Difference between revisions of "African Horse Sickness"

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[[Image:Lung oedema in African horse sickness.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Lung oedema in African horse sickness (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
 
[[Image:Lung oedema in African horse sickness.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Lung oedema in African horse sickness (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]
  
*Caused by [[Reoviridae|orbivirus]], family reoviridae
+
*Caused by [[Orbiviruses|orbivirus]], family reoviridae
 
*Respiratory distress or cardiovascular failure
 
*Respiratory distress or cardiovascular failure
 
*Rapid death due to massive [[Lungs Circulatory - Pathology#Pulmonary oedema|pulmonary oedema]]
 
*Rapid death due to massive [[Lungs Circulatory - Pathology#Pulmonary oedema|pulmonary oedema]]

Revision as of 12:04, 30 June 2010



Antigenicity

  • 9 serotypes

Hosts

  • Clinical: horses, mules, donkeys
  • Subclinical: african donkeys, zebras

Pathogenesis

  • Virus oscillates between horses and midges
    • Replicates in the salivary glands of biting midges, and occurs where they breed
  • Pantropic virus: infects endothelium and myocardium
  • Peracute: causes sudden death with pyrexia before the onset of clinical signs
  • Two forms:
    • Acute cardac-pneumonic form:
      • Interlobular pulmonary oedema
      • Pericarditis
      • Hemorrhage and oedema of the viscera
      • Death within 5 days
    • Subacute cardiac form:
      • Milder clinical signs but still a high mortality rate

Diagnosis

  • Clinical signs
  • Differential: Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV)
    • EAV causes oedema in the legs, which AHS does NOT
  • Suckling mouse inoculation
  • Virus serotype identification
  • Serology
  • RT-PCR will be used in future outbreaks

Control

Control measures are largely preventative:

  • Slaughter or immediate isolation of sick animals
  • Mandatory and immediate vaccination with appropriate serotype
  • Restricted movement of susceptible animals
    • Protection zones and Surveillance zones set in place around outbreaks
  • Control of vector: ectoparasiticides, etc.

Current Relevance

  • Once only found in Africa, but since 1987 has recurred in Spain and Portugal
  • Not present currently in the UK but global warming may expand midge breeding grounds


Lung oedema in African horse sickness (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)
  • Caused by orbivirus, family reoviridae
  • Respiratory distress or cardiovascular failure
  • Rapid death due to massive pulmonary oedema
  • Hydrothorax may also develop
  • Large amounts of froth present in airways