readers have indicated are important to them based on searched terms, reader views on that topic, surveys/polls, and personal communications. Following are the newest Fact Sheets now available on TheHorse.com: ... Read full story
 2/2/2009
Histology Goes 3-D with Imaging Technique  *
State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology is being optimized by Belgian researchers to create three-dimensional images of a microscopic object--without destroying the object being studied. "Current methods of evaluating the internal structure of objects on a microscopic scale is an invaluable tool in medicine but necessitates fixing the tissues ... Read full story
 2/1/2009
TheHorse.com Launches Editorial 'Fact Sheet' Series  *
Sometimes it is difficult to find that one short authoritative article that gives the basic information you're looking for on a specific equine topic. Something that gives you a foundation when you are looking for a starting point on which to build knowledge about a problem that has beset your horse. TheHorse.com has the answer: Fact Sheets. A series ... Read full story
 1/21/2009
Contagious Equine Metritis: Culture and Diagnosis   *
One of the most difficult problems in diagnosing contagious equine metritis (CEM) is isolating the organism from heavily contaminated sites in the stallion and mare. CEM is caused by Taylorella equigenitalis, a Gram-negative bacterium, which is found on the genitalia of mares and stallions, as are many other species of bacteria (and some fungi). When ... Read full story
 1/13/2009
International Equine Disease Report Third Quarter 2008  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. Cases of anasplasmosis (Anasplasma phagocytophila) and Borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) were diagnosed among non-Thoroughbred horses in Switzerland. Contagious equine metritis was confirmed in two horses in France and a non-Thoroughbred ... Read full story
 1/9/2009
Prevent CEM, Other Infectious Diseases Through Strict Hygiene  *
Strict hygiene guidelines should be followed whenever handling breeding mares or stallions to prevent reproductive infectious diseases, including contagious equine metritis (CEM). CEM is spread between horses primarily by breeding, either by natural service or artificial insemination (AI). Grooms, handlers, and breeding technicians or veterinary ... Read full story
 1/7/2009
USDA Releases NAIS Veterinarian's Toolkit  *
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released A Veterinarian's Toolkit for use with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The online toolkit provides veterinarians with quick access to NAIS program information and resources. "When it comes to the health of their animals, farmers and ranchers trust their veterinarians ... Read full story
 12/25/2008
Guelph Rolls Out Biosecurity Risk Calculator, New Blogs  *
Horse owners will be able to determine the risk of their animals catching an infectious disease and gather information about infection control thanks to two new online initiatives from the University of Guelph. The first is an online calculator that allows horse owners to punch in their management practices and learn their animals' risk levels. The ... Read full story
 11/20/2008
USDA Releases 2007 Animal Health Report  *
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released the "2007 U.S. Animal Health Report," which provides a national overview of domestic animal health in the United States. The report addresses the many components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure; approaches to animal disease surveillance, control and eradication; ... Read full story
 11/17/2008
Equine Biosecurity Risk Calculator Coming Soon   *
A new equine biosecurity risk calculator will be unveiled by Equine Guelph, in partnership with Vétoquinol Canada, at this year's Ontario Equestrian Federation Conference, Nov. 28-30. The equine biosecurity risk calculator allows horse owners to calculate the risk of infectious disease introduction or transmission associated with their current management ... Read full story
 10/10/2008
Syndromic Surveillance of Equine Infectious Diseases in France  *
The Reseau d'Epidemio-Surveillance en Pathologie Equine (RESPE) is the French surveillance network for infectious diseases in horses and was implemented in 1999. Since January 2008, a new legal status including socio-professional structures has been approved, and the RESPE is now recognized as an association having a significant role in public health. ... Read full story
 10/7/2008
Equine Disease Report: Second Quarter of 2008  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. A single non-Thoroughbred horse in France and four non-Thoroughbred horses on two premises in Switzerland were confirmed positive for contagious equine metritis (CEM). They included a Lipizzaner stallion recently imported from Hungary, ... Read full story
 9/29/2008
$28.5 Million Expansion for Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center  *
State and local government officials, including Gov. Steve Beshear, joined representatives from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture today to break ground on a $28.5 million expansion and renovation of UK's Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. "The investment in this facility is key to supporting animal agriculture, a vital part ... Read full story
 9/12/2008
Horse Diseases and Humans  *
What can you catch from your horse? If you work around horses long enough, you'll be handling ones that have lameness, diarrhea, abortions, skin diseases, and even neurologic signs. Our first concern is generally for the horse's well-being, and the last for our own health, since, after all, who gets sick from a horse? Zoonotic diseases are those ... Read full story
 9/1/2008
Industry Praised for Eradicating Equine Flu in Australia  *
One year after equine influenza was first reported in New South Wales, Australia, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said Aug. 24 that the state's horse industry is back on track. "Exactly one year ago today our horse industries' were facing their darkest hour, with the state in lockdown and the disease spreading rapidly," Macdonald said. ... Read full story
 8/25/2008
Emerging Equine Disease: Four Diseases/Syndromes to Watch  *
In 1968 the U.S. Surgeon General proclaimed that the war on infectious diseases had been won. Unfortunately, this statement was not true. Ongoing outbreaks of disease in humans and animals worldwide have established repeatedly that the war on infectious diseases is not over. Indeed, fully one-third of all human deaths worldwide are still caused by ... Read full story
 7/29/2008
TheHorse.com Announces Four New Electronic Newsletters  *
TheHorse.com announces the addition of four new monthly electronic newsletters. These e-newsletters will contain articles, news, video links, tips, and links to downloadable information specific to the topics of nutrition, lameness/laminitis, preventive care, and breeding. Currently TheHorse.com publishes two weekly e-newsletters. The Horse Health ... Read full story
 7/29/2008
New EHV-4, Neurologic Disease Tests Introduced  *
IDEXX Reference Laboratories has introduced two new diagnostic products to help equine veterinarians diagnose equine respiratory disease and neurologic disease. The new tests include an equine herpesvirus type-4 (EHV-4) RealPCR Test and the Equine Neurologic Disease Panel. The IDEXX EHV-4 RealPCR Test is a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ... Read full story
 7/24/2008
ACVIM Forum: 10 Years of Infection Control   *
After 10 years as Director of Biosecurity at Colorado State's large animal hospital, Paul Morley, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, recently relayed some of the key lessons he and his colleagues have learned while developing the school's biosecurity program. Morley's presentation at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum, held June ... Read full story
 7/19/2008
Vet, Human Medicine Collaboration Report Released  *
The executive summary of a report by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) One Health Initiative Task Force appears in the July 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). This summary provides recommendations and strategic actions to support and expand the concept of "One Health" across all health professions, ... Read full story
 7/16/2008
Hendra Testing Continues on Horses at Australian Vet Clinic  *
Biosecurity Queensland continued with tests on samples from 37 horses at a Brisbane area vet practice today while working with Queensland Health and various horse industry groups to ensure that the risks involved with Hendra virus are widely known. "There is a quarantine, but it is only at the veterinary clinic where the sick horses were located," ... Read full story
 7/9/2008
Hendra Virus: Neurologic Variant Confirmed, Clinic Staff Exposed   *
Three horses have tested positive for Hendra virus at Redlands Veterinary Clinic on the outskirts of the city of Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland. Hendra virus is deadly and can affect both horses and humans. According to David Lovell, BVSc, MACVSC, QDAH, GCM, principal and founding partner of the Redlands Veterinary Clinic, two of ... Read full story
 7/9/2008
Hendra Virus Reported at Australian Equine Clinic   *
Three horses have tested positive for the deadly Hendra virus at a veterinary practice on the outskirts of the city of Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland. This virus can affect both horses and humans. "We are taking the situation seriously with biosecurity inspectors moving quickly to quarantine the practice and establish thorough disinfection ... Read full story
 7/8/2008
CDC Study: Equine Practitioner Hygiene Could Use Improvement   *
In a multi-institutional study coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers found that many veterinarians do not consistently engage in behaviors or practices that are widely deemed protective against the spread and transmission of zoonotic diseases. Emerging infectious diseases are those that have appeared in ... Read full story
 7/2/2008
Commentary: Diagnostic Laboratories a Key Component of Equine Health   *
This issue of The Quarterly contains several articles on diseases of horses that run the gamut of conditions. These diseases include an infectious neurologic disease in adult horses that only a few years ago appeared for the first time in this country, a viral infection of mares that causes abortions, and a type of cancer in mares. One constant is ... Read full story
 7/2/2008
Upcoming Webinar: How to Keep Your Horse Healthy   *
Is vaccinating your horse your only means of disease prevention? While vaccination is important, you're only scratching the surface of what you can do to keep your horse healthy and prevent disease spread on your farm. Join TheHorse.com and Dr. Josie Traub-Dargatz on July 8 at 8 p.m. EDT for a one-hour video presentation and live question and answer ... Read full story
 6/30/2008
International Equine Disease Report, First Quarter 2008   *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: Cases of African horse sickness (AHS) occurred in South Africa during the fourth quarter of 2007 and continued in 2008. The outbreak affected mainly young, unvaccinated, non-Thoroughbred breeding animals on a variety of premises, although ... Read full story
 6/30/2008
Neurology to be Focus of AAEP State-of-the-Art Lecture  *
Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, will deliver the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture on Dec. 8 during the American Association of Equine Practitioners' 54th Annual Convention in San Diego, Calif. Equine neurology is the focus of this year's lecture, which is sponsored by AAEP Educational Partner Platinum Performance in conjunction with the AAEP ... Read full story
 6/30/2008
CSU Laboratory Receives "Select Agent" Approval  *
The Rocky Mountain Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences has formally received "select agent" research approval from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Construction on the $30 million laboratory at Colorado State's Foothills Research Campus ... Read full story
 5/17/2008
West Nile Virus 'Hot Spots' Identified in Texas  *
In a recently published study Texas A&M University veterinarians identified two "hot spots" of West Nile virus (WNV) based on data they collected between 2002 and 2004. One of these spots is in northwestern Texas and the other in an eastern region of the state. Mapping areas in which WNV is concentrated enables veterinarians to institute disease ... Read full story
 4/10/2008
International Equine Disease Report Fourth Quarter 2007   *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: A clinically severe outbreak of atypical myoglobinuria/myopathy (AM) was diagnosed among eight non-Thoroughbred horses on three premises in Switzerland. AM is a frequently fatal disease of grazing horses. Its etiology is unknown. It ... Read full story
 4/6/2008
Commentary: Working With Your Veterinarian  *
"Please help! My 10-year-old Quarter Horse has been down in the pasture for two days and won't get up. What should I do?" "A week ago I saw my horse bitten by a skunk in broad daylight. I dressed the wounds, but after searching the internet, I'm concerned about rabies. Should I vaccinate him?" To an equine practitioner, these sound like typical ... Read full story
 4/3/2008
South African Horse Sickness Cases Approach 300   *
African horse sickness (AHS) has struck close to 300 horses in South Africa so far this year, killing approximately half of them and prompting an embargo on horse transports in Western Cape. The area on equine lockdown includes the country's import/export zone, according to information provided by the African Horse Sickness Trust. Seven of the 12 ... Read full story
 3/25/2008
Emerging Disease: Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis Update  *
According to an inaugural, multi-center report, equine herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) is associated with a newly recognized, potentially fatal lung disease in horses called equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis, or EMPF. "EMPF is an important emerging disease in horses that was first recognized in 2002", said lead author Kurt Williams, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP, ... Read full story
 3/10/2008
Dealing with Emerging Infectious Diseases  *
Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the marked and persistent development of emerging infectious diseases--infections that are new to a population or geographic area, have appeared more frequently, or have become more virulent (able to cause disease). Within the past two decades, the list of emerging infectious diseases and pathogens ... Read full story
 3/5/2008
Grayson-Jockey Club Funding 24 Equine Research Projects  *
The board of directors of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has approved a record allocation of $1,226,457 for equine research in 2008. The funds will underwrite a slate of 14 start-up projects and 10 second-year proposals. This marks the foundation's fourth consecutive year of record funding and the second consecutive year that it is providing ... Read full story
 2/15/2008
Simple Biosecurity Techniques Help Protect Horses from Disease Threats  *
In recent years, the months of the show season have included news of disease outbreaks that can pose a threat to the health of performance horses. More and more, horse owners are searching for simple and effective techniques to help protect their horses from these threats year round. Knowledge and practice of basic biosecurity has become critical ... Read full story
 2/15/2008
Studies Highlight MRSA Evolution and Resistance   *
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are caused primarily by a single strain--USA30 --of an evolving bacterium that has spread with "extraordinary transmissibility" throughout the United States during the past five years, according to a new study led by National Institutes of Health scientists. CA-MRSA, ... Read full story
 1/22/2008
Equine Glanders: Scientists Working to Improve Testing Options  *
Glanders is an important infectious equine disease of imposing antiquity. It is endemic in Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and some other countries. Equine glanders has been eradicated from North America and Europe, but its potential as a weapon of bio-sabotage still haunts professionals as well as many others. Researchers ... Read full story
 1/2/2008
Drug-Resistant Bugs  *
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant bacterium that has received ample attention in the press lately. Much concern has been expressed because of the tremendous increase in human infections, including people in the general population that would typically be considered low-risk. In people, MRSA can cause a wide ... Read full story
 1/1/2008
Investigating Foreign Animal Diseases   *
Surveillance for and the investigation of suspected foreign animal diseases is a high priority for state and federal animal health regulatory officials, because the movement of animals and animal products, including semen and embryos, in international commerce could introduce disease and pests into our domestic animal populations. The introduction ... Read full story
 12/30/2007
Honey Making a Comeback as Antibiotic Choice in Human Medicine   *
Amid growing concern over drug-resistant superbugs and nonhealing wounds that endanger diabetes patients, nature's original antibiotic--honey--is making a comeback. More than 4,000 years after Egyptians began applying honey to wounds, Derma Sciences Inc., a New Jersey company that makes medicated and other advanced wound care products, began selling ... Read full story
 12/27/2007
International Equine Disease Report Third Quarter 2007   *
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents. The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as of October 30, reported on the Equine Health Monitoring ... Read full story
 12/27/2007
Glanders Reported in Iran  *
A horse that was illegally imported from Iraq to Iran was confirmed positive for glanders, according to a Nov. 13 release from the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The disease was found during a routine screening test. The horse--which did not show clinical signs of the disease--was euthanatized. Glanders was last reported in Iran in ... Read full story
 11/15/2007
Antibody Titers  *
You might have heard your veterinarian say, "Let's run a titer on him," when referring to your horse and whether he's protected against disease, or to figure out what might be causing particular clinical signs. What exactly does "titer" mean? In immunological terms, titer refers to the concentration of specific antibodies in a blood serum sample. ... Read full story
 11/1/2007
Good Hygiene Blocks Horse-Human MRSA Transmission  *
Equine veterinarians and public health officials are urging horse owners and others who come in frequent contact with horses to wash their hands and clean grooming tools after each use in order to reduce the risk of contracting an antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). The pathogen--blamed ... Read full story
 11/1/2007
MRSA: Human Death Brings Attention to Bacterium Common in Horses  *
A strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to antibiotics was in the news again this week after a Virginia teenager who was diagnosed with an infection caused by the pathogen died. Additionally, the Associated Press reported Oct. 16 that a government estimate revealed that more than 90,000 Americans contract potentially deadly infections from this ... Read full story
 10/17/2007
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Review  *
Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium and an important cause of disease in many species. Approximately 10% of healthy horses carry S. aureus in their noses. This occurrence is termed "colonization," as the bacteria are present without causing any problems. A smaller number are colonized in the intestinal tract or on the skin. S. aureus is an ... Read full story
 10/8/2007
NAHMS Equine Studies  *
The National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (NAHMS), a program within the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, conducts various animal health studies. NAHMS conducted specific studies of equine health and management during 1998 and again in 2005. These studies provide information that offers equine owners and managers the opportunity ... Read full story
 10/1/2007
Bye Bye Bad Bugs  *
Disinfection is not a dirty word! The following scenarios are based on fact; the names of the farms and diseases have been omitted purposely to worry you even more. Scenario 1 After a scenic weekend trail riding in the Ozarks with 50 other trail riding enthusiasts, you and your horse return home for some rest. Your horses are rough and ready animals ... Read full story
 10/1/2007
Antibiotics  *
Most owners forget that antibiotics are drugs, and, if misused, they can cause short- and long-term problems for horses and, potentially, humans. Growing up in an era of modern medicine, the availability of antibiotics has been taken for granted. How often have you been asked if you are taking antibiotics for a cough or a sniffle? How many times ... Read full story
 9/1/2007
International Disease Report First Quarter 2007  *
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents. The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: Contagious Equine Metritis was confirmed in one non-Thoroughbred stallion (Franches-Montagne) at the ... Read full story
 7/17/2007
Texas: Water Everywhere Raises Risk of Livestock Disease  *
Rushing water, stagnant ponds, or even sudden dry stages after wet periods can lead to outbreaks of livestock disease. Mosquitoes and biting flies, capable of carrying and transmitting diseases, thrive in the damp weather. Prolonged wet periods can also bring anthrax spores to the surface, making them a threat to livestock and wildlife after pastures ... Read full story
 7/16/2007
Preparation Key in Controlling Infectious Disease Outbreaks  *
Effective outbreak management is implemented before a single horse gets sick, according to Mary Scollay, DVM, track veterinarian at Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park racetrack in Florida. Scollay advocated having a plan in place and tailoring that plan to the particular disease situation as needed, in her presentation at the 52nd annual American ... Read full story
 7/15/2007
Flooded Plains States: Drying Out, Bracing for Mosquito-Borne Equine Diseases   *
The waters might be receding, but horse owners in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and other areas affected by recent flooding shouldn't drop their guard against flood-related problems just yet. Veterinary authorities say owners in the soggy states should prepare for a potential surge in cases of mosquito-borne equine diseases, such as Eastern and Western ... Read full story
 7/12/2007
Carter Named Director of Kentucky Livestock Disease Center   *
Craig Carter, DVM, PhD, a 26-year veteran in diagnostic veterinary medicine, is the new director of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC). Carter, who currently serves as epidemiology professor and section chief, will take the helm on Aug. 1 replacing Lenn Harrison, who is retiring after serving ... Read full story
 7/10/2007
Lactate Provides Useful Indication of Prognosis  *
Lactate, the ionized form of lactic acid, which is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, can provide objective insight into the prognoses of equine patients, according to Robert Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Equine Medical Center in Ocala, Fla. Franklin presented on this topic at the 2006 AAEP Convention. Franklin said lactate tests are good, ... Read full story
 7/4/2007
Arming the Fight Against Resistant Bacteria  *
In 1928, Alexander Fleming opened the door to treating bacterial infections when he stumbled upon the first known antibiotic in a Penicillium mold growing in a discarded experiment. Nearly eight decades later, chemist Helen Blackwell, PhD, and her research team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have devised a more deliberate method to tackle ... Read full story
 5/8/2007
International Disease Report Fourth Quarter 2006  *
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents. The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: African horse sickness was reported on three premises in two provinces of South Africa. In the Southern ... Read full story
 4/18/2007
Serology  *
The horse's immune system is a window to its world. The biochemical analysis of blood components can give the veterinarian valuable information about disease exposure and immune responses. When a horse is exposed to an antigen (a disease-causing substance, often a microorganism, that stimulates the immune system), the immune system responds by producing ... Read full story
 3/1/2007
Researchers Study Antibiotic-Resistant Staph in Horses, Humans  *
The Canadian Medical Association Journal recently reported that cases of an antibiotic-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus were on the rise in Canada. As public health officials there focus on minimizing the spread of infections in humans, veterinary health researchers have spent the past few years studying the disease and how it is transmitted ... Read full story
 1/27/2007
Disease Prevention: Fluid Spill Cleanup Methods Crucial  *
Blood and body fluid spills present challenges to the equine practitioner when dealing with contagious animals. While contaminated surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected as soon as possible, the methods used should be deliberate. The recent outbreak of equine infectious anemia in Ireland reveals that the disease might be added to the list of dreaded ... Read full story
 1/3/2007
Lessons Learned Hard  *
We have just passed the five-year anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack on the United States in the country's history. It was on Sept. 11, 2001, that two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers in New York, another struck the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed into the ground in Pennsylvania. The near-hysteria that gripped parts ... Read full story
 11/1/2006
AAEP Task Force Issues Guidelines for Equine Infectious Disease Outbreaks   *
The Infectious Disease Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has developed guidelines for the control of contagious infectious disease within the horse population. Recommendations are provided for the control of suspected cases of infectious respiratory, neurologic, diarrheal, and vesicular disease. The symptom-based ... Read full story
 10/24/2006
USDA Releases 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report  *
The USDA has released the 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report, which is a national overview of domestic animal health in the United States. The report addresses the many components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure, animal population demographics, approaches to foreign animal disease surveillance, and new initiatives. As an annual publication, the ... Read full story
 10/17/2006
Equine Disease Data Now Available In One Place  *
The USDA's new National Surveillance Unit (NSU) has established a web site on which the public can see where equine diseases such as equine infectious anemia (EIA) and vesicular stomatitis (VS) have been detected. Before the launch of this web site, finding the disease status of a state might have meant contacting several sources or playing phone tag ... Read full story
 10/4/2006
Internal Insights  *
Veterinary internal medicine is a growing specialty that boasts nearly 400 large animal internal medicine specialists, many of them focusing on horses. In a time when humans seek out experts in varying medical fields, it's only logical that we seek the same for our animals. Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) ... Read full story
 10/1/2006
Shipping and Disease  *
The welfare issues of horses in the United States, and around the world, are of concern to all horse owners. Whether it's starving, neglected, or abused horses in our own county, or the plight of working burros and mules halfway around the world, we care. Sometimes we don't know how to put our caring into action. The first thing that we want, however, ... Read full story
 9/1/2006
Special Reports
Our Special Reports are PDF files (including images and in some cases video) on many aspects of horse health care. We hope you enjoy these educational articles! NEW! Breathing, Stride, and Jumping Performance (Sponsored by FLAIR Nasal Strips) 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention Coverage (Sponsored by Arenus) February ... Read full story
 8/24/2006
Kentucky Inspects More Incoming Horses  *
Each of the nearly 4,000 horses entering the Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., are being inspected by personnel from the Kentucky State Veterinarian's office prior to being unloaded on the grounds. "We're doing it for a multitude of reasons," said Rusty Ford of the Kentucky State Veterinarian's office. "It's a good exercise ... Read full story
 8/21/2006
Maryland Considers Animal Quarantine Facility  *
The Maryland Department of Agriculture received a $42,500 USDA grant on Friday (July 14) to conduct a feasibility study for an animal quarantine facility in proximity to Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Such a facility would improve the business climate for international shipments of livestock to and from the Mid-Atlantic Region. ... Read full story
 7/17/2006
Equine Diseases: First Quarter 2006  *
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents. The International Collating Center, Newmarket, England and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks: African Horse Sickness affecting Thoroughbreds and non-Thoroughbreds was reported in several locations in ... Read full story
 7/10/2006
Australian Vets Urge Precautions Against Hendra Virus  *
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is urging horse owners in south east Queensland to keep feed and water under cover and to stable horses overnight where possible, following the identification of Hendra virus in a horse on the Sunshine Coast. AVA Queensland President, Dr Craig Pullen said that the disease is not highly contagious, and that ... Read full story
 6/29/2006
Detecting Animal Diseases that Could Affect Humans  *
An upcoming Ohio conference is aimed at helping public health officials earlier detect and recognize emerging diseases in animal populations that could affect humans. The June 16 meeting, "Public Health Surveillance Using a One-Medicine Approach," is part of a new program in Ohio to help researchers catch natural and intentional animal disease outbreaks. ... Read full story
 5/24/2006
Hospital Footwear and Bacteria  *
A study published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) shows little difference in bacteria counts collected in an equine hospital while staff observed different footwear protocols. Researchers at the Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Center studied bacteria samples from the hospital ... Read full story
 5/15/2006
New Product Reduces Clinical Signs of Herpes   *
Pfizer Animal Health on Feb. 8 announced the release of Zylexis in the United States, which according to the company's research prepares the horse's immune system to function more efficiently against equine herpesvirus-1 and -4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) pathogens. The immunomodulator is offered specifically as an aid in reducing upper respiratory disease caused ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
AAEP Convention 2005: Preventing Contagious Diseases  *
"Prevention of contagious diseases is dependent on an effective vaccination program and a carefully developed and strictly enforced management program," said Steve Conboy, DVM, a Central Kentucky equine practitioner, at the 2005 American Association of Equine Practitioners' Convention, held Dec. 3-7 in Seattle, Wash. "Because of training in infectious ... Read full story
 2/20/2006
What's New in Equine Vaccines?  *
For most of us, equine vaccines seem pretty simple and boring--halter and restrain horse, pop in a needle and release contents, then a short time later the horse will be protected against that disease. But it's a lot more complicated than that, and the various factors affecting immunity and vaccination provide seemingly limitless possibilities for ... Read full story
 8/1/2005
C. Immitis Antibody Prevalence   *
Horses can get the potentially severe and fatal disease coccidioidomycosis from the fungus Coccidioides immitis, which grows in portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. However, researchers have discovered that just because a horse has been exposed (has C. immitis antibodies) doesn't mean it will become sick. C. immitis is a ... Read full story
 8/1/2005
MRSA Surveillance in Horses at a Hospital   *
Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) upon arrival to a vet hospital is useful for detecting cases of the "superbug" early so affected horses can be isolated, said Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). This reduces the chance of spreading ... Read full story
 8/1/2005
Jiminy Crickets!   *
If it's the right thing to do, why don't people do it? We assume good people in all walks of life, in every business, ask that same question. Horse owners have a common bond--the horse. That animal gives many of us a livelihood, and all of us some of the greatest pleasures, challenges, disappointments, and yes, even love (whether or not it's reciprocated ... Read full story
 7/1/2005
Principles of Disease Prevention  *
Editor's Note: This is Chapter 1 of Understanding Equine Preventive Medicine by author and veterinarian Bradford G. Bentz, VMD. The book is available from www.ExclusivelyEquine.com. Programs to control infectious disease in individual horses and groups of horses are necessary to maximize health and performance. Prevention programs extend beyond vaccination ... Read full story
 6/28/2005
Responsible Needle Disposal  *
Photo Courtesy EquiMedic USA We've all seen the pictures on the evening news of hypodermic needles showing up and floating up in harmful places--street gutters, beaches and road side ditches. As horse owners we should all be asking ourselves how many of those nasty sharps started out on that journey in our horse barns and stables across rural and ... Read full story
 6/27/2005
C. Immitis Antibody Prevalence  *
Horses can get the potentially severe and fatal disease coccidioidomycosis from the fungus Coccidioides immitis, which grows in portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. However, researchers recently discovered that just because a horse has been exposed (determined when a horse has antibodies against C. immitis doesn't mean it will ... Read full story
 6/27/2005
Methicillin-Resistant Staph Bacteria Passed From Humans to Horses  *
"What do animal diseases have to do with people?" posed Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College. "We are just one big global population with subsets," he answered. Weese discussed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a multi-drug-resistant bacterium that affects ... Read full story
 6/27/2005
MRSA Surveillance in Horses at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital  *
Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) upon arrival to a veterinary hospital is useful for detecting cases of the "superbug" early so affected horses can be isolated, said Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). This practice reduces the chance ... Read full story
 6/27/2005
Victoria's Horse Disease Plan Put To The Test  *
Victoria's emergency response plan to a horse disease outbreak was put through its paces June 7 when Racing Minister, John Pandazopoulos, launched Exercise Pegasus. Pandazopoulos said over the past three years the State Government had been working closely with Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria to protect the industry from equine disease. "In ... Read full story
 6/8/2005
"Whisper Syndrome" Update  *
A treating veterinarian in southwestern Virginia still isn't sure what made three of his clients' horses sick this spring while generating widespread concern on an Internet message board. Titer results searching for a definitive diagnosis or rule-out on the bacterial disease listeriosis came back inconclusive in late May. But Thach Winslow, DVM, of ... Read full story
 5/31/2005
Veterinarian Describes Maryland Disease Cases; Officials Rule Out Rabies  *
Three horses succumbed to neurologic illness and were euthanatized at the Columbia Horse Center (CHC) in Columbia, Md., last week, according to the animals' attending veterinarian. Two more horses at the facility developed signs of the yet-unidentified disease, but are recuperating well, he added. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) reported ... Read full story
 3/31/2005
Update on Equine Health Concern in Maryland  *
As part of its response to an equine health concern at a barn in Columbia, Md., the Maryland Department of Agriculture reports that the situation is stable and that every measure is being taken to determine the illness that caused three horses to be humanely euthanatized. The incident is limited to a total of five horses, including those euthanized, ... Read full story
 3/28/2005
2005 National Institute for Animal Agriculture Annual Meeting  *
The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is holding its annual meeting April 3-7 in St. Paul Minn., and will address issues ranging from zoonotic diseases to animal identification, animal health emergency management, equine health, and emerging diseases. Those expected to attend the conference include animal producers, veterinarians, business ... Read full story
 3/22/2005
Tick-Borne Illness   *
Diseases transmitted by ticks are becoming more widespread. Recently, a case report was published detailing a common tick-borne illness in horses called equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA), once called equine ehrlichiosis. An 11-year old Hanoverian-cross gelding had recently been imported from Canada in good health and appeared normal when ridden ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
Hendra Virus Resurfaces in Australia   *
Ten years after a deadly virus was first discovered in Australia, it has reared its ugly head once again. A horse near the Townsville area of Australia was diagnosed with Hendra virus, a deadly equine morbillivirus, on Dec. 14, 2004, and it was later euthanatized. A short time earlier, a veterinarian in the Cairns area was diagnosed with a mild case ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP 2004:Infectious Diseases Forum  *
Veterinarians swapped ideas on hot topics in the realm of equine infectious disease in the Infectious Disease Forum at the 2004 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 3-8 in Denver, Colo. Steve Conboy, DVM, a private practitioner in Lexington, Ky., and Maureen Long, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor of large animal ... Read full story
 2/7/2005
Defending Against Disease   *
Editor's Note: This is the first installment in a 12-part series of articles on vaccinations of horses. Of all the medical advances in the past couple of centuries, the one that might be the most remarkable is also the one we're most likely to take for granted. The simple pinprick of an intramuscular injection taking less than 10 seconds protects ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
Vaccination Indications   *
The world is getting smaller every day. People and horses travel across the country and around the planet at rates never seen before. It has opened up huge opportunities for competition, growth, and learning. Unfortunately, it has also given us increased opportunities to be exposed to a growing number of diseases. Never before has it been so important ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
Fighting Invaders   *
The immune systems of humans and horses are what keep us alive. Without a properly functioning immune system, disease would run rampant, with serious illness and death being the ultimate outcome. Unfortunately, it is not a simple system that functions the same for all species or even for all individuals within a species. Much of what we know about ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
New Discovery Treats Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria  *
A new scientific discovery soon could provide an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in horses. In the September issue of Nature, microbiologists at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported that bacteriophages--viruses that infect bacteria--can be genetically engineered to seek out and destroy specific types of disease-causing ... Read full story
 12/1/2004
Equine Disease: Second Quarter 2004  *
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks in the second quarter of 2004: Abortions caused by equine herpes virus (EHV-1) among vaccinated mares were diagnosed on a Thoroughbred stud farm in Argentina. Sporadic cases on several premises were recorded in France, Italy, Ireland (including ... Read full story
 10/25/2004
Meet the Epidemiologist  *
As people have become more health-conscious, and bonds between humans and their animals have deepened, the demand for veterinary specialties such as dermatology, behavior, pathology, and surgery has risen. The following is part of a series exploring these specialties and the University of Illinois veterinarians who practice and teach them. When your ... Read full story
 10/15/2004
Equine Working Group Provides Views to USDA on Animal ID  *
The Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) has advised the USDA that it supports the initial approach that the department is taking in organizing a national animal ID system to deal with animal diseases and their effects. But, the group cautioned, the horse industry has unique issues and concerns that must be considered in the process. "We are pleased ... Read full story
 9/20/2004
Biosecurity in a Large Animal Hospital  *
The veterinary profession--like human medicine--is placing new emphasis on infectious disease prevention in patient facilities. Bradford P. Smith, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, discussed this topic at the American College of Veterinary Medicine (ACVIM) conference in June on behalf of his co-author colleagues John K. House, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM; K. Gary Magdesian, ... Read full story
 8/27/2004
USDA to Compensate for Brucellosis-Infected Sheep, Goats, and Horses  *
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently amended its brucellosis regulations in an effort to encourage livestock owners to cooperate with the agency's brucellosis eradication program, thus reducing the likelihood of the disease spreading in this country. Beginning Aug. 12, livestock producers can be compensated for losses ... Read full story
 8/11/2004
Tests Inconclusive in Maryland Disease Outbreak  *
Investigators have been unable to make a conclusive diagnosis in the outbreak of equine neurologic disease on a single quarantined farm in Poolesville, Md. There is strong suspicion that equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) is to blame, but further diagnostic testing is under way to determine if this is the case. Twelve horses were affected in the outbreak, ... Read full story
 6/23/2004
Maryland Horse Farm Quarantined as Veterinarians Investigate Cause of Equine Illness  *
A private Maryland horse farm has been under a voluntary quarantine since March 25 while veterinarians investigate the cause of illness in 12 horses, four of which have been humanely euthanized. Veterinarians are testing for several diseases, including but not limited to equine herpesvirus at the Montgomery County farm. However, until all infectious ... Read full story
 5/26/2004
Equine Disease Outbreaks in the Fourth Quarter, 2003  *
From the April 2004 issue of Equine Disease Quarterly, Funded by Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, Brokers and Their Kentucky Agents The International Collating Centre in Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks in the fourth quarter of 2003: Two cases of contagious equine metritis on separate premises were ... Read full story
 4/19/2004
Equine Identification Task Force Meets, Discusses ID Plan Issues  *
The American Horse Council (AHC) National Equine Identification Plan Task Force, composed of representatives from all segments of the horse industry, held its second meeting in Dallas, Texas, March 18-19, 2004. "Clearly, the meeting indicated that the horse organizations represented believe there are many benefits to participating in the national livestock ... Read full story
 4/6/2004
Foreign Animal Disease Investigations  *
"Veterinary practitioners are the cornerstone of foreign animal disease (FAD) surveillance in the United States," said Eileen Ostlund, DVM, PhD, head of the equine and ovine viruses section at the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, in Ames, Iowa, while she was speaking at the Western Veterinary Conference. "Reporting ... Read full story
 3/30/2004
Tennessee to Test Horse Show Bioterrorism Preparation  *
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will test local, state and federal responses to a simulated act of bioterrorism at a major horse show today, according to a story on www.tennessean.com. "The exercise will take place in Shelbyville, home of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, a premier equine event that attracts tens of thousands ... Read full story
 3/30/2004
Mad Cow Disease and Horses   *
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was first identified in the United Kingdom in 1986. A fact sheet from Iowa State University said BSE is one of several diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). There are three rare forms of TSE diseases in humans, scrapie in sheep (not transmissible to man), chronic wasting disease in deer ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
2003 Equine Disease Outbreaks  *
According to the October issue of Equine Disease Quarterly (funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents), a significant increase in the number of equine cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was reported in the United States during June compared to numbers in recent years. The number of equine cases of West Nile ... Read full story
 10/13/2003
Terrorism Targets  *
September 11, 2001, did more to the American consciousness than make us aware that we are vulnerable to something as heinous as hijacked airplanes being crashed into densely populated office buildings. The September 11 attacks also brought with them the realization that if terrorists want to strike a blow against this country, there are a variety of ... Read full story
 9/1/2003
Vaccination Protocols and Internal Parasite Controls  *
Preventing infectious diseases and parasites from attacking our horses are primary concerns for every horse owner. James D. Smith, DVM, a practitioner at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee Associates, PLLC, in Lexington, Ky., and Craig Reinemeyer, DVM, PhD, president of East Tennessee Clinical Research in Knoxville, Tenn., provided invaluable insight into how ... Read full story
 7/29/2003
Keeneland Requiring Health Certificate for Horses  *
Keeneland, which opens for its spring meet April 4, is requiring all horses that enter the grounds to have a health certificate written within 72 hours of arrival. River Downs in Ohio implemented a similar policy in the wake of the detection of equineherpes virus at Turfway Park in mid-March. The virus was contained through quarantine procedures, ... Read full story
 4/2/2003
AAEP Convention: New/Emerging Diseases  *
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 ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
AAEP 2002: Infectious Diseases Subdued, Not Eradicated  *
In discussing anthrax, screwworms, and piroplasmosis, Irby said that the three disease are related in that each "can affect equids, has the potential to devastate domestic livestock, is present in many foreign countries, and may first be detected by veterinarians in private practice." Irby re-iterated that it is imperative that private practice veterinarians ... Read full story
 2/21/2003
AAEP 2002: A Review of Equine Zoonotic Diseases: Risks in Veterinary Medicine  *
Zoonotic diseases are those that can be passed from animals to humans, and, noted Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, Dipl. ACVIM, of the Department of Clinical Studies at the University of Guelph, they are an ever-present threat to veterinarians. "A number of zoonotic agents may be encountered in veterinary practice and the severity of human disease can range ... Read full story
 2/21/2003
AAEP 2002: Foreign Animal Diseases With Equine Potential  *
"When you hear hoofbeats on the covered bridge, please think about the zebra!" said Corrie Brown, DVM, PhD, Dipl. American College of Veterinary Pathology, vice chair of the Cornell Committee for Animal Diseases. Her point was that when veterinarians are making diagnoses, they need to consider foreign animal diseases. "The amount of damage that a foreign ... Read full story
 2/11/2003
AAEP 2002: Foreign Animal Disease Investigations  *
Veterinarians are the first line of defense against infectious and contagious animal diseases, noted Brian J. McCluskey, DVM, MS, of the USDA:Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health in Fort Collins, Colo. “The rapid diagnosis and ultimate control of foreign animal and emerging diseases is dependent on the ... Read full story
 2/10/2003
AAEP 2002: Infectious Disease/Epidemiology Sunrise Session  *
There was tremendous interest in and opportunity for information exchange on the topic of infectious diseases during the AAEP Convention. Early Friday morning, Maureen Long, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of Florida, and Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, of Colorado State University, headed a session to discuss relevant topics and ... Read full story
 2/4/2003
AAEP 2002: Kester News Hour  *
Probably the best-attended session of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) annual convention, the Kester News Hour provides brief reports of studies that were too new or too brief to be included in the longer scientific sessions. Larry Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, the president-elect of the AAEP and a surgeon at the Rood and Riddle ... Read full story
 2/3/2003
AAEP 2002: Effectiveness of Bio-Sponge  *
Enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon) caused by the bacteriums Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens is a common problem for both adult horses and foals, according to Nathalie Cote, DMV, DVSc, of the University of Guelph. However, even with aggressive treatment, many do not survive the disease and treatment can be ... Read full story
 1/13/2003
Actinobacillus Species Resistance   *
Colorado State University's (CSU) Orthopaedic Research Center (ORC) was launched Nov. 1 with a formal dedication ceremony and open house. Led by Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, Dipl. ECVS, and his scientific team, the Center will continue investigations benefiting the musculoskeletal health of horses and humans. Located just behind ... Read full story
 1/1/2003
Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance  *
When a prescribed medication doesn’t work as it should, one cause could be antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance. Is the widespread use of antibiotics selecting for stronger and stronger pathogens that can resist the drugs we use to fight them? This was discussed at the Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance Table Topic, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, ... Read full story
 12/20/2002
LSU Foal Study On Viral Infections and Recurrent Airway Obstruction  *
Louisiana State University researchers in the School of Veterinary Medicine have begun a study to investigate the effect of viral infections on the immune response of neonatal foals, specifically if exposure to influenza virus reduces the risk for developing recurring airway obstruction (RAO) later in life. "This study is an evolution of many things ... Read full story
 5/1/2002
Shared Diseases   *
The term zoonosis (plural zoonoses) means a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The name is derived from the Greek "zoi" or "zoe," meaning life, plus "nosos," meaning disease. An equine zoonosis is a disease that humans can contract from members of the equid family. While there are a number of zoonoses, the good news is that horses ... Read full story
 1/1/2002
AAEP Convention News: Infection Control Strategies   *
The importance of minimizing exposure to infectious agents and optimizing resistance of an animal to them cannot be overemphasized. In addition to vaccination and the use of antimicrobials, infection control strategies can help save the lives of horses whether the program is developed for a farm or veterinary clinic. During the General Medicine session, ... Read full story
 11/30/2001
Infectious Diseases Forum at AAEP Convention  *
The world is keeping its eye on infectious diseases because of the terroristic use of anthrax—and the potential use of other biologics--as agents of war against humans. However, veterinarians deal on a daily basis with diseases that can have deadly effects on humans and horses. Included in that list is West Nile virus (WNV), which was a major topic ... Read full story
 11/26/2001
Addendum  *
We received a request from a veterinarian to add the following health problems to "Contagious Critters" (The Horse, May 2001, online at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13). Fistulous withers and poll evil in horses are clinical terms for a localized chronic suppurative condition, usually caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus, which ... Read full story
 11/1/2001
WEVA: On the Move  *
They met in Italy to exchange information about reproduction, sports medicine, infectious diseases, transportation, and surgery. The more than 300 delegates from 29 different countries, including Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States, heard topics addressed in Italian and English. With so many ... Read full story
 10/8/2001
No Canadian Exports Permitted to the EU  *
Effective July 27, 2001, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will suspend the issuance of export permits for horses from Canada destined to European Union (EU) member countries. The CFIA has made this decision because current regulations are not in compliance with the required oath statement regarding equine reportable diseases. This situation ... Read full story
 10/4/2001
Bush's Request Includes $35 Million To Guard Against Foreign Animal Disease  *
The President's FY2001 supplemental appropriations request to Congress will include an additional $35 million for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance activities designed to protect U.S. agriculture from serious animal disease threats such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). "Given the ... Read full story
 6/8/2001
AVMA Wants Legislation Preparing For Foreign Animal Disease Outbreaks  *
The AVMA is working with officials in Washington, DC, to draft legislation outlining procedures for preventing the introduction of a foreign animal disease in North America, and a well-coordinated emergency response plan to be implemented in the event of an outbreak. The Executive Board authorized the initiative.The Association sees this as a necessary ... Read full story
 5/25/2001
CDC Links E.coli Illnesses to Farm Visits, Agency Issues New Strategies  *
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late April released the results of a study linking outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Washington and Pennsylvania to contact with farm animals.Along with the study, the CDC published in the April 20 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report a list of strategies that petting zoos, farms, county ... Read full story
 5/25/2001
$1 Million For Equine Research  *
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Board of Directors recently approved funding for 11 new projects. An additional project will be funded on the properties of extracorporeal shock wave therapy. The Foundation is inviting researchers to submit proposals (for more on shock wave therapy, see pages 12 and 57). Most of the new research involves ... Read full story
 5/1/2001
Hear The Latest On FMD, EPM, and WNV  *
Tonight The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care will conduct a free seminar for horse owners and industry professionals addressing EPM, West Nile, and Foot and Mouth disease concerns. The seminar is at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor's Information Center from 5-7 pm. The seminar coincides with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at the horse park. ... Read full story
 4/27/2001
USDA Proposes To Exempt Iceland From Horse Testing Regulations  *
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced April 17 that it is proposing to exempt horses from Iceland from testing for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and equine infectious anemia during the quarantine period following importation. The USDA reports the action is warranted because Iceland has never had a reported case of dourine, glanders, ... Read full story
 4/27/2001
Equine Viral Diseases Laboratory  *
Viruses are of tremendous concern to horse owners. A generous donation to study newly emerging and re-emerging viral diseases was made by Dr. Bernard and Gloria Salick of Thousand Oaks, Calif., to the University of California, Davis. In turn, the Bernard and Gloria Salick Equine Viral Disease Laboratory (EVDL) was established in April of 1999. The ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Research: Australia Asks 'What If . . .?'  *
In a move to determine what an outbreak of a serious equine disease might cost the government and equine industry in Australia, the government group Animal Health Australia commissioned a report that looked at likely costs of an emergency response to equine influenza. Australia does not have influenza, and the cost to the government and industry ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Saudi Arabia Bans French Horses  *
Saudi Arabia banned the importation of horses and birds from France Dec. 9, due to fears of a possible spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) into the country. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that the ban was prompted by “cases of horses affected by West Nile disease, which affects humans and animals in some parts of France.” France has experienced ... Read full story
 12/15/2000
American Horse Council President Addresses Recreation Issues   *
American Horse Council (AHC) President Jay Hickey spoke to the International Livestock Congress in Houston, Texas on February 25 on future national issues that might impact the recreational segment of the horse industry. The address was part of the ILC's Equine Program entitled "Saddle Up America." Hickey pointed out that according to the Economic ... Read full story
 3/31/2000
AAEP 1999: Infectious Diseases Subcommittee on Equine Identification   *
Presented by Committee Chairman: Timothy R. Cordes, DVM, Dec. 4, 1999 History According to Ralph C. Knowles, DVM, Veterinary Consultant, early equine identification in the United States consisted of a word or graphic sketch description of an animal, followed by the hot brand, which was introduced by Spanish settlers. The hot iron brand, or the Preston ... Read full story
 12/7/1999
USDA Lifts Requirements For Horses From Australia And New Zealand   *
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has exempted horses imported from Australia and New Zealand from testing for dourine and glanders, two potentially fatal equine diseases not known to exist in the United States, during the quarantine period. "This action makes the importation of horses from Australia and New Zealand less expensive and more practical, ... Read full story
 6/18/1999
Hendra Virus Returns To Australia   *
The Australian Animal Health Laboratory has confirmed that the Hendra virus (HeV), otherwise known as equine morbillivirus, has made a third appearance in Australia. According to ProMED (Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases), "The diagnosis is based on histology, immuno-peroxidase, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing of formalized lung ... Read full story
 3/5/1999
New Tests Nab Grain Toxins   *
New tools to detect mycotoxins that contaminate corn, barley, wheat and other commodities have been developed by an Agricultural Research Service scientist. ARS is USDA's chief scientific research agency. Fungi that grow on these crops produce the toxins. One of the more harmful ones is aflatoxin, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Aflatoxin ... Read full story
 2/19/1999
Light Shed On Mystery Horse Disease   *
CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization—Australia's largest scientific research organization) Animal Health scientists have discovered more about the mysterious Hendra disease that killed two humans and fifteen horses in Queensland in two outbreaks in 1994-5. Scientist Dr Mark Williamson says research at the CSIRO's Australian ... Read full story
 2/19/1999
Scientists Find New Clue To Treat Moldy Corn Poisoning  *
A disease that destroys brain cells in horses, moldy corn poisoning or equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), is currently a death sentence. But promising new research findings may someday improve the odds. ELEM is caused by corn contaminated with the fumonisin-producing fungus, Fusarium moniliforme. The toxin is insidious—only a small amount makes ... Read full story
 2/12/1999
USDA Amends Tuberculosis Regulations To Include More Livestock   *
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its tuberculosis regulations. The amended regulations will require two annual herd tests for all livestock in newly assembled herds on land where a tuberculous herd has been depopulated. Existing regulations already cover cattle and bison. "This addition to the tuberculosis regulations ... Read full story
 3/2/1998
Notes From California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System   *
The California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System isolated H3N8 influenza virus demonstrating recent antigenic drift from the A2 Kentucky and Alaska influenza viruses. An influenza outbreak that started in September has continued to spread. More than 250 cases have been reported from throughout California including private farms, breeding facilities, ... Read full story
 2/13/1998
Tyzzer's Disease   *
Tyzzer's disease affects many species of animals. It was originally described as an illness of mice, but has also been reported to cause disease in dogs, cats, rats, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, muskrats, hamsters, and foals. Tyzzer's disease is caused by a bacterium named Clostridium piliforme (Bacillus piliformis). This organism is an ... Read full story
 1/9/1998
International Disease Update   *
The International Collating Center, Newmarket, reported the following disease outbreaks. Influenza was reported from France, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States. the latter included an outbreak among Thoroughbred racehorses in Puerto Rico during June. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) was reported in the United States causing mortality among ... Read full story
 1/2/1998




AAEP Media Partner AAEVT Partner WEVA
Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.

Facebook | Twitter | RSS | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without written permission of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS is prohibited. THE HORSE, THE HORSE logo, THEHORSE.COM and THEHORSE.COM logo are trademarks of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS.