Encephalomyelitis in horses

Diseases, 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...
Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins’ Disease)

Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins’ Disease)

Diseases, Horses

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...

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)

Diseases, Horses

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...

West Nile Virus in Horses

Diseases, Horses

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-born virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) in humans and horses. Mosquitoes that acquire it from infected birds transmit the virus. This...

Disease: Equine Influenza

Diseases, Horses

Equine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease, which spreads rapidly among susceptible horses. It is rarely fatal except in young horses. The incubation period of influenza is ~1-3 days. Clinical signs begin abruptly and include high fever (up to 106...