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AAEP Publishes Epizootic Lymphangitis Guidelines

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has published on its website comprehensive guidelines to assist practitioners and regulatory agencies with identification, diagnosis and control of epizootic lymphangitis, a contagious, chronic granulomatous disease of the skin, lymphatic vessels and nodes of the limbs, neck and chest of horses and other equid species.

Although epizootic lymphangitis is not known to occur in horses in the United States, the disease is common in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Asia, where it is responsible for significant morbidity with chronic weight loss and progressive debility in affected animals.

“While epizootic lymphangitis has not been recorded in the United States, its importance as a transboundary/foreign animal disease needs to be emphasized because of its similarity to several domestic diseases with which it can be clinically mistaken, including ulcerative lymphangitis and streptothricosis,” said guidelines author Peter Timoney, MVB, MS, Ph.D., FRCCVS, the Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center. “Were it to be introduced, the causal agent can survive in dust and soil for an extended interval under conditions of heat and humidity, making it virtually impossible to eliminate.”

Epizootic lymphangitis is an OIE non-listed disease even though it is of significant socioeconomic importance in countries in which it is endemic, some of which engage in international trade of animals and animal products. Any suspicion of the disease in the United States is immediately reportable to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State Animal Health Officials in all 50 states and territories.

The Epizootic Lymphangitis Guidelines were edited and reviewed by Abby Sage, VMD, DACVIM, chair of the Infectious Disease Guidelines Subcommittee of the AAEP's Infectious Disease Committee.

View the Epizootic Lymphangitis Guidelines or save them to your mobile device as a PDF file here. Besides epizootic lymphangitis, AAEP guidelines for two other foreign animal diseases are available here. In addition, AAEP guidelines for 22 other equine infectious diseases are available here.

Cornell Equine Seminar Series Presents ‘The Ins And Outs Of Equine Asthma’

Equine asthma affects many horses to varying degrees and can ultimately inhibit performance and cause quality of life concerns. This month the signs, causes, diagnostic and treatment options for equine asthma will be presented during the College of Veterinary Medicine's Equine Seminar Series, on Tuesday, April 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. via Zoom.

WHAT: Joy Tomlinson, DVM, DACVIM Large Animal Internal Medicine Specialists and Research Associate will talk about the signs and causes of equine asthma along with diagnostic and treatment options.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2021, 6 – 7 p.m.

WHERE: Via zoom, register here.

Presenter Dr. Tomlinson received her DVM from Cornell University in 2010 and completed a large animal internal medicine residency at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania in 2014. She has been a clinician at Cornell's Equine Hospital since 2014. Dr. Tomlinson is also a Research Associate at the Baker Institute for Animal Health in the Van de Walle lab.

Her current research focuses on the characterization of two recently discovered equine hepatitis viruses: equine parvovirus-hepatitis, the suspected cause of Theiler's disease in horses, and equine hepacivirus, a cause of chronic hepatitis. Her clinical research includes investigation of Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), which can be mistaken for asthma.

The Cornell Equine Seminar Series is presented by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's Equine Hospital, the New York State 4-H Horse Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Held on the second Tuesday of most months, equine experts present on important equine health and management topics. The event is free and open to the public.

Study: Ophthalmic Atropine Use May Increase Risk Of Colic

Atropine is a commonly used drug in horses with eye issues – specifically with equine uveitis – but a new study has found that it can affect more than just the equine eye: it can also increase a horse's risk of colic.

Dr. Lena Ström and her research team investigated how the drug interacts with the horse's body and found that frequent administration of atropine may reduce intestinal action, increasing colic risk. The team suggests allowing for additional time between atropine treatments to minimize colic risk, but the frequency of medication administration must focus on the horse's comfort.

The research team used two different dosing protocols on four horses to assess the effects of manually delivered atropine on the gastrointestinal system. The research team monitored the frequency of gut noise on all horses to estimate gut action.

The scientists found a decrease in intestinal action after 1 mg of atropine was given every three hours, however there was no change to gut action after the drug was given every six hours. No signs of colic were seen.

The researchers determined that atropine eye drops given at one- or three-hour intervals will accumulate in the plasma over 24 hours and cause possible intestinal complications. Atropine administered in six-hour intervals allows for the removal of the drug from plasma and limits the possibility of colic.

Read the full study here.

Trainable, Tractable Horses Have More “Feel Good” Hormones

Researchers in South Korea have found that a horse's temperament is directly tied to the levels of oxytocin and serotonin in his blood. They suggest that the levels of these hormones could be used to monitor the dominance, fearfulness, and trainability of horses. Oxytocin concentration in the blood is positively correlated with equine friendliness and docility toward humans.

Lead by Dr. Kim Junyoung, the study team tested the blood of 34 horses for oxytocin and serotonin. The trainability, fearfulness, and dominance of each horse was then scored by three professors familiar with the horses.

The researchers concluded that a high concentration of oxytocin reduces fearfulness and can make a horse more trainable. The research team suggests additional studies be completed to determine the effects on a horse's temperament when being treated with the hormone.

Read the full article here.