Equine Grass Sickness Vaccine Study

Researchers at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh are collaborating in a pilot trial of a vaccine to protect against equine grass sickness.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a frequently fatal disease of horses; more than 85% of affected animals die.  It has been reported in several northern European countries, but occurs most frequently in Great Britain, having been first recognised in Scotland over 100 years ago.

The cause is still not known for certain, but it seems likely that toxins from Clostridium botulinum type C are involved.

The pilot study, based in eastern Scotland, has enrolled a total of 100 horses and ponies. This small scale trial is in preparation for a full vaccine trial, which will involve at least 1000 horses and ponies, and is likely to commence in 2013-2014 subject to securing sufficient funding.

Although there is still a lot of work to do before launching the full nationwide vaccine trial, this initial pilot study will help to ensure that the trial design will be practical to perform on a larger scale.

Dr Jo Ireland of the Animal Health Trust, who is piloting the vaccine trial, explains: ‘This is very exciting news and we are working flat out to get the study up and running. There is still a lot of work to do before launching the full nationwide vaccine trial, and this initial study will help us to ensure that the trial design will be practical to perform on a larger scale.’

The Equine Grass Sickness Fund is spearheading the campaign to raise funds for the full vaccine trial, which is being run in collaboration with the Animal Health Trust, The (Dick) Vet and Liverpool University’s School of Veterinary Studies.

Kate Thomson, spokesperson for the Fund, said ‘We are over the moon that the vaccine trial is finally here, but fundraising now starts in earnest to ensure that the full trial can go ahead. Grass sickness takes a terrible annual death toll, and we are appealing to every horse owner in the UK to help bring an end to the disease by donating to this cause’.

If you would like to support the equine grass sickness vaccine trial by making a donation to the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, please visit www.grasssickness.org.uk