Med. Weter. 71 (2), 75-83, 2015
full text
| Kalinowski M., Grądzki Z., Jarosz Ł. |
| Immunoprophylaxis of respiratory tract diseases in horses: the current state of knowledge |
| Respiratory tract diseases have a world-wide distribution in horse population, and used to be a significant clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic problem in studs, training stables, and small farms. Respiratory tract infections occur in horses of all ages regardless of the type of utility. The main role in the etiology of respiratory tract infections in horses is played by viruses, the most important of which are influenza viruses (EIV) and herpesviruses (EHV1 and EHV4). Less important from the clinical and epidemiological point of view is the Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV). Besides viral diseases, an important problem in the horse breeding industry are also bacterial respiratory tract infections, mainly strangles and rhodococcosis. The control of respiratory tract diseases in horses should be based on a complex procedure, including antibiotic therapy, enhancement of non-specific immunity, destruction of pathogens in the environment, and farm management. The most important procedures, especially with respect to viral diseases, are preventive measures based on specific prophylaxis. Systematic vaccinations stimulate the equine immune system, generating protective immunity against infections or reducing their clinical consequences. This paper present the current state of knowledge on the immunoprophylaxis of the most important respiratory tract infections of horses with a special focus on vaccinations with products officially approved in Poland and the EU. |
| Key words: respiratory tract infections, horses, immunoprophylaxis |