Zoonotic Pathogens Transmitted from Equines: Diagnosis and Control
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Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences Review Article Zoonotic Pathogens Transmitted from Equines: Diagnosis and Control 1* 2 3 SANDIP KUMAR KHURANA , KULDEEP DHAMA , MINAksHI PRASAD , KUMARAGURUBARAN 4 5 KARTHIK , RUCHI TIWARI 1National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, 125 001, Haryana, India; 2Division of Pathology, 4Divison of Bac- teriology and Mycology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, In- dia; 3Department of Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Sciences, LUVAS, Hisar, 125 004, Haryana, India; 5De- partment of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwa Vidyalaya Evam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura (UP) – 281001. Abstract | The diseases of equines and other animal species that are shared between animals and humans come under the category of zoonotic diseases, and always put threat to veterinarians, ani- mal handlers, animal health personnel and general public. These pose a greater threat to pregnant women, infants, children, immunocompromised and old persons, individuals with stress of antibiotic therapy, and other susceptible humans. Equines also play an important role in transmitting several zoonotic diseases causing human illnesses such as those caused by encephalitic alphaviruses, hen- dravirus, West Nile virus and equine rabies, salmonellosis, glanders, anthrax, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, brucellosis and Rhodococcus equi infections, therefore acts as substantial global health threat. Among these zoonotic threat agents, anthrax and glanders are also potential biological weapons and at times have been used as bio-terroristic agents also. The emer- gence and re-emergence of equine zoonotic pathogens have been observed from time to time. Anti- biotic resistance is a hot topic around the globe at present and certain strains like MRSA, extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Enterobacteriacea can also be transmitted between horses and humans. These drug resistant strains pose greater threat to human beings. Rapid detection of the causative agents of zoonosis, close attention to personal hygiene, identification of potential fomites and vectors, and the use of protective clothing, newer therapeutics and vaccines may contribute to reduce the risk of zoonoses. Equines are used for antivenom and antitoxin production against various antigens, therefore the serum being obtained from equines should be properly screened for various pathogens either by serological methods or molecular assays which are specific for detection of zo- onotic agents. The present review discusses several important aspects of zoonotic diseases of equines with special focus on the recent advances in their diagnosis and control. Keywords | Equine zoonotic diseases, Diagnosis, Control Editor | Ruchi Tiwari, College of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology Uttar Pradesh Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa, Vigyan Vishvidhyalaya Evum Go-Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura (U.P.) – 281001, India. Special Issue | 2 (2015) “Reviews on Trends and Advances in Safeguarding Terrestrial /Aquatic Animal Health and Production” Received | January 20, 2015; Revised | February 10, 2015; Accepted | February 12, 2015; Published | February 16, 2015 *Correspondence | Sandip Kumar Khurana, National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana, India; Email: [email protected] Citation | Khurana SK, Dhama K, Prasad M, Karthik K, Tiwari R (2015). Zoonotic pathogens transmitted from equines: diagnosis and control. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 3(2s): 32-53. DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2015/3.2s.32.53 ISSN (Online) | 2307-8316; ISSN (Print) | 2309-3331 Copyright © 2015 Khurana et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. NE US Academic Publishers March 2015 | Volume 3 | Special issue 2 | Page 32 Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences INTRODUCTION highly contagious infection and thus can be a suitable candidate of bioterrorism also under certain circum- oonotic diseases, naturally transmitted between stances. Veterinarians have a key role in revealing var- vertebrate animals and man, are highly variable ious emerging zoonotic infections due to their close Zon the basis of their severity and transmissibility. The involvement with both animals and owners. Growing “one medicine concept” involving a convergence of an- possibilities of exploring zoonotic pathogens as bio- imal, human and environmental science professionals terrorism agents is another worry which reflects the for prevention, control and eradication of cross-spe- main functioning of veterinarians in early detection of cies disease transmission is gaining momentum, where bioterrorism-associated outbreaks of zoonotic diseas- zoonoses has assumed central position (Dhama et al., es. Antivenom are commonly produced from equine 2013a; Mukarim et al., 2015; Plowright et al., 2015). serum, so critical attention should be given during The emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseas- this time as this can be a major source for the trans- es poses a greater threat to pregnant women, infants mission of dangerous pathogens to human (Lalloo and children, immunocompromised and old persons, and Theakston, 2003; Theakston et al., 2003). Infer- persons under antibiotic therapy stress, veterinarians, ence accredited to equine zoonoses depends on prev- animal handlers and animal health personnel (Stull et alence of particular disease along with its case-fatality al., 2012). rate in human population. Encephalitic alphaviruses, hendravirus, equine rabies, salmonellosis, glanders, Zoonoses constitute nearly 60% of all known human anthrax, MRSA infection, brucellosis and Rhodococcus infections and over 75% of all emerging pathogens. equi are among the very important zoonoses. Weese They are caused by a diverse group of microorganisms (2002) has reviewed the risk of zoonotic diseases to and infectious syndromes caused by zoonotic patho- veterinary practitioners with emphasis on occupation- gens are equally diverse. Classification of zoonoses is al aspects. The present review covers several important broadly based on the nature of the pathogen, animal diseases which may be transmitted through equines host, severity of disease and mode of transmission be- to man or vice-versa with emphasis on their epide- tween animals to humans. Zoonoses have major im- miology, diagnosis and control calling for emergent plications on economics, labour and health produc- need of collaborative approach of medical doctors, tivity globally. Preventing and controlling zoonoses horse breeders, veterinarians, other governmental and is even more critical today in the context of globali- non-governmental agencies for early preparedness; zation of international trade, changes in agricultural however there could be several others which have not practices and global warming (Dhama et al., 2013b). been described here. They are responsible for affecting productivity of both humans and animals severely, thus contributing to ag- ZOONOTIC PATHOGENS gravation of poverty. TRANSMITTED FROM EQUINES VIRAL PATHOGENS Equines are used for various purposes like riding, rac- ing, sports, draught, transport, ceremonies, antitox- ENCEPHALITIC ALPHAVIRUSES in/antibody production, etc., throughout the world Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), eastern (Burnouf et al., 2004). There remains a contact be- equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and Venezuelan tween the human and these equines at various stages equine encephalitis virus (VEEE) are common zo- which pave way for the spread of various diseases of onotic encephalitic alphaviruses. These have been iso- equines to human and hence human beings may ac- lated from horses, humans, mosquitoes, birds, rodents quire equine zoonotic bacterial, viral or other infec- and some other animals also. These are vector borne tious diseases either directly or by indirect means. The and transmitted through blood sucking arthropods, number of diseases affecting horses and other mem- thus considered as arboviral infection and condition bers of the Equidae family carries zoonotic potential is referred as Arboviral Encephalitis including EEE, including viral, bacterial, rickettsial, anaplasma asso- WEE, VEE and WNV as a cause of encephalitis in ciated, fungal and parasitic infections, which will be horse (Strauss et al., 1995; Smith et al., 1997; Kapoor elaborated through this review. Zoonotic diseases may et al., 2010). Ordinarily arboviruses are not directly occur as mild transient infection to severe lethal or transmitted from horses to humans under usual cir- NE US Academic Publishers March 2015 | Volume 3 | Special issue 2 | Page 33 Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences cumstances, though aerosolization could be one pos- WEEV infection is done by ELISA, haemagglutina- sible risk factor. As per the recommendations of the tion-inhibition and neutralization assay (Martin et Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), al., 2000). RT-PCR has also been developed for its suspected clinical specimens such as cerebrospinal flu- diagnosis (Linssen et al., 2000; Lambert et al., 2003). id and serum must be handled under level 2 biocon- Formalin inactivated vaccine is used in horses as dou- tainment facility equipped