Dourine is recognized as occurring in Mediterranean regions of the Middle East and Africa as well as in Southern Africa and Central and South America. Breeding animals as well as those in contact with infected genital secretions are at increased risk of contracting dourine. The incubation period for dourine may vary from weeks up to a year. The clinical presentation of dourine in the stallion includes mucopurulent urethral discharge, of the penis, testes and prepuce, skin plaques that range in size from 2 to 10 cm, progressive emaciation and death. Death is reported to occur in fifty to seventy percent of untreated cases. Diagnosis is made through the isolation of protozoa in genital discharge, in skin biopsies or in the serum, and through the clinical signs and symptoms.
Treatment includes the administration of systemic anti-microbial medications.
In some regions dourine is considered a reportable disease and euthanasia may be mandatory.
Equine Viral Arteritis
Equine viral arteritis has already been discussed in previous chapters of this text. It must be mention as a disease of the reproductive system as it is a venereal disease that may be transmitted through coitus.
EVA is caused by the RNA virus, called equine arteritis virus. It is an acute and contagious disease.
The virus enters the body & infects macrophages in the respiratory tissue. Macrophages transport the virus to local lymph nodes, where the virus replicates. Viremic phase follows where the virus quickly disseminates throughout the body & localises in vascular endothelium. Equine viral arteritis also affects the reproductive system as the virus invades the endothelium of the inhibiting the maturation of sperm in the testes. Infection of the endothelium of the blood vessels that feed the penis may also restrict the stallion’s ability to achieve erection and cause edema of the scrotum and the prepuce. EVA is transmitted through respiratory, venereal and congenital routes directly or indirectly. Up to 70% of sexually mature stallions become . The carrier state can last for years.
Breeding animals are more predisposed as well as Standardbreds & warmbloods.
Clinical presentation of EVA varies depending on the state of the infected animal and the route of transmission. Some may present asymptomatically with mild systemic signs. Common signs and symptoms of equine viral arteritis include fever, depression, anorexia, and leukopenia, edema of the limbs, scrotum & prepuce. Fever & edema of scrotum can lead to short term subfertility and decreased . Less common S&S include conjunctivitis, lacrimation, photophobia, rhinitis, nasal discharge, ventral edema, urticaria, stiff gait, ataxia, dyspnea and diarrhea. . In the mare abortion is a common complication of equine viral arteritis.
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