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Author Barwick, R.S.; Mohammed, H.O.; McDonough, P.L.; White, M.E. openurl 
  Title Epidemiologic features of equine Leptospira interrogans of human significance Type Journal Article
  Year 1998 Publication Preventive Veterinary Medicine Abbreviated Journal Prev Vet Med  
  Volume 36 Issue 2 Pages 153-165  
  Keywords Animals; Horse Diseases/epidemiology/*microbiology; Horses/microbiology; Humans; *Leptospira interrogans; New York/epidemiology; Weil Disease/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary; Zoonoses/epidemiology/*microbiology  
  Abstract Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Leptospira interrogans. There is a serologic evidence that horses are exposed to L. interrogans and, as a shedder of these organisms, can be a threat to humans. We examined risk factors associated with the risk of testing seropositive to three L. interrogans serovars (L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. grippotyphosa, and L. canicola) in the horses of New York State, in order to understand the epidemiology of the disease and suggest strategies to control and prevent equine leptospirosis. To carry out this study, blood samples were collected from a random sample of 2551 horses and tested for the presence of antibodies to the above serovars using the microscopic agglutination test. Samples with a titer $100 were considered positive. Clinical and demographic data were collected on each horse, the farms' management practices and ecology. Logistic regression analysis was used to develop a multivariate indexing system and to identify factors significantly associated with the risk of leptospirosis. Four indices were developed based on the possible sources of exposure: rodent exposure index; wildlife exposure index; soil and water index; and management index. The soil and water index was significantly associated with the risk of exposure to all three serovars. Management was positively associated with L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. canicola. Density of horses turned out together was positively associated with the risk of exposure to L. grippotyphosa. We concluded that indirect exposure of horses to L. interrogans through contaminated soil and water appears to be significantly associated with the risk of exposure to all three serovars. Management appears to play an important role in the exposure to L. interrogans. Modification of management practices might reduce the horses' risk of exposure and hopefully minimize the human hazards.  
  Address Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0167-5877 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes PMID:9762736 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2653  
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Author Muscatello, G.; Anderson, G.A.; Gilkerson, J.R.; Browning, G.F. doi  openurl
  Title Associations between the ecology of virulent Rhodococcus equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia on Australian thoroughbred farms Type Journal Article
  Year 2006 Publication Applied and Environmental Microbiology Abbreviated Journal Appl Environ Microbiol  
  Volume 72 Issue 9 Pages 6152-6160  
  Keywords Actinomycetales Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary; Air Microbiology; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Australia/epidemiology; Colony Count, Microbial; DNA, Bacterial/genetics; Ecosystem; Horse Diseases/epidemiology/*microbiology; Horses; Pneumonia, Bacterial/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary; Rhodococcus equi/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity; Soil Microbiology; Virulence  
  Abstract The ecology of virulent strains of Rhodococcus equi on horse farms is likely to influence the prevalence and severity of R. equi pneumonia in foals. This study examined the association between the ecology of virulent R. equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia by collecting air and soil samples over two breeding seasons (28 farm-year combinations) on Thoroughbred breeding farms with different reported prevalences of R. equi pneumonia. Colony blotting and DNA hybridization were used to detect and measure concentrations of virulent R. equi. The prevalence of R. equi pneumonia was associated with the airborne burden of virulent R. equi (both the concentration and the proportion of R. equi bacteria that were virulent) but was not associated with the burden of virulent R. equi in the soil. Univariable screening and multivariable model building were used to evaluate the effect of environmental and management factors on virulent R. equi burdens. Lower soil moisture concentrations and lower pasture heights were significantly associated with elevated airborne concentrations of virulent R. equi, as were the holding pens and lanes, which typically were sandy, dry, and devoid of pasture cover. Few variables appeared to influence concentrations of virulent R. equi in soil. Acidic soil conditions may have contributed to an elevated proportion of virulent strains within the R. equi population. Environmental management strategies that aim to reduce the level of exposure of susceptible foals to airborne virulent R. equi are most likely to reduce the impact of R. equi pneumonia on endemically affected farms.  
  Address School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. mug@unimelb.edu.au  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0099-2240 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes PMID:16957241 Approved no  
  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2622  
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