David Parrish III, DVM, was president of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners in 1980 when a mystery problem occurred that caused abortions in mares during early pregnancy. While both involved abortions and were mysteries, the

A series of abortions has recently been reported in several farms in Central Kentucky. At this time, the cause of these abortions is not determined, but there is no evidence of infectious etiology. Based upon currently available

In the wake of the outbreak of late-term fetal/foal deaths and near-term abortions in mares in Central Kentucky, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued guidelines for the equine industry on horses from

With Kentucky’s share of the Thoroughbred foal crop in the United States at an all-time high of nearly 30%, the repercussions of the excessive foal loss that many Central Kentucky farms are experiencing may be felt for years to come.

The highest number of foals/fetal samples taken to the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center in Lexington, Ky., during the current problem with late-term abortions and early embryonic loss occurred on Derby Day, May 5, according to the Center’s

Equine scientists at the University of Kentucky are working with farm managers and horse industry leaders to rapidly diagnose and control a serious problem affecting the equine industry. An unusually high number of late-term abortions and early

Thoroughbred industry leaders, veterinarians, researchers, and farm managers met with the media at the Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington, Ky., for a press briefing on the current fetal/foal loss syndromes happening in the state. While

An outbreak of early-term fetal loss in 1980 was eventually discounted by researchers as an “artifact epidemic” caused by earlier than usual examinations. Still, that outbreak now is viewed by many as similar in nature to the current syndrome

Two “syndromes” of unknown origin that began in late April are causing Central Kentucky farms to lose an excessive number of foals and fetuses.

The first syndrome results in what broodmare owners know as “red bag,” or premature placenta

The following questionnaire about fetal death and late-term abortions is being distributed by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manangers’ Club to its members. The questionnaire, dated May 7, was prepared by the University of Kentucky’s Department

Lenn Harrison, VMD, Dipl. ACVP, director of the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Lexington, and his staff have been working long hours conducting necropsies and running tests in an attempt to find

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club and the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners will hold a joint meeting Thursday (May 10) in the Keeneland sales pavilion near Lexington to discuss recent problems with early fetal

Two “syndromes” that began near the end of the third week of April are causing Kentucky farms to lose an excessive number of foals and fetuses due to an as yet unknown cause. The first syndrome results in what mare owners know as “red bag,” or

University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture
Veterinary Science Department

May 6, 2001
MEMORANDUM

To: Kentucky Equine Practitioners

From: Drs. Lenn Harrison, David Powell, and Roberta Dwyer
Re: Late term

As of noon May 17, the Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center had received nine additional aborted/stillborn equine fetuses/foals (four early-term and five late-term) for diagnostic testing/evaluation. The total received since April 28,