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Equine coital exanthema in thoroughbreds (clinical report of an outbreak in India)
A SPECIAL,NON-REVIEWEDSECTION The World Equine VeterinaryAssociation presented the Equine Medicine Section of the XXlll
World Veterinary Congress, held in August, 1987 at Montreal, Canada. Other papers of the proceedings of this meeting werepublished in Volume8, Numbers I through 6 of The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
Equine Coital Exanthema in Thoroughbreds (Clinical report of an outbreak in India) S.S. Rathor, BVSc, AH, MS, PhD
Coital Exanthema is a viral disease caused by Herpes virus 3. It is transmitted by coitus and physical contact. In this study 5 stallions and 25 mares suffered with this malady. This particular stud farm had 150 head of horses of all ages and sex.
samples were tested for blood protozoa and found to be negative. Laboratories in India were unable to do the complement fixation test.
Treatment: Symptoms: Male - During initial stages it was difficult to observe the symptoms as they were not prominent. There was rise of temperature up to 105 F and would not drop without treatment. After 5-7 days there were well def'med pustules on the penis and inner lining of the sheath and were highly painful. There was swelling of the prepuce, scrotum and perenial region. This swelling later extended on to the belly. Stallions were offfeed and felt pain on walking. Stool and urination was normal. The stallion refused to cover the mares. It was noticed that animals did not loose condition. Female - At initial stages part below the rectum and the vulval lips were swollen and oedematus showing the mares to be in heat The area was painful on touch. Temperature was not much altered in females and they always ate and drank Well defined pustules were on and inside the vulval lips, perenial area, under the base of the tail and inner part of the thighs Pustules coalesced and think mucoid pussy discharge was noticed. Simultaneously some of the pustules were in the process of drying up other than the vulval lips where they were wet and there was discolouration of the affected parts (Fig. 1). Advanced pregnant mares, and mares foaled but not covered were also affected along with the empty mares. Examination:
Hematological study of the affected cases showed relative increase in Lymphocyte (> 60%) and decrease in Neutrophils (< 35%) along with decrease in TLC up to 3400. Blood Author's address: Professorof Surgery & Radiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141004, INDIA.
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Since there is no specific treatment for the virus infection, a course of tetracycline for 3-4 days was given to check the secondary complications normal Saline and Ringers lactate 23 litre were given to stallions who were severely affected. Febrifuge drugs were added to the drip for 2-3 days. This helped in bringing the temperature to normal and the stallions became normal in feeding. The penis and the sheath were cleaned daily with potassium permagnate lotion. Mares were not given antibiotics and the lesions were cleaned as above and sulphanilamide powder was applied twice daily Healing occurred within 7 - 10 days All the animals were given sexual rest by stopping the breeding of mares.
Control: All affected mares were immediately segregated and treated. Strict hygienic measures were practised for animals and stables. Teasing, covering, rectal examinadon were totally stopped. After 3 weeks rest the breeding program was restarted. By this time healing was complete (Fig. 2). It was observed that pregnant, foaled but not covered, foaled and covered, empty and maiden mares all suffered. There was no abortion among pregnant mares. REFERENCES 1. Olofdietz, Wiesner E: Diseases of the Horse, Karger : Bedin. 2 EquineMedicineandSurgery-istEd..A.V.M.A. Publication. Santa Barbara, Ca. 1963 3. Hayes MW, Paul S: Veterinary notes for horse owners, London. 1965 EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
World Veterinary Congress, held in August, 1987 at Montreal, Canada. Other papers of the proceedings of this meeting werepublished in Volume8, Numbers I through 6 of The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
Equine Coital Exanthema in Thoroughbreds (Clinical report of an outbreak in India) S.S. Rathor, BVSc, AH, MS, PhD
Coital Exanthema is a viral disease caused by Herpes virus 3. It is transmitted by coitus and physical contact. In this study 5 stallions and 25 mares suffered with this malady. This particular stud farm had 150 head of horses of all ages and sex.
samples were tested for blood protozoa and found to be negative. Laboratories in India were unable to do the complement fixation test.
Treatment: Symptoms: Male - During initial stages it was difficult to observe the symptoms as they were not prominent. There was rise of temperature up to 105 F and would not drop without treatment. After 5-7 days there were well def'med pustules on the penis and inner lining of the sheath and were highly painful. There was swelling of the prepuce, scrotum and perenial region. This swelling later extended on to the belly. Stallions were offfeed and felt pain on walking. Stool and urination was normal. The stallion refused to cover the mares. It was noticed that animals did not loose condition. Female - At initial stages part below the rectum and the vulval lips were swollen and oedematus showing the mares to be in heat The area was painful on touch. Temperature was not much altered in females and they always ate and drank Well defined pustules were on and inside the vulval lips, perenial area, under the base of the tail and inner part of the thighs Pustules coalesced and think mucoid pussy discharge was noticed. Simultaneously some of the pustules were in the process of drying up other than the vulval lips where they were wet and there was discolouration of the affected parts (Fig. 1). Advanced pregnant mares, and mares foaled but not covered were also affected along with the empty mares. Examination:
Hematological study of the affected cases showed relative increase in Lymphocyte (> 60%) and decrease in Neutrophils (< 35%) along with decrease in TLC up to 3400. Blood Author's address: Professorof Surgery & Radiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana - 141004, INDIA.
34
Since there is no specific treatment for the virus infection, a course of tetracycline for 3-4 days was given to check the secondary complications normal Saline and Ringers lactate 23 litre were given to stallions who were severely affected. Febrifuge drugs were added to the drip for 2-3 days. This helped in bringing the temperature to normal and the stallions became normal in feeding. The penis and the sheath were cleaned daily with potassium permagnate lotion. Mares were not given antibiotics and the lesions were cleaned as above and sulphanilamide powder was applied twice daily Healing occurred within 7 - 10 days All the animals were given sexual rest by stopping the breeding of mares.
Control: All affected mares were immediately segregated and treated. Strict hygienic measures were practised for animals and stables. Teasing, covering, rectal examinadon were totally stopped. After 3 weeks rest the breeding program was restarted. By this time healing was complete (Fig. 2). It was observed that pregnant, foaled but not covered, foaled and covered, empty and maiden mares all suffered. There was no abortion among pregnant mares. REFERENCES 1. Olofdietz, Wiesner E: Diseases of the Horse, Karger : Bedin. 2 EquineMedicineandSurgery-istEd..A.V.M.A. Publication. Santa Barbara, Ca. 1963 3. Hayes MW, Paul S: Veterinary notes for horse owners, London. 1965 EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE