UC Davis Center for Equine Health Horse Report, July 2004
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Volume 22 No 3, July 2004 CEH HORSEREPORT A publication of the Center for Equine Health, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Infectious Disease and Equine Public Health everal years ago, a meeting defi ned and delineated the prob- One of the fi rst organized scien- was held at the Center for lem. It also provided a stimulus for tifi c teams was charged with the SEquine Health to discuss the insightful discussion and set in mo- investigation of EPM to determine future direction of equine infec- tion a process of planning that took when, where, and how horses tious disease research. In atten- several months to complete. At the become infected with the protozoal dance were faculty researchers conclusion of this process, the Cen- agents (Sarcocystis neurona and with expertise in a number of Neospora hughesi) that cause the scientifi c disciplines from the UC disease. A fi ve-year research plan Davis School of Veterinary was outlined, and the work pro- Medicine. The intention gressed through the support of the group was to of the Wayne and Gladys identify both tradi- Valley Foundation. Bet- tional and innova- ter diagnostic tests also tive investigative were pursued, resulting strategies that in the development of could signifi cantly an immunofl ourescent enhance the antibody test (IFAT) to global effort to more accurately identi- control the spread fy exposure of the horse of infectious diseases to EPM-causing agents. in the horse and other The development of this animal species. test has given veterinarians a In spite of the fact that in tool that can rule out the disease 1968 the U.S. Surgeon General as a cause of neurological defi cits declared that the war on infec- in horses. Recently, this group was tious disease had been won, the ter for Equine Health had a research able to identify and experimentally UC Davis group knew otherwise. strategy for achieving signifi cant They knew that of the worldwide new knowledge about the spread — Continued on page 3 human deaths each year, fully of disease among horses and other one-third were caused by infec- species, including humans. Groups tious disease. They knew that were organized to investigate INSIDE THIS ISSUE… more people are suffering from specifi c diseases such as Equine tuberculosis today than ever Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) Directorʼs Message .................. 2 before. They knew also that the or West Nile Fever. Others were West Nile Virus Update ............ 5 traditional weapons of vac- charged with broader mandates, Bernice Barbour Lab ................ 6 cination and antibiotic therapy such as studying genetic variations CTF Scholarship Winners ......... 8 were becoming less effective in within a virus strain that determine preventing infection, and that the its ability to cause disease in the CEH Horses for Sale ................ 8 spread of so-called “third world horse. The plan also included Fatal Parasite Found in diseases” among the modern an innovative group of scientists Horses and Sea Otters............ 9 industrialized countries whose mandate was to study patho- Equine Viral Arteritis .............. 10 was now a fact of life. genic mechanisms common to all This initial infectious diseases, rather than to Dollars for Davis Benefi t ........ 11 meeting study any specifi c disease itself. Equine Rescue E-Mail Forum ... 12 2 - The Horse Report Volume 22, Number 3 - July 2004 DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Equine Public Health: For the Good of All not only possible but probable. The results of such an epidemic could be devastating, considering that today’s industry is entirely dependent on the free movement of horses for compe- tition. Faced with these facts, each of us within the equine industry has a solemn responsibility to become in- volved at some level with the main- tenance of equine public health. The individual horse owner, trainer, Dr. Gregory L. Ferraro rider, or veterinarian must pay at- tention to reported disease condi- ublic health officials are often tions, abide strictly with regulations quoted as saying, “Nobody designed for their control, and report Pcares about public health until outbreaks of disease whenever they there is an epidemic of a serious occur. Equine industry officials must infectious disease.” People gener- become involved in the regulatory ally are concerned about their own processes for disease management health and that of their families but and control and must support pro- seldom think about the importance grams needed to define and deter the of maintaining the health of the broader Each of us within the equine industry community. Yet, in today’s world of rapid has a solemn responsibility to become international travel, involving the move- involved at some level with the mainte- ment of large numbers nance of equine public health. of humans, animals, and foodstuffs, the global spread of disease is an ever- spread of disease. Medical scientists increasing reality. with expertise in both infectious This phenomenon is of no less disease and equine health must work concern to equine health. Horses diligently to identify pathogenic today are second only to humans in agents that pose a potential threat causing agents (viruses, bacteria, worldwide travel. Consequently, and identify methods for their con- protozoa) develop their potential the chance for exposure to infectious trol and eradication. health threat to horses. As you will agents abroad and the possibility for The Center for Equine Health see in the pages to follow, we have introducing disease into the home and its cooperating researchers have made significant progress toward environment upon return are causes been focused on this issue for several understanding the delicate balance for concern. There are currently 17 years. We have worked to develop between host, pathogen, and en- diseases listed with the World Health techniques for identifying serious vironment, which determines the Organization that are considered to pathogenic agents, to determine rate and virility of infection within a be potential threats to global equine the extent of their virulence, and to local community and throughout the health. Under these circumstances, design strategies and methods for world. an outbreak of infectious disease their control or prevention. We have To a large extent, these discover- that could impair the free movement achieved a better understanding ies and the disease control methods of horses, or stop them entirely, is of how, why, and where disease- that they produced have been made UC Davis Center for Equine Health Volume 22, Number 3 - July 2004 The Horse Report - 3 possible by the visionary leadership Disease Laboratory. Supported by a Infectious Disease — and financial support of several phil- New Jersey-based foundation of the Continued from page 1 anthropic organizations to whom the same name, this research program horse is of particular interest. You is designed to study the very basic reproduce an antigen that is secreted have read and will continue to read mechanisms within the host, agent, by EPM-causing parasites. This about the West Nile Virus epidemic and environment that allow for the discovery may ultimately lead to a in the United States. Studies pertain- infection and transmission of patho- test to positively identify the pres- ing to this virus have been ongoing genic agents in humans and other ence of the parasite in sick animals. at the Center for Equine Health since animals, using diseases of the horse The work of these investigators has its initial outbreak in Queens, New as experimental models. In this issue now taken on even more impor- York, thanks to the support of the of the Horse Report we will present tance since Sarcocystis neurona was Stans Foundation. Our work with some of the remarkable discoveries recently linked to increasing death the long-standing problem of Equine this group has made due to the inno- rates among sea otters along the Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) vative vision not only of its scientists California coast. has been supported by the Wayne but of the Bernice Barbour Trustees Equine viral disease is another and Gladys Valley Foundation. Our as well. area of focus for Center for Equine School of Veterinary Medicine has So please, read with care and con- Health scientists. Due to the initial an internationally recognized Equine cern the information we are presenting support of horse enthusiasts Bernard Viral Disease Laboratory, due to the here. Whether this is your first foray and Gloria Salick, the Equine Viral foresight and generosity of Bernard into the subject of equine public health Disease Laboratory was created and Gloria Salick. This laboratory or not, we hope you will conclude that through the Center for Equine Health has undertaken a major equine viral everyone who cares for and enjoys and charged with the investigation disease research initiative made pos- the pleasure of horses must become of global viral diseases. This group sible by the generosity of the Harriet involved with this issue. The Center for has identified the genetic variation E. Pfleger Foundation. Equine Health, as well as every other and virulence determinants for most One of the most unique of the institution or agency concerned with strains of Equine Arteritis Virus in infectious disease research initiatives disease management, needs your con- the world. They have developed a established by the Center for Equine cern, input, and support if we are to be network of international collaborat- Health has been the development of successful in protecting the worldwide ing scientists and have conducted in- the Bernice Barbour Communicable health of horses. ❄ depth studies of viral diseases such as African Horse Sickness and West Nile Virus in southern Africa, where both diseases are prevalent. Thanks in large part to the Stans Founda- tion, researchers in the Equine Viral Disease Laboratory have been able to study and track the progress of West Nile Fever across the United States.