RATS AND LEPTOSPIROSIS.

Leptospirosis a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be similar to other diseases and some infected persons, however, may have mild to severe symptoms. Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis,liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death. The risk of infection with Leptospirosis is high with people close to animals such as dogs, cattle, horses, and pigs. These animals get infected when they are exposed to urine of infected rats, or have contact with contaminated drinking water or swimming/paddling through water inhabited by rats or contaminated by rat’s urine. When these animals are infected, they may show no signs of the disease. Infected animals may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continuously or every once in a while for a few months up to several years. Humans can become infected through; 1) Contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) from infected animals. 2) Contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with the urine of infected animals. 3) The bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes of eyes, nose and mouth, especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. 4) Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Outbreaks of Leptospirosis are caused by exposure to contaminated water, such as floodwaters and person to person transmission is rare. Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. It is an occupational hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals, such as: Farmers, Mine workers, Sewer workers, Slaughterhouse workers,(abattoir),Veterinarians and animal handlers, Fish farmers, and Dairy farmers. The time between a person's exposure to a contaminated source and becoming sick is 2 days to 4 weeks. Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS; In humans, Leptospirosis can cause mild or severe signs this include; 1) High fever 2) Headache 3) Chills 4) Muscle aches. The Severe signs include; 1) Vomiting 2) Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) 3) Red eyes 4) Abdominal pain 5) Diarrhea and 6)Rash.

COMMON DISEASES IN HORSES.

Equine diseases are usually caused by viruses,bacterial and fungi .The severity depends on level of exposure,susceptibility of horse, and the time lapse for the treatment protocol.Vaccinations are important to prevent certain diseases that are usually fatal and have poor prognosis when the horse comes down with the infection. The diseases include 1) equine encephalomyelitis also referred to as sleeping sickness.These are 3 types a) Venezuelan b) Eastern c)Western .Its transmitted by mosquitoes after the insects have acquired virus from birds and rodents. Horse to horse transmission is rare also horse to human transmission is not common.The EEE and VEE have 90% fatality while the Western equine encephalomyelitis has 50% fatality.Signs include fever,nervousness,drowsiness,drooping ears,abnormal gait,circling and recumbency. The final stage of the disease is paralysis and death. The only form of prevention is vaccination,which is done annually/every 6 months.There is no specific treatment only supportive care and prognosis is very poor. LEPTOSPIROSIS. A bacterial infection affects most species of mammals.The infection in horses is usually mild but has certain side effects such as periodic opthalmia(moon blindness),kidney disease,hemolytic anemia and abortion in mares.The bacterial host is the rodent and treatment is by using antibiotics. POTOMAC HORSE FEVER. Caused by Rickettsia bacteria usually through the tick bite.The signs are depression,inappetence,fever,decrease/absent gut sounds and watery diarrhoea develops within 24-48 hours.The prevention is by vaccination.Treatment is by use of antibiotics.