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Mohler, John R., Dourine of horses – its cause and suppression (1911) Covering sickness, or dourine (French, from the Arabic darina, meaning mangy (said of a female camel), feminine of darin, meaning dirty), [1] is a disease of horses and other members of the family Equidae.
Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a common cause of colic and decreased performance in horses. Horses form ulcers in the mucosa of the stomach, leading to pain, decreased appetite, weight loss, and behavioral changes. Treatment generally involves reducing acid production of the stomach and dietary management.
Toxins are often metabolized before the symptoms become obvious, making it hard or impossible to test for them. [4] Hungry or thirsty horses are more likely to eat poisonous plants, as are those pastured on overgrazed lands. [5] Animals with mineral deficiencies due to poor diets will sometimes seek out poisonous plants. [6]
Nigropallidal encephalomalacia or Chewing disease is a neurological condition that affects horses that have eaten certain toxic plants. Affected animals are unable to prehend food because of lip and tongue paralysis, and may appear to keep their jaws open with the tongue protruded because of reduced jaw tone. [ 1 ]
The most current theory is a result of a recent study that suggests it is caused by a pegivirus, referred to as Theiler's disease-associated virus (TDAV). [2] Eight horses that had received prophylactic botulinum antitoxin and developed subsequent signs of Theiler's disease were subjected to a test for a viral infection based on RNA sequencing techniques.
Horses are best managed by only allowing short grazing periods—less than 1 hour since they can rapidly ingest grass, [18] or confining them to a limited turn-out area or by use of a grazing muzzle. Horses with severe IR, that have recurrent laminitis, are not recommended to return to pasture.
Horses cannot pass the disease among themselves; that is, one horse cannot contract the disease from another infected horse. The horse is a dead-end, or aberrant, host of the parasite. Although all horses are believed to be susceptible to EPM the disease is usually found in younger horses typically around three to six years of age. [2]
Symptoms can range depending on how severe the infection is. In mild cases the most common clinical signs are weight loss, compromised performance, and a dull hair coat. [ 6 ] Other clinical signs can range from diarrhea, weakness, anorexia, anemia if there are significant blood loss and abdominal discomfort.