Equine Disease Quarterly | EQUINE
the pathology of IBH and the fact that IL-5 drives
eosinophil activity, a novel and allergen-independent
vaccine has been evaluated that targets IL-5 and
limits eosinophil recruitment to the affected skin.
This is one of the few equine studies to investigate
whether a vaccine can induce autoantibodies to
cytokine IL-5 and result in clinical efficacy for IBH.
This immunotherapeutic approach may be the new
generation for treating chronic immune diseases, and
may signal that new therapies are on the horizon for
horses suffering from IBH.
CONTACT: Amanda A. Adams, PhD, [email protected],
(859) 218-1097, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Univer-
sity of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
First Quarter, 2018
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket,
United Kingdom, and other sources reported the
following equine disease outbreaks.
The Republic of South Africa (RSA) reported an
expected seasonal increase in cases of African Horse
Sickness. A total of 88 cases were recorded in eight of
the nine provinces. No cases occurred in the Western
Cape Province, including the Disease Controlled
Area.
The UK and the USA reported outbreaks of equine
influenza. Two cases in recently imported non-
vaccinated horses were recorded in the UK. The
disease can be considered endemic in the USA in
which it was confirmed in three states, with multiple
outbreaks in one of the states.
France, Germany, Ireland, and the USA reported
multiple outbreaks of strangles. The number of
outbreaks included 21 in France, two in Germany,
numerous cases in Ireland, and 65 outbreaks in 22
states in the USA, 10 involving multiple cases of the
disease.
Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection was recorded
in France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, RSA, Switzerland,
the UK, and the USA. Infection associated with fever
was reported by France (two outbreaks), Ireland
(seven outbreaks), and Switzerland (one outbreak of
combined EHV-1 and equine herpesvirus 4 infection).
Respiratory disease was diagnosed in Germany (25
cases), the UK (eight outbreaks, majority in non-
vaccinated, non-Thoroughbred horses), and the
USA (widespread in various states). Cases of EHV-1
abortion were recorded in France (eight outbreaks,
three involving multiple cases), Germany (four cases),
Japan (single cases on 13 premises, all but four in
vaccinated mares), the UK (five outbreaks involving
vaccinated or non-vaccinated Thoroughbred and non-
Thoroughbred mares), and the USA (two cases).
EHV-1 associated neurologic disease was reported
from France (one case), RSA (two cases on same
premises), Switzerland (one case), the UK (a single
case on two premises), and the USA (23 outbreaks
involving 27 horses and multiple states).
EHV-4 infection was recorded by France (four
outbreaks) and Switzerland (two cases). France
(10 outbreaks) and Germany (four cases) reported
occurrences of EHV-4 related respiratory disease.
Also, France confirmed one case of EHV-4 abortion.
The USA recorded multiple cases of EHV-2/5
infection in several states, some associated with
clinical evidence of respiratory disease.
Equine infectious anemia was confirmed by Canada
(three cases, one of which was clinical and died),
France (one clinical case), and the USA (one case).
• Volume 20 Issue 3 | October 2018 •
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