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Study: Uptick In Pigeon Fever Cases May Be Related To Climate Change

A study out of the University of California, Davis, has shown that pigeon fever cases are on the rise and are no longer limited by geographic region or season of the year, reports EQUUS.

Pigeon fever is a bacterial infection that is spread by stable flies, houseflies, and horn flies. Horses with the infection often have abscesses in their pectoral region which resemble a pigeon's breast. Affected horses can also present with internal organ abscesses or ulcerative lymphangitis of the limbs.

First reported in 1915, the disease was initially limited to hot and arid regions, mainly occurring during the summer months when insects are most prevalent. In 2002, pigeon fever outbreaks occurred in Kentucky and Colorado.

Veterinary diagnostic labs in 23 states provided information on pigeon fever disease occurrence between 2003 and 2012. During that time, 2,237 cases were identified: 46 percent occurred between 2003 and 2010, and 54 percent of cases occurred in the last two years of the study.

States with the highest number of cases were Texas and California, where pigeon fever outbreaks are common. However, pigeon fever was also diagnosed in Michigan, North Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin – all states which had never before seen cases of pigeon fever.

The records also showed that ulcerative lymphangitis from pigeon fever increased significantly in the last two years of the study: there were 20 cases in 2011 and 2012, compared to four cases between 2003 to 2010.

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The study also showed that pigeon fever occurred year-round, with the highest percentage of cases diagnosed from November to January. Researchers said this could be because milder winters could be changing insect populations.

They concluded that climate change is contributing to insect vector changes, causing higher disease incidence. They cite that fly generation times, the average time between two consecutive generations, is projected to double this century, which could significantly increase the spread of diseases like pigeon fever.

Ukrainian Equestrians Want Their Horses At Home

Horses are no longer being evacuated from Ukraine; the focus has now shifted to relocating them to safer areas inside the war-ravaged country. Prior to the war, there were 100,000 horses in the Ukraine.

When Russia first invaded Ukraine, there was a massive demand for evacuation of horses. As the war has localized in the eastern and southern regions of the country, people in other areas are returning home with their horses.

The Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation (UEF-CF) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) are currently feeding more than 3,500 horses whose owners were unable to care for them, and providing feed and bedding to 150 stables.

It is estimated that more than 5,000 horses will need assistance by the end of the summer.

The UEF-CF is working with other charity organizations that assist Ukrainian equestrians to avoid overlapping efforts in aid dissemination and to assist as many stables as possible.

California: 25 Horses Test Positive For Equine Infectious Anemia

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has reported that 25 horses have tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) since May 20, 2022. The original outbreak occurred in Tulare County, Calif., where 24 horses were confirmed with the disease.

That facility was subsequently placed under quarantine.

On May 26, the CDFA confirmed one additional EIA case in a 4-year-old racing Quarter Horse in Tulare and Merced County, Calif. The horse originated from the initial Tulare County premise where the other 24 horses had tested positive for EIA. The horse has been quarantined, and no other horses have been exposed.

Equine Infectious Anemia is a virus is a bloodborne disease that can be transmitted via bites from contaminated deer- and horseflies; from pregnant mares to their foals in utero or via milk; via breeding, from stallions to mares; through the use of infected blood and blood products; or through contaminated equipment like needles.

A horse with EIA can be asymptomatic, or it can have a fever or die suddenly. Horses that are chronically infected with EIA can be weak or anemic, lose weight, or have swelling in the legs, abdomen, or chest.

A Coggins test can confirm whether a horse is positive for EIA. There is no known treatment and infected horses pose a risk to all other horses. Horses that are positive for EIA can either be placed in lifetime quarantine or euthanized.

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There is no vaccine for EIA, so prevention relies on quality fly control and sterile equipment for injections and treatments.

Updated alerts will be posted on the Equine Disease Communications Center.

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NSAID Safety In Horses

Since their introduction to the veterinary marketplace, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been a staple in equine practice. From fevers to wounds, from colic to laminitis, NSAIDs remain a go-to medication today, but even the most helpful anodynes have limitations.

“Older NSAIDs such as ketoprofen and phenylbutazone decrease inflammation by inhibiting enzymes involved in inflammation, including one called cyclooxygenase or COX,” explained Laura Petroski-Rose, a veterinarian for Kentucky Equine Research.

Blocking this enzyme decreases inflammation, though COX actually has some redeeming qualities. For example, COX plays a protective role in the health of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This is why inhibiting COX with NSAIDs can cause ulcers in the stomach and even intestinal tract, particularly the right dorsal colon.

“Years of research revealed that several forms of COX exist. COX-2 appears to play a larger role in inflammation, whereas COX-1 protects gastrointestinal health,” Petroski-Rose said. Because of this, researchers developed NSAIDs that block COX-2 specifically, leaving COX-1 to do its job of protecting the horse from ulcers. Examples of COX-2 selective NSAIDs include firocoxib and meloxicam.

Sounds like a fairytale ending to solve an important health issue in horses, right?

Not quite.

As brought to light in a recent study*, some COX-2 NSAIDs still cause gastrointestinal damage, even in healthy horses. In the study, both phenylbutazone and firocoxib resulted in gastric ulceration. Specifically, treated horses had similar degrees of ulceration to the squamous portion of the stomach, but firocoxib-treated horses had less severe ulceration of the glandular portion. Further, firocoxib resulted in less inflammation of the intestine than phenylbutazone.

Based on these results, additional research regarding NSAID selectivity and usage is needed, especially considering how frequently this class of medication is used in equine practices. The researchers said, “In addition, studies examining different dosing protocols of these and other NSAIDs are warranted to optimize safety and efficacy of such treatment.”

To help horses requiring NSAID administration, Petroski-Rose said, “Protect your horse's gastrointestinal tract during any stressful period, be it illness, injury, or travel, not just during times of NSAID administration. Consider a research-proven product designed to support gastrointestinal health.”

*Richardson, L.M., C.M. Whitfield-Cargile, N.D. Cohen, A.M. Chamoun-Emanuelli, and H.J. Dockery. 2018. Effect of selective versus nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitors on gastric ulceration scores and intestinal inflammation in horses. Veterinary Surgery 47(6):784-791.

Reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research. Visit ker.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to Equinews to receive these articles directly.

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