Pseudomonas mallei causes a disease in horses known as glanders. It is a true parasite, since it is unable to survive in nature in the absence of its host. The primary focus of infection is the lungs. The disease can be transmitted to humans from the horse.

Commonly recognized PHF symptoms include diarrhea, depression, colic, anorexia, dehydration, and signs suggestive of laminitis or founder. However, the cases at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee have not exhibited the characteristic diarrhea. The horses had low white blood cell (WBC) counts, a little heat in their feet, and were depressed.

Rabid animals were reported from every state except Hawaii in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA. Rabies was confirmed in 47 horses, donkeys and mules in 21 states and Puerto Rico (Figure 2) in comparison to 46 equid cases in 1996. These figures represent only laboratory-confirmed cases since not every neurological horse which dies is submitted for necropsy and rabies testing.

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by the organism Clostridium botulism. In North America, type B is most commonly found in the mid-Atlantic states and Kentucky, type A is prevalent west of the Rocky Mountains, and type C is typical in Florida. Adult horses are most commonly infected via ingestion of preformed toxins referred to as "forage poisoning".

During the past two foaling seasons (through February 20, 2001), 39 cases of leptospira-induced abortion or neonatal death have been diagnosed at the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center. Five cases occurred during the 2000 season and 34 during the 2001 foaling season.

In days gone by the condition use to be termed "Moon Blindness"; quoting from Modern Practical Farriery, published in 1882; "It was a superstition that the periodical attacks were influenced by the monthly return of the moon."

Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about equine influenza. Note: For medical concerns regarding your horse's health, please consult your veterinarian. Please do not send us specific queries about clinical symptoms your horse is experiencing as we are unable to address such questions.

In horses, herpes viruses are associated with a variety of diseases that range from relatively mild respiratory syndromes to abortion outbreaks on stud farms. Five serotypes of equine herpes virus have been identified (EHV1 ? EHV5). The most commonly presented type of herpes virus infection in New Zealand is in the form of respiratory disease.

Many horse owners have seen reports on the current outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Europe and wondered about its impact on horses and the equine industry. To date, the disease is not in the United States, and has not been present here since the 1929.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by a spore forming bacteria. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild & domestic vertebrate, herbivore animals. But it can occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals.