Equine Canada Encourages Owners Test for Equine Infectious Anemia

September 14, 2011 - Ottawa - Equine Canada's Health and Welfare Committee would like to remind Canadian horse owners that Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)is a potentially fatal viral disease that is constantly present, to some degree, in the Canadian equine population.  All individuals involved in the Canadian horse industry should be vigilant about monitoring and testing for EIA, commonly referred to as "swamp fever."  

At this time there is no cure for EIA, nor is there a vaccine that will prevent an animal from becoming infected. However, the EIA test is consistently reliable in detecting the presence of antibodies regardless of whether the infection is acute, chronic or unapparent.  Horses should be tested whenever there is potential for them to be cohabitating and intermingling with other horses.  This includes, but is not limited to, boarding and breeding stables, race tracks, horse shows and other events where horses come together for competitive or recreational purposes.

 

Equine Canada strongly recommends that all horse owners have their horses tested regularly for EIA. Proof of a negative EIA test is an entry requirement for many competitions, and other activities involving the movement and co-mingling of horses including border crossings.  

For more information and data on the number of cases in your province or region, please refer to the following links on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) web site.  Contact your veterinarian for advice on how to best protect your horse(s) against EIA.  

CFIA EIA Fact Sheet

CFIA Canadian Equine Infectious Anemia Control Program   

CFIA Equine Infectious Anemia - Statistical Report (2001-2010) 

About Equine Canada Health Alerts

Equine Canada is recognized by the Government of Canada, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Industry Canada, and Sport Canada, as the national body overseeing interests related to horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, and owners, riders and drivers across Canada.   We regularly communicate on herd health and welfare issues through our nationally distributed Health Alerts, national bi-monthly magazine, electronic newsletters, web site and Facebook.   You can sign-up to receive our news, including Health Alerts, here.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is Canada's national governing body for equestrianism.  A member-driven, charitable institution, it is the executive branch of the Canadian Equestrian Team, and the national authority for equestrian competition; the national voice for recreational riders; and the national association for equine welfare, breeding, and industry.  Equine Canada is recognised by the Government of Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the national organisation representing equestrian sport and equine interests. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

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