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Li L, Li S, Ma H, Akhtar MF, Tan Y, Wang T, Liu W, Khan A, Khan MZ, Wang C. An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1961. [PMID: 38998073 PMCID: PMC11240482 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Equine breeding plays an essential role in the local economic development of many countries, and it has experienced rapid growth in China in recent years. However, the equine industry, particularly large-scale donkey farms, faces a significant challenge with pregnancy losses. Unfortunately, there is a lack of systematic research on abortion during equine breeding. Several causes, both infectious and non-infectious, of pregnancy losses have been documented in equines. The infectious causes are viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Non-infectious causes may include long transportation, ingestion of mycotoxins, hormonal disturbances, twinning, placentitis, umbilical length and torsion, etc. In current review, we discuss the transmission routes, diagnostic methods, and control measures for these infectious agents. Early detection of the cause and appropriate management are crucial in preventing pregnancy loss in equine practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential causes of abortion in equines, including infectious agents and non-infectious factors. It emphasizes the importance of continued research and effective control measures to address this significant challenge in the equine industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Li
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Shuwen Li
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Haoran Ma
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Muhammad Faheem Akhtar
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Ying Tan
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Tongtong Wang
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Adnan Khan
- Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 511464, China
| | - Muhammad Zahoor Khan
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
| | - Changfa Wang
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (L.L.)
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van Heule M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Monteiro HF, Scoggin K, Fedorka C, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population during nocardioform placentitis. Theriogenology 2024; 225:172-179. [PMID: 38810343 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Nocardioform placentitis is a poorly understood disease of equine late gestation. The presence of nocardioform, filamentous branching gram-positive bacteria, has been linked to the disease, with Crossiella equi, Amycolatopsis spp., and Streptomyces spp. being the most frequently identified bacteria. However, these bacteria are not found in all clinical cases in addition to being isolated from healthy, normal postpartum placentas. To better understand this form of placentitis, we analyzed the microbial composition in the equine placenta (chorioallantois) of both healthy postpartum (control; n = 11) and nocardioform-affected samples (n = 22) using 16S rDNA sequencing. We found a lower Shannon index in nocardioform samples, a higher Chao1 index in nocardioform samples, and a difference in beta diversity between control and nocardioform samples (p < 0.05), suggesting the presence of dysbiosis during the disease. In the majority of the NP samples (77 %), one of the following genera-Amycolatopsis, Crossiella, Lentzea, an unidentified member of the Pseudonocardiaceae family, Mycobacterium, or Enterococcus -represented over 70 % of the relative abundance. Overall, the data suggest that a broader spectrum of potential opportunistic pathogens could be involved in nocardioform placentitis, extending beyond the traditionally recognized bacteria, resulting in a similar histomorphological profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Machteld van Heule
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, 9800, Belgium
| | - Hossam El-Sheikh Ali
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Hugo Fernando Monteiro
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kirsten Scoggin
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Carleigh Fedorka
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Bart C Weimer
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Barry Ball
- Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Peter Daels
- Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, 9800, Belgium
| | - Pouya Dini
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Li L, Maboni G, Lack A, Gomez DE. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Horses: A Narrative Review. Vet Sci 2023; 10:442. [PMID: 37505847 PMCID: PMC10384023 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are increasing in human and veterinary medicine. Although horses were initially thought to be resistant to NTM infection, reports of horses suffering from gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive diseases associated with NTM have increased in the last few decades. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the mycobacteria species found in horses, describe clinical manifestations, diagnostic and treatment approaches, and public health concerns of NTM infection in horses. Clinical manifestations of NTM in horses include pulmonary disease, lymphadenitis, soft tissue, bone infections, and disseminated disease. NTM are also linked to granulomatous enteritis, placentitis, and abortions. Currently, diagnostic methods for NTM are limited and include acid-fast microscopy, bacterial cultures, species-specific PCR assays, and gene sequencing. In humans, NTM treatment guidelines are available, but their application appears inadequate and inconsistent. In horses, treatment guidelines for NTM infections are not available. NTM are a serious public health threat as 70% of people with untreated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have a chronic pulmonary disease caused by NTM. Thus, it is essential that we gain a better understanding of NTM infections in horses and their zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynna Li
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Grazieli Maboni
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Amy Lack
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Diego E Gomez
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Kinoshita Y, Takechi M, Uchida-Fujii E, Miyazawa K, Nukada T, Niwa H. Ten cases of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis infections linked to equine abortions in Japan, 2018-2019. Vet Med Sci 2020; 7:621-625. [PMID: 33336899 PMCID: PMC8136959 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial placentitis in horses commonly results in abortion, premature birth or compromised neonatal foal health. Although mycobacterial infections are generally uncommon in horses, 10 equine abortion cases caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) infections occurred between 2018 and 2019 in Japan. They occurred on seven Thoroughbred horse farms in the Hidaka district of Hokkaido, but direct contact among the mares on different farms was not recorded. Most cases were characterized by extensive pathological lesions of the placenta, which are not typical in cases of common pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli. All abortions featured white–yellow exudates on the surface of the placenta. Mycobacterial granuloma formations were histologically found in the placenta and fetal organs, and acid‐fast bacteria were isolated from the placenta, fetal samples (heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and stomach contents) or uterine lavage fluid. The greatest number of bacteria was isolated from necrotic lesions on the placenta, which could be an important site for bacterial isolation in mycobacterial equine abortions. The isolates were identified as MAH based on internal genome sequences. In variable number tandem repeat analysis, all patterns of the strains were identical. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis of the core genome grouped all strains in the II‐a/SC3 subcluster. Both results reveal that these strains share the same genetic background, suggesting that the horses had been infected by the same unknown contagious source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Kinoshita
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Mari Takechi
- Hokkaido Hidaka Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Hidakagunshinhidakacho, Japan
| | - Eri Uchida-Fujii
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Kunio Miyazawa
- Hokkaido Hidaka Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Hidakagunshinhidakacho, Japan
| | - Toshio Nukada
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Niwa
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan
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