Which Drug Is Most Effective Against Potomac Horse Fever?

Published by Jennifer Webster on

The treatment of choice consists of intravenous oxytetracycline for 3-5 days and supportive care with IV isotonic crystalloid fluid replacement therapy.

How do you treat Potomac horse fever?

Horses with Potomac horse fever can be treated successfully with oxytetracycline (6.6 mg/kg, IV, every 12 hours), if given early in the clinical course of the disease. A response to treatment is usually seen within 12 hours.

What is the Potomac vaccine for horses?

Our regular vaccine protocol protects your horses against Rabies, Tetanus and the mosquito borne diseases (West Nile Virus, and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis), as well as Influenza and Herpes viruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4).

What is the agent that causes Potomac horse fever?

Neoricketsia risticii, a rickettsial organism with affinity for monocytes and intestinal epithelial cells (1), is the causative agent of Potomac horse fever.

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.

What is the most effective treatment for equine influenza?

Treatment for equine influenza involves treating the symptoms and allowing your horse to rest. Just like the human flu virus, there is no cure for equine influenza. At least 6 weeks of rest are recommended in order for the damaged liner of the upper respiratory tract to adequately heal.

How is Potomac Horse Fever prevention?

Limiting access to freshwater streams and ponds during the months of summer may help reduce exposure to the organism. The effectiveness of vaccination in preventing clinical disease is questionable but horses in endemic areas may be vaccinated with an inactivated monovalent vaccine.

Is there an effective vaccine for Potomac Horse Fever?

A vaccine for Potomac Horse Fever is available. The vaccine does not prevent the disease but can reduce its severity. Horses should be vaccinated prior to the peak seasons of exposure. The clinical signs of Potomac Horse Fever are similar to those of many infectious diseases.

Is the Potomac Horse Fever vaccine effective?

Summary. There is disagreement in the veterinary literature about the effectiveness of Potomac Horse Fever vaccines. Until more is known, a reasonable approach is to use the vaccine in areas where the risk for this disease is higher. The vaccine is fairly safe, and given frequently, might help protect against disease.

When should you vaccinate for Potomac Horse Fever?

The vaccine is labelled for use in foals 3 months of age and older. Due to the low risk of clinical disease in young foals and the possible maternal antibody interference, primary immunization for most foals can begin after 5 months of age. A third dose at 12 months of age is recommended.

Which drug is commonly used to suppress estrus in horses?

Altrenogest
Altrenogest belongs to the class of drugs called progestins and is used to suppress estrus (commonly called “heat” or “season”) in mares (female horses), and to synchronize estrus in gilts (young female pigs).

What is the treatment for equine encephalitis?

No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for EEE are available. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.

What is the treatment for equine herpesvirus?

Treatments may include anti-inflammatory drugs and some horses may require intravenous fluids. Antibiotics may be used to treat a secondary bacterial infection if one develops; however, antibiotics have no effect on the equine herpesvirus itself.

Can a horse recover from Potomac fever?

If the signs are recognized early enough, most horses are successfully treated. Treatment with intravenous oxytetracycline, fluids and anti-inflammatories is needed for 3-7 days, depending on response to therapy. If caught early, most horses will respond to treatment in 24-48 hours and have a dramatic recovery.

Can you give a horse oxytetracycline?

In horses, oxytetracycline has been administered to treat equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi, but was not effective for Babesia caballi. Oxytetracycline has been used for treating Potomac fever in horses caused by Neorickettsia risticii, as well as respiratory and soft tissue infections.

Does Potomac fever cause laminitis?

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.

Which drugs are effective in the treatment of influenza?

There are four FDA-approved antiviral drugs recommended by CDC to treat flu this season.

  • oseltamivir phosphate (available as a generic version or under the trade name Tamiflu®),
  • zanamivir (trade name Relenza®)
  • peramivir (trade name Rapivab®), and.
  • baloxavir marboxil (trade name Xofluza®).

What is the drug of choice for H5N1 influenza virus?

Of the neuraminidase inhibitors, oseltamivir has received most attention as ‘the’ drug that should be stockpiled for therapeutic use in humans infected with avian flu.

What is the treatment for EMS in horses?

How is EMS treated? Because most horses with EMS are overweight, the mainstay of treatment involves management changes that promote weight loss. These include reducing overall calorie intake, dietary sugar restriction, and increased exercise.

What is the best way to prevent African horse sickness?

The best way to protect animals from African horse sickness is to decrease their exposure to biting midges and other insects (e.g., mosquitoes and biting flies). Stabling horses in insect-proof housing, particularly between dusk and dawn when the insects are most active, can help prevent exposure.

What is Flunazine used for in horses?

Horse: Flunazine ® Injectable Solution is recommended for the alleviation of inflammation and pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders in the horse. It is also recommended for the alleviation of visceral pain associated with colic in the horse.

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