Published Date: 2012-05-12 10:44:56
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Equine Herpesvirus, equine - North America: (08) USA (TN)
Archive Number: 20120512.1130670
EQUINE HERPESVIRUS, EQUINE - NORTH AMERICA: (08) USA (TENNESSEE)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: 10 May 2012
Source: The Horse.com [edited]
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20000
Suspected EHV-1 Reported in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has received reports of suspected cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection in horses that participated in a recent trail ride in Tennessee.
Six to 8 suspected cases of the neurological form of EHV-1 have been reported to the state veterinarian's office. Horses are being treated, isolated, and monitored by their attending veterinarian.
The affected horses might have been exposed to EHV-1 during the Bucksnort Trail Ride, held 23-30 Apr 2011 in Humphreys County. The event drew approximately 100 horses from multiple states. The movement of horses that attended the event is being restricted on a case by case basis.
TDA animal health officials are working with event organizers, neighboring state veterinarians and private veterinarians to identify other horses that may have been exposed or are exhibiting clinical signs of disease.
As a precaution, State Veterinarian Charles Hatcher, DVM, recommends horse owners who participated in the Bucksnort event work with their veterinarian to restrict movement and to monitor their horses. Hatcher also recommends that isolation and monitoring horses for 28 days if any clinical signs of disease are observed. Veterinarians should report suspected or confirmed neurological cases of EHV-1 to the State Veterinarian's office at 615/837-5120.
Although it's not transmissible to humans, EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses and camelids [camels, alpacas, llamas, etc] and it is generally passed from horse to horse via aerosol transmission (when affected animals sneeze/cough) and contact with nasal secretions. The disease can cause a variety of ailments in equines, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (EHM [Equine Herpes myeloencephalopathy], the neurologic form).
Myeloencephalopathy is characterized by fever, ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and incontinence. Should a horse with potential EHV-1 exposure display any of the aforementioned clinical signs, a veterinarian should be called to obtain samples and test for the disease.
Communicated by:
Promed Mail from HealthMap alerts
[This is a disease that has a profound effect on horses and owners. Horses have a very tough time recovering from this disease and owners have a difficult time treating, or euthanizing their pets/companions.
Currently, no EHV-1 equine vaccine has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.
This disease is not to be toyed with. Owners should heed the words of the veterinarians. Enforce the rest and isolation of your horse. Protect your horse and other horses as well.
Tennessee may be found on the interactive healthmap at: http://healthmap.org/r/1FX0
- Mod.TG]
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Horse owners, your attention to where you travel and co-mingle is important to your horse's health. Keep detailed health and travel records and consult a Veterinary Doctor if you detect any health irregularity. See below re EHV-1
Subject: Equine Herpesvirus-1
A horse in Douglas County, Colo., has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1, according to a statement from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), and the facility at which the horse resided has been placed under quarantine.
The horse was recently transported from Iowa by a private owner and was euthanized after showing "severe neurologic signs associated with the disease," according to the CDA release. The positive test result came on May 11, said Kate Anderson, DVM, program administrator of the CDA Bureau of Animal Protection.
Anderson told TheHorse.com that all other horses that had been in contact with the affected animal are quarantined and are being monitored closely for signs of disease or an elevated temperature. Anderson said that none of the other horses have shown signs of disease at this point.
"The Department is taking quick and appropriate actions to control and mitigate this disease," added State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. "We will continue to trace the movement of this horse and those horses it came into contact with in order to protect Colorado's equine industry."
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20023&src=EM
