Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute, infectious, highly contagious disease. It is caused by the forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Horses are considered to be less susceptible than ruminants.
The bacteria enter through an abrasion within the mouth or directly pass from the GIT.
Transmission of anthrax is through the spore form of the organism. Spores form when the vegetative form of B. anthracis is exposed to . Spores can be infective through inhalation, ingestion, or contact with abrasions. In the United States, South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, and California have the highest rates of infection. Most cases occur from July to September, during warm, dry conditions. Affected horses may present with pyrexia, dyspnea, pneumonia, colic, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous edema, ataxia and from orifices especially the rectum or nose. Horses may go into shock or a coma or may die suddenly. Diagnosis is through blood test, but most cases diagnosis is post-mortem. Anthrax should be a differential diagnosis for any case of sudden death in endemic areas.
Treatment is through the use of antibiotics such as penicillin plus isolation.
Prognosis is grave in the acute stage, but if the animal survives the acute stage then prognosis is better.
A vaccine is available in high endemic areas.
Anthrax spores are quite to disinfectants, so bedding and in-contact materials should be considered infectious and burned. Articles or instruments that cannot be burned should be soaked with bleach solution. It is a reportable disease.
Glanders
Glanders is one of the world’s oldest known diseases of horses. It is highly contagious and looks similar to ulcerative lymphangitis.
Glanders is caused by the G- bacteria burkholderia malleri .
The bacteria are transmitted through the ingestion of infected food or water, contact with infected fomites, or with direct contact with the bodily secretions of infected animals. Once the bacteria have gained entry into the body, it targets the skin and respiratory tissues causing infection.
Glanders occurs in areas of Africa, China, Asia, South and Central America and the Middle East.
The signs and symptoms of glanders include the formation of lesions in lung tissue and erosion and ulceration of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract causing dyspnea
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