Equine Science Diseases Flashcards
(13 cards)
EQUINE HERPES VIRUS
VIRAL
What: flu-like symptoms, abortions, neurologic Cause:
• Herpes virus (EHV 1-5)
• Rhinopneumonitis (EHV 4) – respiratory, abortive(Respired, fetal membranes)
• Neurologic (EHV 1) – increasing incidence
Signs:
• Fever 102-106°, coughing, clear nasal discharge
•Mares abort in third trimester
Treatment: Nursing care, none for abortion
No vaccine for neurologic strain
INFLUENZA
VIRAL DISEASES
What: Acute respiratory disease
Cause: Myxovirus, strain variations; Respired
Signs:
• Fever 101-105°, depression, off feed
• Watery nasal discharge
Treatment: Nursing care
Vaccines available
ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
VIRAL
What: “Sleeping Sickness”; brain inflammation Cause:
• Eastern, Western, RNA virus
• Respired, secretions, vectors (mosquitos)
Signs:
• Fever, anorexia, depression
• Neurological symptoms: ataxia, head pressing, circling, hyperexcitabilty, seizures
Treatment: Good nursing care, however…
• Mortality rate: WEE: 20-30%, EEE/VEE 70-90% Vaccine available
EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA
VIRAL
What: “Swamp Fever”
Cause:
• EIA virus
• Blood transfer (mosquitos)
Signs:
• Acute: flu-like (104-108°), die in days
• Chronic: organ damage, jaundice, anemia
• Silent carriers
Treatment: None, no vaccine
• Coggins Test
RABIES
VIRAL –
What: hydrophobia
Cause:
• Rabies virus
• Saliva to blood
Signs:
• Personality changes – not necessarily aggressive
• Incoordination, self-mutilation, depression, convulsion, fear
Treatment: Not very effective
• Usually fatal (<10 d)
Vaccine available
WEST NILE VIRUS
VIRAL –
What: encphalomyelitis
Cause:
• West Nile Virus/Flavivirus
• Vector-borne (mosquitos)
Signs:
• Ataxia, weakness, twitches, recumbency
• Depression, reactivity, propulsive walking Treatment: Supportive care, NO CURE
• 90% recover within 6-9 months; can have residual effects
Vaccine available
STRANGLES
BACTERIAL –
What: abscess-producing disease
• Highly contagious, isolation/quarantine measures
Cause:
• Streptococcus equi
• Nasal discharge, inhaled or ingested
Signs:
• Fever 103-105°
• Nasal discharge – watery, then purulent
• Abscesses under jaw
Treatment: Antibiotics, nursing
Vaccine (?)
TETANUS
BACTERIAL
What: “Lockjaw”
Cause:
• Clostridium Tetani
• Introduced into wounds, anaerobic
• Horses very susceptible
Signs:
• Hyper-reactive to light, sounds, touch
• Muscular rigidity, “saw-horse”
Treatment: intensive supportive care
• Toxoid/Antitoxin, Antibiotics, nursing
• Mortality nearly 80%
Vaccine available
BOTULISM
BACTERIAL
What: Neurotoxin issue
Cause:
• Clostridium botulinum, anaerobic
• 8 toxins produced; 4 affect horses (B most prevalent)
• Moldy hay, particularly dead animals
Signs:
• Weakness, decreased muscle tone tail, eyelid, tongue
• Difficulty swallowing, drooling
• Respiratory paralysis, death
Treatment: intensive supporting care
• Hyper-immune plasma with antitoxin
• Costly, not highly successful
POTOMAC HORSE FEVER
BACTERIAL
• What: Acute infectious diarrhea
Cause:
• Ehrlichia risticii, Neorickettsia risticii
• Snails, ticks suspected
Signs:
• Depression, anorexia, diarrhea, laminitis
• Fever 102-108°
Treatment: None (supportive care)
• Vaccine reduces severity, doesn’t affect incidence
PIROPLASMOSIS
PROTOZOAL
What: disease of the blood
Cause:
• Several protozoal species
• Tick-borne
Signs: easily confused with other diseases
• Fever, depression, jaundice
• Anemia
Treatment: None
• Tick control
• Mortality rates 10-50%
• No vaccine available
EQUINE PROTOZOAL MYELOENCEPHALITIS
PROTOZOAL
What: neurological disease
Cause:
• Sarcocystis neurona, opossum
• Ingested
Signs:
• Often mistaken for other diseases
• Not all horses show signs of infection
• Incoordination, atrophy, weakness, lameness
Treatment results in improvement but NO CURE
• 65% improve; 55% survival rate
• Vaccine available but untested
DISEASE CLASSIFICATIONS
- Infectious (Viral, Bacterial, etc)
* Metabolic (Azoturia)
• Parasitic (colic)
• Lamenesses
• Nutritional (OCD)
• Toxins
• Neoplasms (cancer
