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Richard Newton
I am currently involved in conducting an on-going equine industry funded programme of equine infectious disease surveillance and outbreak management. Viral diseases of particular interest include equine influenza and equine herpesvirus-1 abortion and neurological disease. The Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Group at the AHT has previously investigated outbreaks of equine influenza occurring in vaccinated racehorses (episodes of significant ‘vaccine breakdown’) and published findings on factors associated with these infections. Our surveillance programmes supply equine influenza and herpes viral isolates to our AHT-based OIE reference laboratories and associated research groups, who conduct genomic sequencing and monitor viral phylogeny, which in turn informs influenza vaccine strain selection. In addition to viral equine pathogens the group has an interest in Streptococcus equi and Streptococcus zooepidemicus as a cause of disease in horses and we work closely with Dr Waller’s Bacteriology Group at the AHT in monitoring strain evolution and developing improved diagnostic tests and vaccines and practical control methods, such as those outlined in the strangles guidelines in the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s Codes of Practice. Our group has recently conducted pilot and feasibility studies for a clinical field trial of a Clostridium botulinum type-C toxoid for the prevention of equine grass sickness, a presumed toxico-infectious form of botulism that leads to a frequently fatal dysautonomia. A full field trial is currently being planned in conjunction with several partners, including a commercial veterinary vaccine manufacturer based in the USA. We hope to commence this in early 2014, subject to further funding being pledged. In my capacity as Named Home Office Veterinary surgeon at the AHT am also heavily involved in the Home Office licensing and ethical review process linked to our infectious disease research programmes.