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Post by headbee on Aug 5, 2011 17:10:42 GMT -5
2 of these beauties have passed in the last 24 hours, 1 is critical, another is in a weakened state. They don't know the cause but are investigating their water and food source. Attachments:
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Post by sheredelight on Aug 5, 2011 22:34:38 GMT -5
What effect does Borrelia burgdorferi infection have on domestic animals? The disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) affects humans and many domestic animal species. It is a multisystemic disease, affecting primarily the joints, the musculoskeletal system and the neurological system. It is important to know that in many domestic animals, including horses, cats, cattle and horses, subclinical infection (e.g. infection without the development of clinical disease) is common.Thus, a domestic animal living outdoors in a region where Lyme disease is common may be bitten by Borrelia burgdorferi infected ticks and become infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. This animal may go on to develop symptoms of Lyme disease (which happens less than 10% of the time) or may remain clinically healthy. Subclinical infection makes diagnosis difficult, as the common blood tests for Borrelia burgdorferi infection measure antibodies (part of the body's response to infection, and would be positive in an animal which had been exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi regardless of whether the animal became clinically ill from the infection or not.
What are the clinical signs of Lyme disease in horses? Clinical signs (symptoms) of Lyme disease appear in less than 10 % of horses that are infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. The most common symptoms are lameness and behavioral changes. The lameness is usually associated with larger joints (not the foot), and frequently shifts from limb to limb. The horse may appear to have a generalized stiffness. Fever may or may not be present. Occasionally, laminitis (an inflammation of the tissues inside the hoof wall) has been associated with Lyme disease. Behavioral changes associated with Lyme disease are difficult to categorize. As well as an unwillingness to work (which may be associated with musculoskeletal pain), owners frequently observe increased irritability and a changed attitude in these horses, which quickly return to normal following treatment.
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Post by Lynn on Aug 6, 2011 9:36:38 GMT -5
Very Sad
Are they your horses? Hope they find out what happened so they can rescue the rest.
In Light Lynn
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Post by headbee on Aug 6, 2011 22:52:53 GMT -5
It is not Lymes disease as it took them too fast but may be a fungal disease. They are investigating everything, food, water other contaminants. They are my cousins wifes husband.
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Post by headbee on Aug 6, 2011 22:55:32 GMT -5
PS TBoone Pickens is funding some research at OSU and his wife has race horses. Not sure if there is a connection except he is OSU almuni. There is proof Lymes has affected horses. They showed some pics at the Austin conference but did not say who they belonged too.
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Post by sheredelight on Aug 6, 2011 23:02:13 GMT -5
It could be what we have here in Australia, it kills very fast, called Hendra virus, carried by bats. We have just had Horses dying from this, and it also kills people, just as fast.
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