JANUARY 2013
Volume 22, Number 1

C O M M E N TA RY
IN THIS ISSUE
Commentary
International
Third Quarter2012 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 2Hendra Virus .  .  .  .  .  .  . 3Equine Grass
Sickness .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 4KentuckyKentucky Pastures  . 5Twenty years ago the Lloyd’s Equine Disease
Quarterly was born. The inaugural Commentary stated: “The purpose of the Equine Disease
Quarterly is to provide accurate information highlighting an increase or decrease in the incidenceof a particular equine disease or syndrome. It will
also document the emergence of new or unfamiliar
conditions.”
In the first edition, the International Collating
Centre report was 44 words long; now it fills anentire page at 600+ words. Why should the average horse owner even want to know about equinediseases on other continents? As was repeatedlyemphasized at the October 2012 9th International
Conference on Equine Infectious Diseases in
Lexington, KY, horses are worldwide travelers,and only through constant disease surveillance,
testing, and communication can we further theunderstanding of disease incidence and spread.
Abstracts of the conference lectures are available at
http://www.eidc2012.com/uploads/EID_IX_Proceedings_reduced_size.pdf.
As an example, prior to 1999 the average horseowner had never heard of West Nile Virus (WNV).
In a few short years after its diagnosis in the USA,the first equine WNV vaccine was produced andnow several vaccines are commercially available.
Twenty years ago, Hendra virus was unknown.
While this disease is still foreign to North America,
we can all learn valuable lessons on how theAustralians have dealt with the disease since its
emergence. In contrast, grass sickness has been arecognized equine disease for nearly a century, yetremains mysterious despite research efforts. Learn
more about these diseases in this edition.
The EDQ has reported on diseases of importance in North America via national database data
and a cadre of generous guest authors, leaders intheir fields. Documenting numbers of cases of
diseases and conditions in Kentucky has been accomplished through combing the records of the
University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (now the UK Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory). From necropsy cases with diagnosesof cardiovascular disease (1997) to Salmonella
isolates (2002) and leptospiral abortion updates(2011), this valuable information provides a
glimpse into disease incidence and prevalence noteasily obtained anywhere else in the world. Other
Kentucky-specific data is generously provided fromthe Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian, theKentucky Public Health Veterinarian, and others.
Unlike most other things in life, the EDQ
remains free in print copy due to the generous
support of Lloyd’s of London and is mailed toindividuals in more than 100 countries. All editions are archived and available online at http://
www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/Q_articles.asp, and articles
are widely disseminated by reprinting in veterinary
publications, lay equine magazines, and newsletters.
Since 1986, Lloyd’s has donated more than $1
million to support various activities undertaken
within the Department of Veterinary Science,
including funds for the Equine Disease Quarterly.
The outcome of this partnership has provided
tangible benefits to the equine industry, not just
locally, but at national and international levels. We
look forward to an ongoing relationship to benefit
the health of horses around the world.
CONTACT:
Dr. Roberta Dwyer(859) 218-1122
rmdwyer@uky.edu
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of
Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Third Quarter 2012*

T

Equine Disease Quarterly
Editors

Roberta Dwyer
Peter Timoney
Neil Williams

Staff

Diane Furry
Tawana Brown
Dennis Duross

Correspondence should be
addressed to the editors,
Department of Veterinary
Science, Maxwell H. Gluck
Equine Research Center,
University of Kentucky,
Lexington, Kentucky USA,40546-0099
Telephone (859) 257-4757
Fax (859) 257-8542
Internet address:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/
gluck/index.htm
Material published in the
Quarterly is not subject tocopyright. Permission istherefore granted toreproduce articles, althoughacknowledgment of thesource and author is requested.
The University of Kentucky
is an Equal Opportunity
Organization.

Printed on recycled paper

he International Collating Center, Newmarket, United Kingdom (UK), and other sources
reported the following disease outbreaks.
Contagious equine metritis was reported from
Germany. Infection with the causal bacteria,
Taylorella equigenitalis, was confirmed in nonThoroughbreds: two stallions and three mares on
one premises and a stallion on a second premises.
One case of equine coital exanthema (equine herpesvirus-3) was diagnosed in Kentucky, USA.
Strangles was recorded in Germany, Ireland,
Switzerland, and the USA. Ten cases were reported
from Ireland. Outbreaks involving 17 horses on
two premises occurred in Switzerland. Single casesand outbreaks of strangles were reported from
Maine, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania in the USA,
where the disease is endemic.
Outbreaks of equine influenza were reported
from Argentina, the UK, and the USA. The disease
was confirmed at three Thoroughbred racetracks
in Buenos Aires; the virus was a strain of Florida,clade 1 sublineage. The UK diagnosed influenza
on two premises. Several cases of influenza wereconfirmed in Kentucky and Wisconsin in the USA.
Equine herpesvirus (EHV)-related diseases
were reported from Argentina, France, the UK,
and the USA. Argentina reported five cases of
EHV-1 abortion (non-neuropathogenic strains) in
2 of 10 non-vaccinated Thoroughbreds and 3 of
70 vaccinated Thoroughbreds. In France, EHV-1
and -4 were implicated in a respiratory outbreak in
Thoroughbreds at a training center; also reported
was a single case of EHV-1 neurologic disease. The
UK noted outbreaks of EHV-4 respiratory diseaseon 10 premises and one case of EHV-1 neurologic
disease. EHV respiratory disease was also reported
in the USA. Several cases of infection with EHV-2
or -5 were diagnosed in California, Kentucky, andOhio in the USA.
Ireland reported cases of Pneumocystis carinii
infection in a group of foals.
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) was confirmed
in Canada, France, Germany, and the UK. Single
cases were diagnosed on two premises in Alberta
and one in the Yukon. France reported the infec-

tion in three Camargue horses. Germany reported
several outbreaks: four in one state, two in another,and single premises in two other states. The index
case on one premises was in a foal that received
plasma therapy; the donor mare was positive.
Upon investigation, six other plasma recipientswere found to be EIA positive.
Equine piroplasmosis was reported from France(endemic), Spain (endemic), Switzerland, United
Arab Emirates (endemic), and the USA. Switzerland confirmed one case based on clinical evidence
and serologic findings. The USA reported testing
more than 190,000 horses since November 2009;no new cases of infection were detected in the third
quarter.
In the USA, the number of equine cases ofEastern equine encephalomyelitis during the third
quarter was 35; the national total is 171 cases in2012. The number of affected states went from
6 to 16 with the greatest increase in disease cases
confirmed in Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Alabama. The number of equine casesof West Nile encephalitis rose dramatically in thethird quarter in the USA; a total of 427 cases werereported from 40 states, with maximal increases
in Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, andIowa. Single cases of Hendra virus infection wereconfirmed on three premises in Queensland, Australia, all fatal.
Vesicular stomatitis infection (New Jersey
strain) was diagnosed in 25 equine (on 18 premises) in New Mexico and Colorado.
Salmonellosis was reported by Ireland (threecases) and the USA. S. agona and Salmonella spp.
belonging to Groups B, C1, and C2 were involved.
Argentina recorded limited outbreaks of rotavirus
Group A infection in foals. Equine monocytic ehrlichiosis was reported in the USA, with multiple
cases diagnosed in Ohio and Kentucky.
An isolated case of Anaplasma phagocytophilum
infection was recorded in Switzerland.
*Second Quarter Report for Australia

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Hendra Virus and Protection Adopted by Equine VeterinariansAmarked increase in the incidence of Hendra
virus cases (termed “spillover events”) in
horses over the last 18 months has again brought
this disease to prominence. Hendra virus was
first recognized in 1994 following the death of a
popular horse trainer and 20 horses in Hendra,
a suburb of Brisbane (Queensland), Australia. A
member of the Paramyxoviridae, Hendra virus has
been categorized in the Henipah virus genus due
to its similarity to Nipah virus, another lethal,bat-borne zoonotic agent.
Between the 1994 outbreak and June 2011, 14
Hendra virus spillover events had been confirmedthat resulted in seven human infections (fourfatal, including two veterinarians). The publicity following these events resulted in widespread
testing of suspect or ill horses and more stringent
use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Since
June 2011, at least 25 outbreaks have occurred,nearly double the total number of cases prior tothen. A welcome difference in the recent spate ofHendra cases is that no human infections have resulted from personnel handling or treating infectedhorses. Extensive testing of in-contact humans
by health authorities is routine following every
confirmed equine Hendra case. Both heightenedawareness of veterinarians and horse owners, together with a greater acceptance of PPE practices
are considered to be largely responsible for the lackof human infections during the recent cases.
Equipment now in use by eastern Australianequine practitioners includes: disposable splashproof overalls, disposable respirators (N95 rated)1,
safety eyewear or full-face shield, rubber boots or
disposable shoe covers, and disposable gloves (often
used in duplicate or triplicate). Pre-packaged PPE
kits are now widely available. Following intensive
lobbying by veterinary associations, costs for these
items and other biohazard equipment are subsidized for Queensland practitioners dealing withsuspect cases.

1

Northern
Territory
Queensland
Western
Australia

South
Australia

Brisbane

New
South Wales

SydneyVictoria

Melbourne
Tasmania

In addition to these measures, the Australian
Veterinary Association and Veterinary Licensing
Boards have insisted that all veterinary students
be certified in PPE application and be aware ofbasic facts regarding Hendra virus infection prior
to observing equine veterinary practice. Although
Hendra virus in horses was originally restricted
to the northeastern seaboard of Queensland andnorthern New South Wales, recent outbreaks haveextended farther to the south and east. The natural
hosts of Hendra virus are bats (flying foxes) thatmost likely shed virus through urine, feces, andother bodily fluids. Areas beneath fruiting trees
such as fig trees are considered particularly highrisk for horses as this is where bats tend to congregate. Human infection results from close contact
with the body fluids and tissues of infected or deadhorses.
Although Hendra virus has instilled fear in theAustralian horse community, there have been somerecent developments: a vaccine for horses has been
fast–tracked for release in 2013, and a stall-side
rapid diagnostic test is also under development.

N95 facemasks are rated by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (USA) and filters at least 95% of airborne
particles (equivalent to European standard P2).

4

Australian equine veterinarians remain gratefulto researchers at the Commonwealth Scientificand Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO)
Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in
Geelong, Victoria, who have played a major rolein these developments and basic Hendra virus
research. The Queensland Department of Primary
Industries and the Australian Biosecurity CRC for
Emerging Infectious Disease also are acknowledged
for their efforts.

Thanks goes to Dr. Brett Tennent-Brown for assistancewith this article.
CONTACT:
Dr. Charles El-Hage
cmeh@unimelb.edu.au
The University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary Science,
Equine Centre, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-andweeds/animal-diseases/horses/hendra-virus

Equine Grass Sickness—Still an Enigma

M

Distribution of
Grass Sickness*ore than 100 years ago, an outbreak ofgrass sickness was recognized in Scotland,
and this devastating disease remains one of thegreat unsolved mysteries in equine medicine. Still
not knowing its cause, and therefore lacking anymeans for causal therapy, the disease is a continuing threat.
As its name suggests, grass sickness is strongly
associated with grazing and occurs in acute,subacute, and chronic forms with a considerable
overlap in clinical signs. The major symptoms relate to partial or complete paralysis of the digestive
tract. Considering the nature of the damage to thenervous system, combined with epidemiologicalfactors, a type of toxin is suggested as the causative
agent.

1 reported case*Compiled from multiple scientific sources.

Many potential causes have been examined but
none has survived scientific scrutiny despite almost
90 years of investigation. However, the cause wasassociated with exposure to grazing or the groundright from the beginning and therefore it was also
considered that grass sickness might be a form of
botulism. The first reports of botulism in horses
in connection with feedstuffs were reported in the
United States and additional cases also were associated with grazing. Beside this, some symptoms ofthese two diseases are comparable.
That grass sickness might be caused by Clostridium botulinum was first proposed almost 90
years ago in 1923. However, these investigations
failed to demonstrate clear evidence and the idea
lost favor. Moreover, doubts persisted becauseof the anaerobic and ubiquitous nature of C.
botulinum. In 1999, new interest in the organism
began. Researchers showed that green grass blades
can contain botulinum toxin. On a European
stud where grass sickness occurred twice withineight months, grass and soil samples and necropsy
specimens were tested for the presence of bacterial
forms and toxin of C. botulinum. Different typesof the germ (A-E) and neurotoxin (BoNT) were
found and showed that growing grass contained
free BoNT. Bacterial forms in soil were numerous in May, but were not found in August and
September. It is speculated that biofilms adhere tolower parts of the grass and allow C. botulinum tosurvive within a bacterial consortium while being
trapped and protected from dehydration.

5

Other indications for the involvement ofclostridia are some similarities with the equine
atypical myopathy, with Clostridium sordellii as asuspected causative agent. Here, we also encounter a regional, seasonal, and pasture-associateddisorder that is characterized by degenerative
alterations. Also, environmental factors seem toinfluence the incidence of both diseases as well as
access to pasture, certain weather conditions andthe degree of resistance in older horses. The exact
role the toxins of C. sordellii or C. botulinum playin the respective diseases has yet to be defined.
Researchers in 1924 demonstrated statisticallyhighly significant protection against grass sickness
by vaccinating horses with a mixture of botulinum
toxin and antitoxin, and today work continues in

the United Kingdom toward demonstrating efficacy of a botulinum toxoid against equine grass
sickness. Such progress will take more time, and wemust make sure to use other preventive measures
to the best of our knowledge. Careful husbandry
and meticulous pasture management must be of
the highest standards.
It brings to mind the saying of the French
physiologist Claude Bernard (1813-1878): “It is
not the germ that causes disease but the terrain
in which the germ is found”—an opinion that isolder than the grass sickness itself.
CONTACT:
Dr. Hanspeter Meierhanspeter.meier@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Equine Clinic, University of Berne, Switzerland

KENTUCKY

Kentucky PasturesW

hat grows in your pasture? Ideally, forage
that is nutritious to horses is abundant.
However, a perusal of most Kentucky horse
pastures will uncover 20 plant species, many ofwhich are weeds. The abundance of weedy species
depends greatly on the management of the pasture.
Overgrazing of pasture grasses and soil compaction
are primary causes of weed occurrence.
A high quality, nearly weed-free forage is desired if the pasture is a significant portion of thediet. Conversely, a pasture maintained as a dry lot
for feeding horses will contain many weeds but
there is little reason to control these weeds since
there are few, if any, desirable forages present. My
experience indicates that Kentucky horse pastures
are maintained between these two extremes.
Frequent concerns of farm managers are plant
identification in pastures and weed control.
Kentucky is located in the transition zone
between warm-season and cool-season weeds,
meaning weeds grow well in summer and winter. This provides horse pasture managers withthe challenge of what weeds, if any, should becontrolled in a pasture. Generally, poisonous

weeds and weeds that inhibit grazing should be
removed from a pasture. Poison hemlock occurs
widely across Kentucky and is toxic to horses andother animals. Although rarely eaten by horses,
it should be removed from the pasture. Muskthistle and bull thistle are found throughout
Kentucky and inhibit grazing. Canada thistle
occurs less frequently but also inhibits grazing
and is more difficult to control. Large crabgrass
and yellow foxtail are warm-season grasses ofsummer. Horses graze the large crabgrass but
not yellow foxtail. Buckhorn plantain is a coolseason plant that horses consume when pasturegrass is limited. Other common weeds are listed
in Table 1.
No one, simple weed control solution exists for
all these species. First, determine if there is a needfor removing the weeds. A poisonous plant suchas poison hemlock is controlled by hand weeding, mowing at the proper time, or by applying
herbicides in late fall or early spring. Regardless ofthe method, do not allow animals to graze dying
or decaying hemlock plants. Hand weeding andremoval of the plants from the pasture is the safest

Equine Disease Quarterly Newsletter

Presorted Standard
US Postage Paid
Permit 51
Lexington KY

Department of Veterinary Science
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky
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Address Service Requested

method. Thistles generally are too numerous tohand weed, and herbicides are needed.
For most weeds, mowing is not an effective
control technique. Mowing may prevent seedproduction of some weeds; however, to kill many
weeds, the mower must cut at about two inches orlower. While this may control some weeds, it also
reduces grass production. If mowing is not the bestanswer, consult your county extension agent forweed identification and proper use of herbicides
to achieve weed control. The paper Response of
Pasture Weeds to Herbicides or Mowing (Greenand Witt, 2012) is available from the local Kentucky County Extension Agent for Agriculture
and Natural Resources. This publication contains
photographs of commonly occurring pasture weeds
and specific control tactics.
CONTACT:
Dr. William Witt(859) 218-0745
william.witt1@uky.edu
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of
Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Table 1. Common Kentucky Weeds.
Cool-Season Weeds
Musk thistle
Bull thistle
Canada thistle
Buckhorn
Broadleaf plantain
Broadleaf dock
Purple deadnettle
Chickweed
Wild garlicStar of BethlehemWarm-Season Weeds
Large crabgrass
Yellow foxtail
Goosegrass
Johnsongrass
Nimblewill
Spiny amaranth
Buttercups
Common ragweed
AstersPerilla mint
Cocklebur
Hemp dogbane

6