EqStim BenefitsConsistent performanceMicrobial resistance can be a problem with antibiotics, because these drugs typically have only one mode of action. EqStim stimulates a multi-faceted attack by the horse’s own immune system.

FlexibleEqStim’s recommended treatment regimen (one intrave-nous injection every three days for three injections) is the optimal dosage schedule for complete immune stimulation. However, depending on an individual horse’s response, EqStim’s multi-dose therapy allows the veterinarian to customize the patient’s care by amending the dose and number of treatments.

SafeEqStim does not employ any adjuvants (oil-based adjuvants have been implicated in adverse side effects when adminis-tered intravenously). EqStim is safe to use in adult horses, ponies, and foals.

As with any equine biological, in rare instances EqStim may induce a mild, transient increase in body temperature, inap-petance, and lethargy.

Cost EffectiveBecause EqStim enhances the horse’s first line of defense, the immune system, and shortens the recovery period from illness, there are substantial savings from the reduction in use of expensive antibiotics, lost training time, and missed performances.

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EqStim® Immunostimulant

References1. Davis, Elizabeth G., DVM, DACVIM, et al. Increases in cytokine and antimicrobial peptide

gene expression in horses by immunomodulation with Propionibacterium acnes. Veterinary Therapeutics. Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2003, pp. 5-11.

2. Vail, Charles D., DVM, et al. Adjunct treatment of equine respiratory disease complex (ERDC) with the Propionibacterium acnes immunostimulant, EqStim®. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Volume 10, Number 6, November-December 1990, pp. 399-400, 402-403.

3. Evans, Dan R., DVM, et al. Inactivated Propionibacterium acnes (ImmunoRegulin®) as ad-junct to conventional therapy in the treatment of equine respiratory diseases. Equine Practice, Volumn 10, Number 6, June 1998, pp. 17-21.

4. Tizard, Ian, PhD, BVMS, MRCVS, et al. Round-table discussion (37th annual AAEP meet-ing, Dec 1-4, 1991) EqStim® immunostimulant. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Volumn 12, Number 4, 1992, pp. 209-214.

5. Nestved, Arthur, DVM. Evaluation of an immunostimulant in preventing shipping stress re-lated respiratory disease. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Volumn 16, Number 2, 1996, pp. 78- 82.

6. Rohrbach, Barton W., VMD, MPH, DACVPM, et al. Effects of adjunctive treatment with intravenously administered Propionibacterium acnes on reproductive performance in mares with persistent endometritis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Vol-umn 231, Number 1, July 1 2007, pp. 107-13.

7. Flaminio MJ, et al. Immunologic function in horses after non-specific immunostimulant ad-ministration. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, Volumn 63, Number 4, 1998, pp. 303-15.

© 2008, Neogen Corporation. Neogen, EqStim and ImmunoRegulin are registered trademarks of Neogen Corporation, Lansing, Mich.

944 Nandino Blvd., Lexington, KY 40511800/525-2022 or 859/254-1221 • Fax: 800/255-1168

www.neogen.com • e-mail: inform@neogen.com

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EqStim & ERDCEqStim & Equine Respiratory Disease Complex (ERDC)While several viruses have been identified as causes of equine respiratory disease complex, the clinical signs and consequenc-es are similar: cough, fever, nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, loss of appetite, lethargy, slow recovery from exertion, and missed training.

Even before clinical signs of ERDC fully appear, the effects of reduced respiratory function may be apparent in a horse’s per-formance. Therefore, it is imperative to promptly treat a horse at the first indication of respiratory compromise. Competition horses placed at increased risk for ERDC due to frequent, lengthy transportation, busy show environments, exposure to large num-bers of other horses, and other stressful situations may be treated prophylactically. If neglected, ERDC can escalate into secondary bacterial lung infections that may result in chronic problems and permanent damage to the horse’s respiratory tract.

What causes ERDC?Common causes of ERDC include:

[ Equine herpesvirus (rhinopneumonitis)

[ Equine influenza virus

[ Equine arteritis virus

[ Equine adenovirus

Common secondary bacterial infections:

[ Streptococcus zooepidemicus

[ Streptococcus equi (strangles)

[ Rhodococcus equi

Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and viruses all contribute to ERDC. Can EqStim be used regardless of the causative agent?EqStim should not be confused with vaccines, which typically produce a pathogen-specific antibody response. EqStim generates a general, non-specific immune response, and is therefore effec-tive against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and viral pathogens.

Further ReadingStudies5,6 are available for review pertaining to EqStim use in mares with persistent endometritis, as well as prophylactic use in performance horses shipped over long distances.

Nestved, Arthur, DVM. Evaluation of an immunostimulant in preventing shipping stress related respiratory disease. Journal of Equine Veterinary Sci-ence. Volumn 16, Number 2, 1996, pp. 78- 82.

Rohrbach, Barton W., VMD, MPH, DACVPM, et al. Effects of adjunc-tive treatment with intravenously administered Propionibacterium acnes on reproductive performance in mares with persistent endometritis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Volumn 231, Number 1, July 1 2007, pp. 107-13.

For copies of these articles, please contact Neogen at 800/525-2022 or inform@neogen.com.

Product DescriptionEqStim® is an immune stimulant, labeled as an adjunct thera-py to antibiotics in the treatment of equine respiratory disease complex (ERDC). EqStim’s active ingredient is a whole cell in-activated bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes, which is a proven potent stimulator of innate immunity. When EqStim is admin-istered via IV, it is rapidly removed from the bloodstream by macrophages in the liver, lungs, and spleen. These macrophages engulf (phagocytize) P. acnes and “turn on” the immune system by producing interferons and interleukins (cytokines), stimulat-ing natural killer cells, and activating T-lymphocytes.

ImmunotherapyUnlike antibiotics and vaccines, which target specific ERDC causal agents, an immune stimulant activates a non-specific im-mune response to target many agents that a horse’s immune system may recognize as a threat. Because of this rapid and gen-eral response, immunotherapy is a valuable addition to standard treatments for both bacterial and viral ERDC organisms. The use of an immune stimulant, either prophylactically or before an infection becomes fully established, can reduce the severity of clinical illness, the likelihood of tissue damage (e.g. lungs), and the spread of disease, which ultimately shortens the horse’s re-covery time.

Years of investigation support effectivenessSince its first use nearly 20 years ago, numerous research articles have been written, describing the diverse benefits of P. acnes and demonstrating that P. acnes is safe and effective in the treatment of ERDC. Clinical trials2,3 of respiratory disease in horses con-firm that including P. acnes with antibiotic therapy significantly increases the degree of improvement and the number of com-plete recoveries when compared to antibiotic treatment alone. One study2 showed horses diagnosed with ERDC and treated with both P. acnes and antibiotics had a 96% response rate, compared to a 35% response rate for horses treated with antibiotics alone.

Insight into the mechanism of immunityRecent studies1,7 by researchers at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine investigated the mechanism of immunity to P. acnes. Re-sults of these studies indicate that CD4+ T-lymphocyte concentration, lymphokine activated killer cell activity, and macrophage phagocytic activity increases through amplified IFN-γ and NK-lysin gene expression. Earlier findings revealed that IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, cyto-kines essential for proper helper T-lymphocyte function, are also released by macrophages activated within a few hours of P. acnes ad-ministration4.