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Leon A, Pillon C, Tebourski I, Bruyas JF, Lupo C. Overview of the causes of abortion in horses, their follow-up and management. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58 Suppl 2:93-101. [PMID: 37312640 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Abortions in horses represent an important health and economic challenge for equine industry. Primary causes of abortion are divided in non-infectious and infectious. Non-infectious causes include abnormalities of foetal appendices (umbilical cord and placenta essentially), abnormalities of gestation, maternal and foetal origins. Infectious abortions are caused in almost cases by bacterial infections, followed by viruses, fungi and parasites. New abortive pathogens (as Leptospira, Neospora caninum, Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydophila abortus, and) have been confirmed in equines by comparison already known for their abortive properties in human or in other species. Despite an increasing number of autopsies and continuous improvements in diagnostic tools, in management and surveillance, 20%-40% of the causes of equine abortion remain unknown depending on the country. To increase the likelihood of a definitive diagnosis in cases of abortion and stillbirth in horses, new diagnostic approaches are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albertine Leon
- Equine Health Research Department, LABÉO, Saint Contest, France
- Inserm UMR 1311 DYNAMICURE, Normandie University, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, Caen, France
| | - Clément Pillon
- Equine Health Research Department, LABÉO, Saint Contest, France
- Inserm UMR 1311 DYNAMICURE, Normandie University, UNICAEN, UNIROUEN, Caen, France
| | | | | | - Coralie Lupo
- RESPE-French Network for Surveillance of Equine Diseases, Saint Contest, France
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Magouras I, Schoster A, Fouché N, Gerber V, Groschup MH, Ziegler U, Fricker R, Griot C, Vögtlin A. Neurological disease suspected to be caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in 6 horses in Switzerland. J Vet Intern Med 2022; 36:2254-2262. [PMID: 36093849 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports on acute tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infections with signs of neurologic disease in horses are limited. OBJECTIVES To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of suspected acute TBEV infections in 6 horses. ANIMALS Six horses originating from TBEV endemic regions of Switzerland were presented to equine hospitals with acute onset of neurologic disease between 2011 and 2019. METHODS Retrospective case series. Horses with acute onset of signs of neurologic disease that were subjected to clinical and microbiological examinations to rule out infectious diseases affecting the central nervous system. RESULTS All horses exhibited acute signs of neurologic disease including ataxia and proprioceptive deficits. Horses tested positive for TBEV using virus neutralization test and samples were further tested for TBEV-specific IgM. The presence of TBEV-specific IgM antibodies was confirmed in 5 horses (cases 1-5, Laboratory Unit [LU] values ranging from 30 to 56). One horse (case no. 6) with an LU value just below the test threshold (LU = 22.3) was also included under the hypothesis that the horse was transitioning from acute to chronic infection. All horses originated from areas where humans with confirmed tick-borne encephalitis reported to have been bitten by ticks. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Acute TBEV infection should be a differential diagnosis in horses with signs of neurologic disease and originating from TBEV endemic areas. The establishment of harmonized diagnostic criteria would help to overcome the diagnostic challenges associated with TBEV and other Flavivirus infections in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Magouras
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Centre for Applied One Health Research and Policy Advice, Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Angelika Schoster
- Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, Equine Department, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Fouché
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vinzenz Gerber
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegler
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Raffael Fricker
- Institute for Virology and Immunology IVI, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Mittelhäusern and Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Griot
- Institute for Virology and Immunology IVI, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Mittelhäusern and Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Vögtlin
- Institute for Virology and Immunology IVI, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, University of Bern, Mittelhäusern and Bern, Switzerland
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Hierweger MM, Remy-Wohlfender F, Franzen J, Koch MC, Blau D, Schoster A, Nicholson P, Gerber V, Gurtner C, Fouché N, Unger L, Seuberlich T. Outbreak of equine coronavirus disease in adult horses, Switzerland 2021. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:1691-1694. [PMID: 35243797 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are causing severe respiratory and enteric diseases in humans and animals. Here, we report an outbreak of equine coronavirus disease in adult horses, detected by a voluntary syndromic surveillance scheme for equine diseases in Switzerland. This scheme allowed a rapid concerted action to diagnose and contain the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie M Hierweger
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jan Franzen
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michel C Koch
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Angelika Schoster
- Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine, Equine Hospital, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pamela Nicholson
- Next Generation Sequencing Platform, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vinzenz Gerber
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Gurtner
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Fouché
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Unger
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Özçelik R, Remy-Wohlfender F, Küker S, Visschers V, Hadorn D, Dürr S. Potential and Challenges of Community-Based Surveillance in Animal Health: A Pilot Study Among Equine Owners in Switzerland. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:641448. [PMID: 34150880 PMCID: PMC8212947 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.641448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal owners' potential to observe and report clinical signs, as the persons with the closest contact to their animals, is an often neglected source of information in surveillance. Allowing community members other than health care professionals, such as animal owners, to report health events can contribute to close current surveillance gaps and enhance early detection. In the present study, we tested a community-based surveillance (CBS) approach in the equine community in Switzerland. We aimed at revealing the attitudes and intentions of equine owners toward reporting clinical signs by making use of an online questionnaire. We further set up and operated an online CBS tool, named Equi-Commun. Finally, we investigated potential reasons for the lack of its use by applying qualitative telephone interviews. The majority of the respondents of the online questionnaire (65.5%, 707/1,078) answered that they could see themselves reporting clinical observations of their equine. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that French-speaking equine owners and those belonging to the positive attitude cluster are more likely to report to a CBS tool. Equi-Commun operated between October 2018 and December 2019 yet received only four reports. With the addition of qualitative interviews, we identified three critical, interlinked issues that may have led to the non-use of Equi-Commun within the Swiss equine community: (1) for successfully implementing CBS, the need for surveillance within the community of interest must be given; (2) the respective population under surveillance, here the equine, needs to show enough clinical cases for owners to be able to maintain the memory of an existing tool and its possible use; and (3) targeted and high effort communication of the system is key for its success. While CBS relying only on lay animal owners, complementary to existing surveillance systems, could potentially provide a good proxy of timely surveillance data, it is questionable whether the added value of generated surveillance knowledge is in balance with efforts necessary to implement a successful system. With this study, we showcased both the potential and challenges of CBS in animal health, as this may be of relevance and guidance for future initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranya Özçelik
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Susanne Küker
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vivianne Visschers
- School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Hadorn
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Salome Dürr
- Veterinary Public Health Institute, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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