Equine Diseases 2

Question 1

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is found in:

Answer 1

o Blood
o Semen
o Tissue

Question 2

Clinical Signs of EIA:

Answer 2

Fever
Depression
Anorexia and weight loss.
Anemia

Question 3

Diagnosis of EIA:

Answer 3

Coggins Test:

Serum is analyzed for antibodies.

Question 4

Transmission of EIA:

Answer 4

Arthropods – usually biting flies.
Blood transfusions.
Dirty needles.

Question 5

Treatment of EIA

Answer 5

There is no cure or prevention for this disease.
Infected horses will always be carriers of this disease but may not show symptoms.
Some states may require euthanasia.
If not euthanized, the horse must be isolated for the rest of it’s life.

Question 6

Potomac Horse Fever

Answer 6

o Also called monocytic erlichiosis.
o Cause by Neorickettsiaresticii.
o Rickettsial like organism thought to be transmitted by aquatic insects.
o Predominantly in NE states, but outbreaks have been seen througout the U.S. Peak time is June to August.
o Incubation period is 9 to 12 days.

Question 7

Clinical Signs of PHF

Answer 7

	Depression
	Anorexia
	Fever
	Decreased gut sounds.
	Some have abdominal pain and diarrhea.
	Mares may abort in late gestation.

Question 8

Testing for PHF

Answer 8

 ELISA – blood.
 IFA- blood.
 PCR- blood and feces.

Question 9

Vaccination for PHF

Answer 9

 Vaccines are available and effective.

 Vaccinated horses may become infected but have less severe disease.

Question 10

Management of PHF

Answer 10

 Oxytetracycline
 Aggressive fluid therapy with a balanced electrolyte solution.
 Monitoring is the same as for colitis and salmonellosis.
 Lamanitis is a major concern with PHF.

Question 11

Equine Tetanus

Answer 11

• Known as “Lock Jaw”

* Caused by “Clostridium tetani” bacteria

Question 12

Tetanus Toxoid

Answer 12

Inactivated toxin that is injected to stimulate immune response to protect the horse against the toxin.

Question 13

Tetanus Anti-Toxin

Answer 13

Preformed antibodies injected to treat disease.

Question 14

Clinical Signs of Tetanus

Answer 14

o	Stiff gait progressing to ataxia.
o	Restricted jaw movements.
o	Prolapsed third eyelid.
o	Anxious, alert expression.
o	Sensitivity to sounds.
o	Opisthotonous
o	Death due to asphyxiation.
o	Course of disease 5 to 10 days.
o	Stiff, spraddle leg stance.
o	Prolapsed third eyelids.

Question 15

Tetanus

Answer 15

• Normal inhabitant of the equine gut.
• Horses are very suseptible to tetanus.
• Anaerobic bacterium
• Grows in deep, puncture wounds
• Toxin secreted is the cause of the disease.
• Treatment= antibiotics and anti-toxin.

Question 16

Strangles or Equine Distemper

Answer 16

• Several vaccines available.
o Vaccines are not very effective but can decrease the severity of the disease.
o High incidence of injection site reactions.
o New intranasal vaccination has no reactions but not very effective.

Question 17

Management of Strangles:

Answer 17

 Isolate infected animals.
 Hot pack and lance abscesses.
 Fluids and feed slurries if dysphagic.
 Keep warm & provide plenty of water.
 Antipyretics and antibiotics.
 Disinfect or burn anything in contact with infected horses.

Question 18

Clinical Signs of Strangles:

Answer 18

o	Clinical Signs of Strangles:
	Swelling of lymph nodes:
	Fever
	Copious, purulent nasal discharge
	Swelling and abscess formation in the lymph nodes of the head and neck.
•	Submaxillary lymph node
•	Submandibular lymph node
•	Retropharyngeal lymph node

Question 19

Strangles

Answer 19

o Cause by the bacteria Streptococcus equi
o Common in young horses.
o Transmission is through direct contact with infected secretions.
o Easily transmitted via fomites.
o Strep. Zooepidemicus causes similar signs but is NOT contagious.