Equine Infectious Lower Respiratory Diseases Flashcards
describe the physical exam for the equine resp tract
- does animal have a respiratory disease?
- is it upper or lower or both?
- is it non-infectious or infectious?
- what (if any) additional diagnostics are warranted?
describe the rebreathing exam
- listening for airflow in all fields
- abnormal sounds in lungs or trachea?
-wheezes: often expiratory, trying to get air out
-crackles: - increased effort? coughing?
- recovery: should recover in 4-6 breaths
describe advantages and disadvantages of thoracic radiographs
advantages:
-can view deeper structures of chest: lungs, mediastinum, pleura, heart
disadvantages:
1. not very practical in field
2. could get non-diagnostic images in adults (less common in foals)
3. can only get lateral image
describe pros and cons of thoracic ultrasound
pros:
-easy to use in field
-quick and easy to perform
-eval of surface of lung
cons:
-aerated lung blocks deeper tissues (can only see surface of lungs)
describe tracheal wash
sample from trachea
-very sterile!
-sample coming from thoracic inlet
-better for infectious diseases
-sample represents ALL lung
-can perform a cytologic exam or a bacterial culture on the sample
describe bronchoalveolar lavage
- for generalized/diffuse disease
- samples distal small airways and alveoli
- cytology more representative than TTA
- NOT sterile
- BAL cytology:
-70-95% alveolar macrophages
- <5% degenerate neutrophils
-nonreactive lymphocytes
-eosinophils and mast cells VERY rare
GENERALLY describe equine viral respiratory diseases
clinical signs: fever, nasal discharge, and cough
diagnosis:
-viral isolation
-PCR
-serology: antibody detection; acute/convalescent
-antigen detection
-consider: turnaround time and cost!
diagnostic approach:
-PE
-rebreathing exam
-minimum database: lymphopenia (acute), +/- inflammatory leukogram
-resp diagnostics: imaging and sampling
-owner/barn manager: educate and isolate
describe equine influenza A
- MOST COMMON viral cause of severe URT epidemics in horses
-40-60% of cases - enveloped RNA virus: orthomyxoviridae
- antigenic determinants/envelope glycoproteins:
-hemagglutinin (HA): binds to sialic acid on host cell
-neuraminidase (NA): hydrolyzes sialic acid - H3N8 is the major subtype circulating in the equine population!!!!
-endemic in US with distinct sublineages that different vaccines target
-H3N7 thought to be extinct in equine population
-H5N1 NOT found in horses
describe antigenic drift and shift as relates to equine influenza A virus
antigenic drift:
-POINT mutation in HA or NA that results in viral escape of neutralizing antibodies from previous strains
-GRADUAL change
antigenic shift:
-two DISTINCT viruses infect the same host cell
-reassortment of genes results in novel virus
-occurs occasionally, spreads fast!!
describe disease characteristics of equine influenza A
- incubation period: 1-3 days
- aerosol spread:
-adheres to epithelium, then replicates in and destroys respiratory epithelium, leading to dysfunction in mucociliary clearance - infected horses shed virus for 4-10 days
- HIGH MORBIDITY (100%) but low mortality!
- clinical signs:
-explosive dry cough
-acute onset of fever (103-106)
-serous nasal discharge
-malaise, decreased appetite
-stiffness, reluctance to move (myositis) - diagnosis:
-history and PE
-nasal swab for PCR and antigen detection
-viral isolation is difficult and slow
-serology
describe complications associated with equine influenza A
- secondary bacteria pneumonia/pleuropneumonia
-persistent clinical signs (>5 days) of fever, nasal discharge, abnormal lung sounds - pleuritis/pericarditis
- myositis/myocarditis
- inflammatory airway disease (IAD)
describe treatment, recovery, and prevention of equine influenza A
- supportive and symptomatic
-antimicrobial therapy: if secondary bacterial infection
-antiviral medication not usually indicated - recovery:
-general rule: 1 week of rest per day of fever
-minimum of 3 weeks of rest
-NO forced exercise - prevention: isolate new horses for 3 weeks
- immunity: protective immunity for 8-12 months after natural infection
- vaccination: risk based
-intranasal and IM available
describe equine herpesviruses
- enveloped DNA virus: herpesviridae
-alpha herpesvirus:
–EHV-1: perinatal disease/death, RESPIRATORY DISEASE, abortion, neuro disease
–EHV-3: equine coital exanthema
–EHV-4 respiratory disease
-gamma herpesvirus:
–EHV2: mild resp signs, keratoconjunctivits
–EHV-5: equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF)
describe EHV-1 and EHV-4
- ubiquitous in the equine population
- enveloped DNA virus
- establishes latency
- up to 85% of horses carry EHV in latent stage
-in trigeminal ganglia and lymphatic tissue - do NOT persist in environment but ALWAYS present in horse population
-virus is NOT infectious in latent state; the latent virus that becomes reactivated is infectious - non-neuopathogenic genotype and neuropathogenic genotypes
describe transmission, incubation, and shedding of EHV
transmission:
1. viral recrudescence OR direct contact
-respiratory secretions can travel up to 35 feet
-shared feed/water
-nose-to-nose contact
-placenta or fetal fluids
- fomites: people, grooming, equipment, tack, crossties
incubation period:
<24 hr to 10 days, viral replication takes approx 20 hours
nasal shedding: 2-4 weeks post infection
describe epi triad factors of EHV
agent: strain, pathogenicity, replication
host: age, immune status, stress
environment: stocking density, fomites, stabling
describe EHV diagnosis
- qRT-PCR: detect viral DNA specific for EHV1 and EHV4
- sample collection:
-nasal swab and EDTA anti-coagulated whole blood: dakron or cotton tip swab on viral transport medium - serology cannot differentiate between EHV 1 and 4
describe EHV biosecurity after detecting a case
- don’t panic
- look at AAEP.org
- detect new cases
- separate and segregate
- clean and disinfect: people, equipment, environment
- communicate and REPORT