Translating Diagnostics from Humans to Horses

Knowing Is Half the Battle: Addressing Diagnostic Limitations

New advances in advanced diagnostics are paving the way for better outcomes in both human and veterinary medicine.

Most horse racing fans still feel pangs of frustration and regret from the memory of the untimely demise of the champion thoroughbred Barbaro. The 2006 Derby winner suffered a broken rear leg at the Preakness Stakes just two weeks after his Derby win and never fully recovered—he was euthanized approximately eight months later, in January of 2007.

It is less widely remembered that a difficult runaway infection had a primary role in the champion’s demise: Barbaro’s condition turns ‘potentially serious’ again (7/13/2006); while it seemed to clear up initially—Barbaro showed no sign of infection (1/12/2007)—in the end complications allowed the bacterial infection to get out of control. Despite the best efforts of the expert veterinarians involved, ultimately a tough decision was made: Derby Winner Barbaro Was Euthanized (1/29/2007).

Dr. Dean Richardson, Barbaro’s surgeon noted, “Up until that point, the surgical site was healthy. After the second surgery, however, sepsis set in, necessitating a third surgery to clean the area and repair the joint.” 

Bacterial and Fungal Infections

These infections can often be the cause of difficult-to-treat conditions; in fact, Barbaros wasn’t the first high profile racehorse to fall victim to lamatitis. A very painful hoof condition led to the death of racing legend Secretariat. According to Thomas Swerczek, DVM, Ph.D, who worked closely with the veterinarian team at Claiborne Farm where Secretariat lived after retiring from racing: “He had developed laminitis, a painful and debilitating hoof condition, which was first diagnosed on Labor Day of 1989. By October 4th, he would be dead.”

Equine infections are not new or unique, but they do present a difficult treatment environment. Human wound care and standard clinical environments are far more isolated and sterile than a typical horse farm. Regarding equine health and the wound sites, treatment environs and ongoing monitoring veterinary professionals must acknowledge and contend with a pool of potential pathogens from parasites to fungal spores to biofilms.

For example: Our awareness of biofilms and the challenges they present has evolved dramatically over the past century. Initial observations go back to the 1930’s, and attention was refocused in the 1970’s due to cystic fibrosis research; the term “biofilm” was formally introduced in 1985.  Since then research has expanded rapidly, but the medical community continues to grapple with the challenges posed by biofilms—particularly in relation to antimicrobial resistance.

In veterinary medicine, biofilms pose a particularly significant challenge due to the environment. The structured communities of microorganisms adhere to surfaces and are encased within a self-produced extracellular matrix, rendering them highly resistant to antimicrobial agents and host immune responses. Because of the complicated biome they create, traditional diagnostic methods often fail to detect these embedded communities, leading to persistent infections and ineffective treatments. The resilience of biofilms further contributes significantly to chronic infections, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in both human and veterinary contexts.​

The limitations of conventional diagnostics underscore the need for more advanced, rapid and accurate diagnostic tools to effectively identify and manage biofilm-associated infections.​  To overcome these hurdles, the industry needed a catalyst to promote additional research and awareness regarding diagnostic innovations.

The Pandemic’s Silver Lining: Advancements in Veterinary Diagnostics

Necessity truly is the mother of invention and the COVID-19 pandemic—while devastating—accelerated the development and deployment of molecular diagnostic technologies. Veterinary diagnostic laboratories played a pivotal role during the pandemic, contributing to human testing efforts and highlighting their capacity for high-throughput diagnostic testing.

The era of the quarantine lockdown also witnessed significant advancements in PCR testing, leading to innovations in speed and accuracy beneficial to both human and veterinary diagnostics. Technologies initially scaled for viral surveillance have cascaded into veterinary care—allowing faster, more nuanced detection of pathogens.​ The adoption of that technology has empowered a new generation of diagnostic tools that are being employed today and seeking wider adoption.

Companies like VexGen Dx, under the leadership of Kurt Dombkowski, have been at the forefront of this transformation. By leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) and PCR technologies, VexGen Dx has developed diagnostic platforms capable of rapidly identifying a wide array of pathogens, including those involved in complex, chronic infections. These advancements not only enhance diagnostic accuracy but also reduce turnaround times, enabling timely and targeted therapeutic interventions.

Especially for patients with complex or biofilm-associated infections, DNA-based diagnostics offer faster, more accurate identification of pathogens. Institutions and clinicians must increasingly look beyond conventional tools, not only for diagnostic clarity but also to raise the standard of care.

By enhancing our understanding of biofilm biology and integrating cutting-edge diagnostic tools into clinical practice, we can improve treatment outcomes and advance the overall quality of both human and veterinary care.​  Rapid and adaptive testing also permits increased monitoring of public health issues including our food chain safety.

Biosecurity: A Strategic Imperative for Food System Resilience

The recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have underscored the critical role of biosecurity in safeguarding not only animal health but also the stability of our food systems. While the immediate economic impacts—such as the culling of over 166 million birds and subsequent surges in egg prices—are evident, the broader implications for zoonotic transmission, pathogen mutation, and food security demand a more comprehensive examination .​

Biomonitoring measures such as wastewater monitoring or screening programs have become fundamental in preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases within animal populations. However, their significance extends beyond animal, flock or herd health; they are integral to ensuring the safety and reliability of food supplies. The HPAI outbreaks are a recent example of how lapses in biosafety can lead to substantial disruptions in food production, affecting availability and affordability.  Viruses and bacteria evolve however and there is something of an arms race to keep up with the latest or most potent infections.

The further potential for zoonotic transmission—where viral evolution allows diseases to jump from animals to humans—is a pressing concern. HPAI strains, particularly H5N1, have shown the capacity to infect humans; cases have been reported in individuals who had close contact with infected poultry. Moreover, the high mutation rates of such viruses pose a risk of developing more virulent or transmissible strains, which could have severe public health implications.

[Image: United Nations]

Implementing comprehensive biosecurity measures across the agricultural sector presents economic challenges. The costs associated with infrastructure upgrades, training and ongoing monitoring can be substantial, particularly for small-scale producers. However, the long-term benefits—reducing the likelihood of disease outbreaks, minimizing economic losses and protecting public health—justify the investment. The USDA has recognized this by allocating up to $500 million for biosecurity enhancements, including assessments and audits to identify and address high-risk areas as well as the economic ramifications.​

Bridging the Gap Between Diagnostics and Biosecurity

The challenges posed by biofilm-associated infections and the recent avian influenza outbreaks highlight the interconnectedness of animal health, public health and food security. Happily, advancements in diagnostic technologies, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, offer promising solutions to these challenges. While the immediate, widespread implementation of comprehensive biosecurity measures may be constrained by economic factors, targeted investments and strategic planning can enhance resilience against future outbreaks. 

To service these growing needs, companies like VexGen Dx are leading the way in developing rapid, accurate and scalable diagnostic platforms that can enhance disease detection and management across various veterinary settings.​ The integration of advanced diagnostics and robust biosecurity measures signify a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive veterinary care. This convergence is facilitated by technological advancements, collaborative efforts and a commitment to continuous improvement in animal health management.

EXTRA READING
Celebre D’Allen died from ‘post-race infection’—The Grand National runner developed pleuropneumonia—a bacterial respiratory infection—after the race. According to the BBC Sport article, the infection resulted in the onset of sepsis, which is likely to have been a key factor in the horse’s death.