Equine grass sickness in Scotland: A case–control study of signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors

• DOI: 10.1111/evj.12077
• Publication Date: 2013-03-13T08:11:20Z
• Authors: C. E. Wylie; D. J. Shaw; F. M. Fordyce; A. Lilly; B. C. McGorum
• Keywords: /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/aacsb/discipline_based_research; Discipline-Based Research; dysautonomia; Equine; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; horse,equine grass sickness; EGS; dysautonomia,epidemiology,signalment,weather; horse; 0403 veterinary science; signalment; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Scotland; Risk Factors; weather; Case-Control Studies; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3400/3402; Odds Ratio; Animals; epidemiology; Horse Diseases; Horses; equine grass sickness; Weather; Retrospective Studies

SummaryReasons for performing studyEquine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Britain. Since previous investigations of signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors for EGS have yielded some conflicting data, further investigation is warranted.ObjectivesTo identify signalment‐ and meteorology‐related risk factors for EGS in Scotland.Study designRetrospective time‐matched case–control study.MethodsThis study was undertaken using data for 455 EGS cases and 910 time‐matched controls that were referred to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and average UK Meteorological Office weather station meteorological values from the month of admission of the animal, from the 3, 6 and 12 months prior to admission, and for the entire 1990–2006 period.Results and conclusionSignalment‐related risk factors associated with an increased risk of EGS were native Scottish pure breeds compared with crossbreeds (odds ratio [OR] = 3.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.43–5.43) and animals living on premises located further north within the study region (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.06–1.10). There was a decreased risk of EGS in animals aged 11–20 years compared with animals 2–10 years (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.22–0.45), non‐native Scottish pure breeds compared with crossbreeds (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.94), and stallions compared with mares (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.22–0.86). Meteorology‐related risk factors associated with an increased risk of EGS were (if Ordnance Survey northing is excluded) more sun hours (OR>1.43) and more frost days (OR>1.13), while there was a decreased risk of EGS with higher average maximum temperature (OR<0.83).Potential relevanceThe signalment‐related risk factors will help owners identify high‐risk animals, thereby allowing them to prioritise management strategies. The identification of meteorological risk factors may assist studies on the aetiology of EGS.