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Strangles: The Stories of Bacteria Horses and Keeping Clean
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Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1)
What is EHV-1?
- Equine Herpes Virus is one of the most common respiratory diseases affecting horses. There are at least four equine herpes viruses.
- EHV1 and EHV4 are the two herpes viruses that commonly cause respiratory disease.
- EVH1 can also cause neurologic disease.
- EHV-1 is commonly found in horse populations worldwide and was previously referred to as the equine abortion virus. Although EHV-1 is well known for causing reproductive disease, it is also known to cause respiratory and neurological disease.
Zoonotic Diseases Affecting Horses and Humans
Horses can be impacted by several different diseases and illnesses. Preventative steps are critical to keeping your horse healthy. But what if your horse does become ill – can the disease be transmitted to you?
Every horse person needs to know about zoonotic diseases (an animal disease that can be transmitted to humans) for their own safety as well as that of their families and employees. These diseases, their clinical signs and advice are discussed in this brochure. …
Vesicular Stomatitis
Kathy Anderson, Extension Horse Specialist, University of Nebraska
Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease which affects horses, cattle, swine, and occasionally sheep and goats. Additionally, numerous species of wild animals including deer, bobcats, goats, raccoons and monkeys are susceptible. The virus causing vesicular stomatitis can also infect handlers of infected animals.
Vesicular stomatitis most commonly occurs during warm months in the Southwest region of the United States, particularly along river ways and in valleys. Recent outbreaks in the Southwest …
The Role of Nutrition in Horse Colic and Laminitis
Laminitis is inflammation within the sensitive laminae of the feet. It can occur for many reasons, but as a nutritional problem it is commonly linked to grain-rich diets, ingestion of too much rich pasture, and obesity. Grain overload or a diet rich in high-carbohydrate feed (grain or lush pasture) initiates a series of metabolic and endocrine (hormone) disturbances in the body. A diet abundant in carbohydrates upsets normal intestinal bacteria, allowing more endotoxins from harmful bacteria to be absorbed into …
Bacterial Diseases of the Horse
Strangles
Craig Wood, University of Kentucky
Strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection in horses. The cause has been identified as a bacteria. The disease has a low mortality rate, yet the economic ramifications due to long recovery periods can be great. The disease is contracted through environmental contamination, nasal discharge, or direct contact with infected animals.
- 1. high fever of 103 to 106 F
- 2. loss of appetite
- 3. a moist cough
- 4. clear nasal discharge that
Encephalomyelitis in horses
Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky
Equine encephalomyelitis, also called “sleeping sickness,” is an infectious disease that affects the brain of the horse. Three strains have been identified: Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan. The mortality of the three strains runs from moderate to high. The Eastern strain occurs more frequently and has the highest mortality rate.
The cause of encephalomyelitis is a virus. Reservoir hosts include birds, reptiles, and rodents. The mosquito acts as the vector, transmitting the virus from the …
Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins’ Disease)
Ashley Griffin, University of Kentucky
Equine infectious anemia (EIA), or swamp fever, is a viral disease that occurs worldwide. The disease is usually spread by horse flies biting an infected horse, then biting a healthy horse. The disease can also be transmitted by the use of nonsterile needles and blood-contaminated surgical instruments.
1. high fever
2. labored breathing
3. pounding heartbeat and exhaustion
4. anemia.
Horses that recover usually remain carriers of the disease. The death rate is low.…
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Craig Wood, University of Kentucky
The organism Sarcocystis neurona, a single-celled animal, can cause equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease that can affect equines of any age, sex, and in any location throughout the United States. The parasitic cycle involves birds eating plants and other animals of prey that carry the sporocysts of the organism. The opossum then eats birds killed by the effects of the disease. The organism reproduces sexually in the opossum and is passed …