Equine Repro Diseases

Question 1

What are clinical signs associated with Placentitis?

Answer 1

Ultrasound: Hyperechoic fetal fluid, placental separation, increased or decreased FHR, thickening of the uterus and placenta
Monitoring of progesterone, estrogen levels, acute phase proteins

Question 2

How is placentitis treated?

Answer 2

Antibiotics (penicillin, gentamicin, TMS) for remainder of gestation
Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS, pentoxyphylline)
Progesterone (altrenogest)

Question 3

What is the most common cause of Rhinopneumonitis abortion

Answer 3

EHV1&raquo_space;> EHV 4

Question 4

What is the most prevalent viral cause of reproductive disease in horses?

Answer 4

Rhinopneumonitis -> Most commonly EHV1

Question 5

How is EHV1 and 4 transmitted

Answer 5

Respiratory secretions, contact with fomites or aborted fetuses

Question 6

What cells Do EHV 1 and 4 infect?

Answer 6

Viral multiplicaiton in lymphoid tissue –> lymphocytes carry to the rest of the body.

Question 7

What clinical signs are associated with Rhinopneumonitis abortion?

Answer 7

Usually no clinical signs in mare preceding abortion
Death of fetus at expulsion (no autolysis) or later succumb to respiratory failure
Placenta is normal

Question 8

At what point in gestation do Rhinopneumonitis aboritons occur?

Answer 8

typically 9th or 10th month of gestation

Question 9

How is Rhinopneumonitis abortion diagnosed?

Answer 9

Histopathology: Necrotic foci with intranuclear inclusions in many tissues, especially liver, lung and thymus

Question 10

How do you prevent Rhinopneumonitis abortions from occuring

Answer 10

PRegnant mares should be housed separately form other horses on the farm, and new arrivals should be quarantined prior to joining the resident population.
Vaccination: Vaccinate at 5, 7, and 9 months of gestation with EACH pregnancy

Question 11

What is the only vaccine on the market that is labeled for abortion associated with Rhinopneumonitis abortions

Answer 11

Pneumobort K- zoetis product

Question 12

What is the causative agent for Equine Coital Exanthema?

Answer 12

EHV-3

Question 13

What are clinical signs associated with Equine Coital Exanthema

Answer 13

Mild respiratory disease
external genitallia (both sexes)- Papules, vessicles, pustules and scabby erosions. Lesions can coalesce to larger erosions. Stallions may be reluctant to breed

Question 14

What is the causative agent for Equine Viral Arteritis abortion?

Answer 14

Equine viral arteritis virus (EVAV)

similar to PRRS in pigs

Question 15

How is EVAV transmitted?

Answer 15

shed in the semen of infected stallions. 1/3 become persistently infected.

Question 16

How is EVAV related to abortions?

Answer 16

Sporadic incidence of abortion in mares typically, but abortion storms can occur

Question 17

What clinical signs are associated with EVA abortion?

Answer 17

May be subclinical or mild infection or may have significant respiratory disease. Usually have some evidence of clinnical disease in the mares 2-6 weeks preceding abortion.

Abortion 2-6 weeks following infection (fetus appears normal)
Any time between 3 and 10 months of gestation

Question 18

How is EVAV abortion diagnosed as the causative agent

Answer 18

Histopathology: no lesions
VI or PCR on fetal tissue is the best

Serology is not helpful unless very high titers

Question 19

How is EVAV prevented?

Answer 19

Unvaccinated stallions should be tested immediately prior to the breeding season.

Vaccination: MLV available and required in some states
AAEP recommendation “ risk based vaccination”
Vaccinate serologically negative colts between 6-12 months of age if intended for breeding to avoid carrier state. Test serologically negative by a USDA-approved laboratory prior to initiation of vaccination.

without documentation of vaccination, serologically positive stallions are considered positive.

Question 20

What are EVAV Export Regulations

Answer 20

Some countries forbid importation of seropositive horses unless there is documentation of serologically negative status prior to vaccination.

Vaccine- induced antibody cannot be differentiated form infection-induced antibody.

Question 21

What Leptospirosis serovars are associated with Lepto abortions?

Answer 21

Serovars pomona and kennewicki have been mroe common in the Kentucky cases

Question 22

How is Leptospirosis transmitted?

Answer 22

oral ingestion of urine-contaminated water.

Question 23

what clinical signs are associated with Lepto abortions

Answer 23

Mare: fever, hemoglobinuria, icterus, renal failure and late term abortion, Equine recurrent uvitis
Fetus: emaciation, icterus, grosley abnormal liver, kidney, lungs

Question 24

How is Leptospirosis diagnosed?

Answer 24

PCR: urine and tissue samples

FA tests with Warthin-Starry silver stain

Question 25

How is leptospirosis treated?

Answer 25

Antibiotics: Oxytetracycline, Penicillin

Question 26

How do you prevent and control cases of Leptospirosis?

Answer 26

Isolate infected animals- they will shed high amounts in their urine.
Vaccination- risk based vaccine recommended for pregnant mares.
Vaccinations are serovar specific!

Question 27

Broad diagnostic approach to equine abotions- what samples are the best to submit

Answer 27

Fetus and placenta! histopath can be helpful. Culture for placentitis, PCR/VI/IHC for viral causes
General PCR diagnostic panels frequently utilized

Question 28

What Foreign animal disease is associated with failure to conceive?

Answer 28

Contagious Equine Metritis

Question 29

what is the causative agent in CEM?

Answer 29

taylorella equigenitalis

Question 30

What disease is associated with an obligate parasite of horses that is harbored int he external genetalia of carriers

Answer 30

Taylorella equigenitalias, Contagious Equine Metritis

Question 31

How is CEM transmitted?

Answer 31

Transmission either venereal via natural breeding or AI or verticle
Foals from positive mares become carriers
Fomites can transmit between stallions
Mares can resolve infections

Question 32

What clinical signs are associated with CEM?

Answer 32

MAres: acute endometritis following breeding: copious purulent discharge, failure to conceive. Mares will either clear the infection or become chronic carriers

Stallions: no clinical signs

Question 33

How is CEM diagnosed?

Answer 33

Culture at accreddited labs only!

Mares: vaginal discharge from clinincal cases, Swabs of the clitoral fossa and its sinuses from suspected carriers with the addition of cervical and endometrial swabs if the animal is not pregnant

Stallion: swabs are taken from the urethral fossa and sinus, distal urethra and external surface of the penis and the prepuce

PCR

Question 34

how is CEM treated?

Answer 34

Thorough washing of the external genetalia in stallions and mares using a disinfectant soal (2% chlorhexidine)
rinsing and applicaotin of a topical antibiotic (nitrofurazone or silver sulfadiazine)

Repeat for 5 consecutive days

Question 35

How is CEM prevented?

Answer 35

Importation: Any horse that is sexually intact and over 731 days of age orriginating form a region/country affected by CEM is subject to CEM quarantine before being allowed int o the US. Must have 2 negative semen tests while in quarantine.

Question 36

What are semen export requirements for CEM?

Answer 36

Semen extendors must contain an antibiotic active against Taylorella equigenitalis.
Embryos need to be collected in fluid containing an antibiotic active vs. T. equigenitalis.