Infection of the pregnant mare by pathogenic leptospires can result in abortion, stillbirth, or birth of a weak foal. Yearly assessments of leptospiral abortions is important, as disease incidence can vary based on fluctuating environmental factors
Colonization of the foal’s GI tract by pathogenic organisms can lead to diarrhea. Research has focused on identifying organisms responsible for the diarrhea, but less research has looked at what allows the pathogenic organisms to become established.
Determining the cause of early fetal loss is very difficult, and in many instances the aborted fetus is reabsorbed or lost.
An outbreak of abortion associated with equine arteritis virus (EAV) infection occurred on a Thoroughbred breeding farm in San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires Province, in March 2010. On March 31, EAV was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation from an aborted equine fetus and placenta, which was the third abortion to have occurred on the premi
The International Collating Center, Newmarket, United Kingdom, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was reported from Germany, Italy, and the USA. A single mare case was reported out of 1,183 animals tested in Germany. Italy recorded T. equigenitalis infection in one non-Thoroughbred mare and two non
Providing horses a continuous supply of clean water is part of the foundation of good husbandry. Several different water sources might be found on a horse farm: ponds, streams, lakes, and automatic waterers or troughs supplied by well water or city w
Equine heart disease is multifaceted and can be induced by multiple mechanisms. Although horses do not routinely suffer from traditional “heart attacks,” they can develop heart abnormalities that can negatively impact their health and longevity.
Foals, like other young animals, are especially susceptible to diseases. A review of necropsy cases over a one-year period at the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center was conducted to determine common pathologic diagnoses in the foals submitted for necropsy. For this study, all foals 1 day to 6 months of age were included. A total of 272 foals within this age range were
An adverse event can be broadly defined as an undesirable occurrence after the use of a vaccine, drug, animal device, insecticide, medicated feed, etc. Multiple federal agencies are involved in taking reports of adverse events in animals, which can make it difficult for owners and veterinarians to easily notify the appropriate agencies. Adverse reactions can range from a minor swe
The International Collating Center, Newmarket, United Kingdom, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks. Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was reported from France, Germany, the UK, and the USA. France confirmed a single case in a Trotter. Two mares were cultured positive for Taylorella equigenitalis in Germany. The UK reported two cases on separate premi
The eyes of the international horse community will be on Kentucky in a few months, watching and awaiting the results of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). On one day, for example, NBC reportedly plans to broadcast live from the Ryder Cup golf tournament in Wales, then switch to live coverage of the Games. The potential worldwide audience could reach 500 million.
Th
The recent insidious emergence of piroplasmosis, a tick-borne disease, is a striking reminder of the vigilance required to remain free of the class of infectious diseases that include persistence in their pathogenesis. Pathogen persistence is the ability of an infectious organism to remain in the host long-term, even for life, in the absence of easily detectable clinical disease. A critical
The application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to veterinary medicine has revolutionized the way diagnosticians detect infectious agents and genetic markers of non-infectious disease. Confusion frequently encircles this technology due to its novelty and complexity. This article will briefly review the underlying basis of PCR, describe interpretation of results, and discuss its ben
Whether breeding mares for business or pleasure, a variety of costs are associated with the venture. Many of these costs will be incurred whether or not the mare produces a live foal. Mare owners seek to minimize these costs while ensuring the general health of the mare and her ability to produce a live foal.
“Critical thinking” is the process of evaluating the merit and reliability of a stated fact and deciding whether the fact should be accepted or rejected. In other words, don’t believe everything you read. Be a critical thinker and a critical reader!
In doing some background research for a riding safety article, I came across a 1995 Emergency Radiology jour
Drug compounding can be defined as the art and science of mixing ingredients, which may be active, inactive or both, to create a specific dosage form to meet a specific patient’s needs. Compounding can be performed by a veterinarian or by a pharmacist upon receipt of a veterinarian’s prescription. A veterinarian must have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR ) to
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