Hematologic Diseases

Chapter 52 Hematologic Diseases


Blood disorders are a serious, although rare, problem in horses. As an animal’s blood cells become weakened or destroyed, that animal starts losing its ability to carry oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Such an instance, if allowed to progress unchecked, is incompatible with life.



EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA


Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a disease that affects horses throughout the world. No age, breed, or sex predilection is associated with this disease. The causative organism is lentivirus that is spread via blood transmission.


Biting flies are the most common method of transmission, although sharing needles and surgical instruments between horses can also spread the disease.




CLINICAL SIGNS



• Fever

• Depression

• Anemia

• Clotting disorders

• Horses can be chronic carriers, showing little sign of the disease; these horses typically will have recurrent bouts of clinical disease


DIAGNOSIS



• Draw a blood sample and perform a Coggins test.


TREATMENT



• No treatment exists for EIA.



TECH ALERT


All horses should be tested yearly for EIA. Horses housed in clinics should have a negative Coggins test before hospital admission whenever possible.

Related posts:

  1. Hematologic and Immunologic Diseases
  2. Hematologic and Immunologic Diseases
  3. Diseases of the Cardiovascular System
  4. Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System

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Aug 31, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL | Comments Off on Hematologic Diseases

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