Researchers in the United Kingdom recently advanced scientific knowledge of equine grass sickness with a three-year study that found the disease to be strongly associated with low antibody levels to the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Findings from the study, which was completed at the University of Liverpool, funded by The Home of Rest For Horses, and published in the Equine Veterinary Journal might lead to routine vaccination against C. botulinum in U.K. horses.

Chris Proudman, MA, VetMB, PhD, CertEO, FRCVS, senior lecturer in equine surgery at the U.K.’s University of Liverpool, said, “The research provides some good evidence that the disease is associated with C. botulinum, and from a horse owner’s point of view, probably the most important take-home message is that antibody levels in the horse, which we can influence–this opens the door to vaccination as a preventive measure