The Equine Veterinary Journal editors have compiled 30 papers from international collaborations for a March 2026 special focus on equine infectious disease and microbiology, free to view for 12 weeks.

Science in brief: Equine Infectious Disease and Microbiology is edited by Julia Kydd and Celia Marr with guest editors Macarena Sanz, Tessa LeCuyer and Laura Peachey.

The issue groups papers around national disease surveillance, the need for definitive diagnosis in some infections, and cross-species comparisons for pathogens affecting multiple species.

Diagnostics papers cover techniques for equine fever, equine influenza and equine gastrointestinal parasites, with the editors noting these developments should help speed biosecurity implementation to limit transmission.

Gastrointestinal papers include metabolic profiling for earlier insights into equine proliferative disease in foals, potential colitis aetiology, and the importance of additional testing for chronic hepatitis and liver failure in hepacivirus cases.

Two antimicrobial papers address resistance, one suggesting that prophylaxis beyond 24 hours is unnecessary to prevent post-surgical complications after colic surgery.

Respiratory studies include multiple strangles papers concluding prevention needs thorough screening, consistent quarantine, close monitoring and interconnected reporting.

The section also includes a special collection on the equine microbiome, updating EVJ’s 2019 collection and flagging progress over the past seven years.

Julia Kydd said: “The considerable and diverse research efforts within this Special Focus will ultimately improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment and control of many pathogens.

“The eventual aim is to prevent or minimise the impact of future outbreaks.”

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20423306/2026/58/2