190. Differential diagnosis of infectious abortions of horses (epidemiology, clinical signs, post mortem lesions). Flashcards
1
Q
Diseases of the reproductive system?
A
Diseases of reproductive system
- Diseases of the reproductive system may cause significant economic losses in case of abortion or breeding restrictions due to infectious diseases
- The most important viruses affecting the reproductive system (and other organs):
- Equine herpesvirus type-1
- Equine viral arteritis
• Non-viral pathogens
- Bacterial abortion: Streptococcus, Staphylococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp,
Klebsiella, Salmonella abortusequi, Actinobacillus equuli, Leptospira spp.
- Taylorella equigenitalis (contagious equine metritis/ CEM)
- Trypanosoma equiperdum (dourine)
2
Q
Equine Viral arteritis epidemiology?
A
Equine viral arteritis
• Epidemiology
- Arteriviridae family, Arterivirus genus
- Worldwide
- 2 genetic strains with same serotype: American and European
- Strains differ in severity of symptoms and prevalence of abortion
- 10-30% stallions are persistently infected ➝ transmission with semen
3
Q
Pathogenesis of equine viral arteritis?
A
• Pathogenesis
- Virus can spread with aerosols, semen and amniotic fluid, placenta after abortion
- After per oral or aerogen infection
- Viraemia: virus into blood with macrophages
- Virus damages endothel cells of arterioles ➝ oedema, inflammation and haemorrhages, abortion
4
Q
Clinical signs of equine viral arteritis?
A
Clinical signs
- Incubation: 6-8 days
- Fever, inappetence, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, oedema (subcutaneous oedema of head, eyelids, limbs, abdomen, genitals/
scrotum)
- Areas are warm and sensitive
- May cause skin rash, colic, diarrhoea, jaundice
- Abortion in acute phase or few weeks after
- Weakness in foals
- Abortion sporadic
5
Q
Diagnosis and prevention of equine viral arteritis?
A
Diagnosis and prevention
- Initial phase ➝ isolation, IF, PCR, serology (VN, ELISA), specific symptoms
- Isolation of infected horses, general disease control measures
- Testing and screening persistently infected stallions ➝ serology, semen samples by PCR
- Active immunisation