ANS 242 - Equine Diseases

What kind of infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, etc) is Equine Influenza?

Viral

What kind of fever does Equine Influenza cause?

Biphasic fever, up to 105F

What are signs of Equine Influenza?

Originally clear nasal discharge that changes to puss, apathy, lack of energy, dry cough that changes to wet cough

Are there different strains for Equine Influenza and how does that affect the vaccine?

Yes and the vaccine must be strain specific

How does Equine Influenza spread?

Aerosol droplets that can spread up to 35 yards

What is the incubation period for Equine Influenza?

2 - 10 days

What is the treatment and quarantine period for Equine Influenza?

Rest and possible antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections; strict quarantine

What are other names for Equine Viral Rhinopneumonitis?

Equine Herpes Virus - 1 or EHV-1

What kind of infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, etc) is EHV-1?

Viral

What are the three strains of EHV-1?

Respiratory, abortive and neurologic strains

When are horses usually infected with EHV-1?

Late fall and early winter and spring

How do you diagnosis EHV-1?

Respiratory strain have symptoms similar to influenza, neurologic strain causes neurological symptoms and abortive strain causes lessons on the fetus

What is the incubation period for EHV-1?

2-10 days

How contagious is EHV-1?

Very

What is the treatment for EHV-1?

No cure for the abortive or neurological strain and only rest and antibiotics for a secondary bacterial infection for the respiratory strain

Is there a vaccine? When should horses be vaccinated?

Yes but it isn’t effective against the neurological strain, vaccinate mares at 3,5,7,9 or 4,6,8,10 months of pregnancy and once per year in young horses

How long are horses with EHV-1 quarantined?

21 days after exposure and cases must be reported

What are signs of Equine Viral Arteritis?

Similar to influenza, can cause abortions but there are no signs on the fetus

Is there a vaccine for Equine Viral Arteritis?

Yes

What is another name for strangles?

Distemper

What is strangles caused by and how is it transmitted?

A bacteria that can be passes from horse to horse and on people and equipment and stays in the environment for long periods of time if there isn’t sunlight

What age of horses does strangles affect?

All ages

What are symptoms of strangles?

Temperature of 104-106F, increased respiration rate and difficulty breathing, depression, pussy nasal discharge, swelling submaxillary and sub mandibular lymph nodes

What can cause horses to feel better?

When the skin weakens and the swelled lymph nodes rupture

Why are swollen lymph nodes dangerous?

They can cut off the horse’s airway

What are bastard strangles?

Lymph nodes, often internal, become inflamed which makes recovery more difficult

What are latent sheders when it comes to strangles?

Horses that carry the strangle bacteria, probably in the gutteral pouch, for long periods of time and can infect other horses

What is purpura hemmorhagica?

Inflammed blood vessels where the immune system goes overboard in response to strangles

What is the prognosis for strangles? Does it provide later immunity?

Usually good and provides 70% immunity for 5 years (which is better than the vaccine) and some level of immunity after

What is the treatment for strangles?

Antibiotics and rest

What type of vaccine is considered more affective for strangles?

Nasal vaccines

Is quarantine mandatory for strangles?

No but it is highly recommended

What is another name for Rhinitis?

Pharyngitis 

What is and what causes pharyngitis?

It is an inflammation of the airway caused by a bacteria or fungus

How do you treat pharyngitis?

If it’s bacterial use penicillin

What is pneumonia?

Chronic (usually affecting older horses) or acute (usually affecting younger horses) bacterial infection of the lungs, usually secondary to other respiratory problems

What are signs of pneumonia?

Nasal discharge, depressed, off their feed, temperature between 102-105F, increased respiration rate, abnormal breathing, wet cough, pain while breathing

What form of pneumonia in foals has about a 80% mortality rate?

Rhodococcus

What is pneumonia’s prognosis?

If caught early and it is acute its good but if treatment is delayed or it becomes chronic about 50% of horses die

What is the treatment for pneumonia? How long is the recovery period?

Antibiotics and high fluid intake with a 2-3 week recovery period

What is good prevention of pneumonia?

Good ventilation and preventing general respiratory infection

What is another name for heaves?

Chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD)

What is heaves and what causes it?

It is like asthma, but progressive and usually in older horses but the cause isn’t known, it could be: allergies, dust and mold in hay, heredity, over exertion and poor ventilation

What are signs of heaves?

Labored breathing, wheezing and coughing (especially during exercise), prolonged expiration, standing with elbows out and rib cage expanded, rectum can protrude on exhale if extreme and a heave line can develop

What are possible treatments for heaves?

None are known but possibly antihistamines and drugs that dilate bronchioles can help as well as avoiding dusty or moldy hay, increasing concentrates and fiber and feeding green pasture

What is the prognosis for heaves?

Poor, especially for performance horses

What is another name for roaring and what is it?

Laryngeal hemiplegia is the paralysis of the muscles of the larynx (90% of the time on the left) due to degeneration of the nerves causing a whistling or roaring sound to be heard on inspiration or during exercise

How is roaring diagnosed?

Usually with observation but an endoscope can be used

How is roaring treated?

With tie back surgery to remove the involved tissue

What is choke?

Complete or partial obstruction of the esophagus

What causes choke?

General eating habits like bolting (usually when housed with other horses or in young horses), not chewing (usually in younger or older horses), dry food or medicinal boluses

What is the treatment for choke?

Usually nothing, maybe banamine or a stomach tube

What are preventative measures for choke?

Soak feed, put large rocks in the feeder to slow eating, use broad and shallow feeding buckets instead of deep buckets

In which ages is salmonellosis most common in? Is it contagious?

Usually foals and is very contagious

What can salmonellosis cause?

Colitis and if it goes systemic foals are dead in 24-36 hours

What are signs of salmonellosis?

Watery diarrhea and a temperature of 103-106F

When is the potomac horse fever season?

From May to October but the peak is between July and August

What causes potomac horse fever?

Eating a vector (snails or may flies)

What are signs of potomac horse fever?

Temperature between 103-107F, depression, decreased appetite, decreased white blood cell count, dehydration, explosive diarrhea (sometimes), rapid weight loss

Is potomac horse fever contagious?

No

What is the treatment for potomac horse fever?

Oxytetracycline and fluids

What is a secondary conditon potomac horse fever can cause and how can you prevent it?

Laminitis and using ice boots can help reduce the probability of development

What is the prognosis of potomac horse fever?

Good if treated early, if not treated usually death

Is there a vaccine for potomac horse fever?

Yes but it isn’t very effective and not widely recommended