What Organism Causes Potomac Horse Fever?

Potomac horse fever (PHF), caused by an intracellular rickettsial organism called Neoricketsia ristcii, can affect horses especially during the months of the summer and fall.

What is the vector for Potomac Horse Fever?

Abstract. Ehrlichia risticii, the agent of Potomac horse fever (PHF), has been recently detected in trematode stages found in snail secretions and in aquatic insects.

Is Potomac Horse Fever a virus?

Potomac Horse Fever is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Neorickettsia risticii, which causes variable degrees (from mild to very severe) of fever, lethargy, poor appetite, diarrhea, mild colic, and laminitis in horses. It can can also infrequently cause abortion in pregnant mares.

Where is Potomac Horse Fever most common?

Advanced Search

• PHF has been reported from most states in the United States, five provinces in Canada, South America (Brazil, Uruguay), Europe (France, The Netherlands), and India.
• Horses of all breeds and ages may be affected, but PHF is not common in younger horses (<1 year).

What system does Potomac Horse Fever affect?

The infection of enterocytes of the small and large intestine results in acute colitis, which is one of the principal clinical signs of PHF. The disease occurs in spring, summer, and early fall and is associated with pastures bordering creeks or rivers.

What bacteria causes equine herpesvirus?

Equine herpes viral respiratory disease is usually caused by EHV-4 and is most commonly seen in weaned foals and yearlings, often in autumn and winter.

What causes EHV?

EHV-1 is contagious and spread by direct horse-to-horse contact via the respiratory tract through nasal secretions. It is important to know that this virus can also be spread indirectly through contact with physical objects that are contaminated with the virus: Human contaminated hands or clothing.

What type of virus is EHV?

EHV stands for Equine Herpesvirus. There are 9 different EHVs that have been identified. EHV-1 is the type that causes neurologic disease. EHV-1 can also cause respiratory disease, abortion, and neonatal death.

Do snails cause Potomac Horse Fever?

Freshwater snails are the source of the bacteria that causes Potomac horse fever. Horses may be exposed when drinking from creeks or rivers, and can then suffer from colic, fever, and diarrhea. Potomac horse fever has not been found to directly transmit from horse to horse.

Is equine influenza bacterial or viral?

Equine influenza (‘flu) is a viral disease that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract of horses, donkeys and mules. It is caused by several strains of the equine influenza virus. The disease is very infectious and spreads rapidly through groups of horses.

What bacteria are in the Potomac?

The two Potomac River cases were from Vibrio vulnificus, a strain of the bacteria which can cause an infection of the skin or bloodstream, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s Rappahannock Area Health District epidemiologist, Nicole Sullivan.

How is Potomac Horse Fever contracted?

Aquatic snail larvae and other intermediate hosts including flies are the source of the Neorickettsia risticii bacteria that causes PHF. Horses may be exposed when drinking from creeks, rivers, or ponds and can then suffer from anorexia, diarrhea, colic, fever, and laminitis.

What is another name for Potomac Horse Fever?

Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is a potentially-fatal febrile illness affecting horses caused by the intracellular bacterium Neorickettsia risticii. PHF is also known as Shasta River Crud and Equine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis.

Which drug is most effective against Potomac Horse Fever?

Antimicrobials found to be highly effective in treating EEC include intravenous oxytetracycline and the oral combination of erythromycin and rifampin.

What does prostaglandin do in horses?

Prostaglandin is a hormone secreted by the uterine endometrium in mares. One of its primary functions is the breakdown of the corpus luteum by a process called luteolysis. This breakdown of the corpus luteum results in a precipitous drop in progesterone, bringing the mare back into estrus.

What is the vaccine for Potomac Horse Fever?

Equine Potomavac
It has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses 3 months of age or older against Potomac Horse Fever (equine monocytic ehrlichiosis) due to Neorickettsia risticii.

What disease is caused by Streptococcus equi?

Streptococcus equi causes the disease known as “strangles” in horses. It affects primarily younger horses but may affect older horses that are immunologically naive. S. equi infection is transmitted by direct contact or via fomites such as water troughs, feed bunks, pastures, and stalls.

What causes viral infections in horses?

Common causes of viral respiratory tract infections in horses include: equine influenza (EIV), equine herpes (EHV-1 and -4), and Equine Rhinitis (ERAV).

Is EHV-1 the same as strangles?

The most common causes in the horse include equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus (EHV) – also known as rhino – and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) – better known as strangles.

What happens when a horse gets EHV-1?

EHV-1 routinely causes upper respiratory infection in young horses (weaning, yearlings, and 2-year-olds) resulting in depression, a snotty nose, loss of appetite and a persistent cough. If a number of young horses are housed or pastured together, most will become sick and then recover uneventfully.

How do you prevent EHV in horses?

How Can I Protect Against EHV? The vaccines available for EHV are the best defense we have. Another important way to prevent infection is through proper biosecurity procedures such as quarantine of exposed horses, disinfection of handlers and equipment, and testing.