Please help us fight this devastating disease:
Equine Grass Sickness Biobank Project
The Moredun Foundation and The Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF), with generous support from the British Horse Society, have launched a nationwide biobank to gather samples relevant to grass sickness research.
Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) is a devastating disease of equines that affects otherwise healthy animals with a sudden onset, and around 80% of cases are euthanised on welfare grounds. Despite the disease being recognised for over 100 years, progress with research into the causal agents involved in EGS has been hampered by the lack of suitable samples from EGS cases, co-grazers and their environment.
This study aims to address this, so that these animals have not died in vain. In future, researchers can apply to the EGSF to use the samples in appropriate projects to further EGS research. It is essential that the causal agents are established so that EGS cases can be prevented in future.
Horse and pony owners and equine vets have a crucial part to play in this project, to help progress research by submitting samples from grass sickness cases, co-grazers and their environment to the biobank.
The samples may be horse-related samples obtained by your vet, and/or environment related samples which owners will be able to submit themselves.
More details about the Biobank Project and relevant downloads are available at https://grasssickness.org.uk/research/egs-biobank-horse-owner-information/ or please contact: Dr Kathy Geyer Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ; email kathy.geyer@moredun.ac.uk
In addition to collecting biological and environmental samples, we also encourage the reporting of all EGS cases, including chronic survivors. Collecting this data will help us to estimate the prevalence and location of the disease, and cross reference against weather and soil data. It also helps identify potential risk factors and close in on the causal agent.
Please complete our anonymous case questionnaire here:
https://grasssickness.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/equine-grass-sickness-biobank-case-report-questionnaire
For any further information please contact: Dr Kathy Geyer Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ; kathy.geyer@moredun.ac.uk