Three research projects are being planned in an effort to find scientifically valid answers to these questions. A single fecal sample from 200 to 250 horses will be required. Over 4 to 8 months, samples of fresh and aged horse manure will be collected and forwarded to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center. Research will take place in equine operations in the coastal watersheds of the San Francisco Bay Area. Stables housing at least ten horses which are located near a creek, lake, reservoir or estuary are invited to participate.
Participation is voluntary.
Horseowners should be willing to complete a confidential questionnaire about their horse and the stable manager should be available on 'collection' day. A scientifically valid method is to directly test for microbial pathogens in fresh equine manure collected from a cross section of representative horses. If we find that horses are shedding insignificant levels of pathogens, we can conclude that the concerns are unsubstantiated. However, if we find that significant levels do exist, we can design management options that reduce the pathogen risk. In the event that the prevalence of infection happens to be higher, Dr. Atwill will determine if there are contributing management practices or specific types of horses prone to this condition.