Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) is a devastating disease with an 80% fatality rate and can occur anywhere in the UK where equids are kept. Despite being known about for over 100 years, the cause remains unknown, as research has been hampered by a lack of samples from EGS cases and co-grazer controls. The EGS Biobank is a project initiated by The Moredun Foundation and the EGSF and funded by the British Horse Society for three years. It collects case reports, and biological and environmental samples, correctly processed and stored, which will be available to all researchers investigating EGS. The key to the disease will likely lie in these samples, so the biobank is critical to research progress.
In the development of this valuable resource, we have established a network of veterinary practices who have kindly donated samples from EGS cases with the horse owners' consent. We have made this as easy as possible for the vet by supplying a sample kit, protocols, and consent forms, and offer a flat fee for vets undertaking post-mortem tissue collection. Biobank for Vets – Equine Grass Sickness Fund
We now have samples from more than 70 EGS cases, but we need many more to investigate the causal agents, so please ask the horse owners permission to take samples if you are dealing with a case. All samples, but particularly post-mortem ganglia and ileum, are very welcome!
We would like to thank the veterinary practices below for all their work on our behalf to try to solve the puzzle of this devastating disease. The research projects we have planned with our collaborators, using biobank samples, are aimed at furthering our understanding of the disease and finding the causal agents. Only then can we develop solutions.
Please contact Beth Wells, EGS Project Lead, Moredun Research Institute beth.wells@moredun.ac.uk or 07584 438062
A huge thank you to:
Aberlour Veterinary Centre
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
Anchorage Barn Equine Clinic
Ardene House Vet Practice
Ark Veterinary Centre
Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic
Bransby Horses
Clyde Vet Group
Conanvet
Deben Valley Vets
Dunnydeer Veterinary Group
Eden Veterinary Practice
Endell Equine Hospital
Farm Post Mortems Ltd.
Flett & Carmichael Veterinary surgeons
Forth Valley Veterinary Practice
Fraser and Fraser Vets
Gillivervet
Glasgow Equine Hospital & Practice
Hambleton Equine Clinic
Hawick Veterinary Practice
House and Jackson Veterinary Hospital
Kessock Equine Vets
Liphook Equine Practice
Loch Leven Equine Practice
Moray Coast Vet Group
Paragon Vets
Perth Equine Vets
Rainbow Equine Hospital
Rase Vet Centre
Rossdales
Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
SRUC
Stanley House Vets
Strathbogie Vets
Strathspey Veterinary Centre
Sussex Equine Hospital
Tay Valley Vets
Three Counties Equine Hospital
Two Rivers Veterinary Practice
Woodside Veterinary Group
Wright and Morten