There have been 44 confirmed cases in nine western states of EHV-1. These include California, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho and Oregon.
As of September 7, 2011 there has been one isolated case in Michigan. It was in Richland. The mare was euthanized after having neurologic symptoms and a test was done, which confirmed it was EHV-1. The horse had not been off the farm nor had any other horse's been on or off the farm. As of now it is being treated as an isolated case. Please click here for the complete story.
What is EHV? (Equine Herpes Virus, Rhinopneumonitis)
EHV-1 is the equine herpes virus or rhinopneumonitis most known to cause respiratory infections and abortions in pregnant mares. Most horses have been exposed to EHV-1 but may or may not show clinical signs depending on the horse’s immune system, health and vaccination history. The EHV-1 virus has the ability to lay dormant in the horse after the initial exposure. Horses are most likely to show signs during stressful situations and signs may reoccur throughout the horse’s life. In the recent years, a strain of EHV-1 has been identified that causes neurologic signs i.e. ataxia (incoordination, hindend weakness) and urine and fecal retention. Researchers feel there has been a mutation of this neurologic strain that has caused the virus to replicate more rapidly and produce high levels in an infected horse. This mutant neurologic strain has a high death rate with no current treatment. It is not prevented by vaccination so a horse can be infected regardless of vaccination status.
How is it spread?
EHV-1 is highly contagious! It can spread through direct horse-horse contact, be carried on clothing, hands, tack and equipment (pitchforks, buckets, stalls) and even travel through the air. Horses that have been exposed to EHV-1 and are then put under a stressful situation (trailering, shows etc) may be shedding without showing clinical signs. This is the main problem in preventing the spread of the EHV-1 virus. Clinical signs of infection are nonspecific in the beginning – cough, nasal discharge, and low grade fever 101-102 F. After a horse is exposed, the virus incubates in the horse for 2-8 days. Therefore, the horse may not show any clinical signs for up to 8 days! Once the horse has a fever, the clinical signs may progress over the next 7 days.
What can you do?
For the protection of everyone’s horses, no horse that has a fever 101.5 or greater, nasal discharge or coughing should be trailered off their property until signs resolve or are checked by a veterinarian. If any horse is suspected of having the neurologic form of EHV-1, that horse should be quarantined immediately from all other animals. In a boarding stable, put the horse in a stall as far as possible from other horses and only use buckets, tack and designated pitchforks for that horse. Only one person should be in charge of that horse’s care and that person should not touch any other horses until clothes have been changed and hands washed or showered.
Do not move any horses on or off the property of the suspect horse until an infection has been confirmed. Any horse that has been to an event or barn that has a suspected EHV-1 case should have their temperature monitored twice a day and be isolated until the cases have been confirmed or denied.
Equipment or stalls need to be disinfected! One part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water is effective for EHV-1. Other commercial disinfectants are available through your local veterinary clinic. The virus does not last long in the environment but disinfection is important for reducing the spread.
For information about quarantine procedures and biosecurity, please click here.
Click on the following link for an article from UC Davis Center for Equine Health.EHV Article
Also check out the AAEP website for the most current information.
Other Equine Health Alerts
Strangles (strep equi)-
As of 3/22/11 we have seen cases of strangles in our practice area. Be sure to take precautions! If you are purchasing a new horse, quarantine the horse for at least 3-4 weeks and remember we can always take a nasal swab for strep equi culture. A strangles vaccine is recommended for horses traveling and in a high traffic situations, such as training and boarding barns.
Symptoms include high fever, nasal discharge and lumps under the jaw. Please contact us with any questions.
Feed your horse, not parasites!
One of the top reasons horses have difficulty keeping weight on is due to a heavy parasite load. Fecal parasite checks are an inexpensive, easy way to know what parasites your horse has. Why not just deworm your horse? If you check for parasites first, this will help you know what specific parasites to treat your horse for. This helps you know what medication is most appropriate to deworm your horse with. Some parasites are also resistant to certain medications so this can help you know whether or not the medication you give is actually working to get rid of parasites. All you need to do is drop off a fecal sample at the clinic.
Straight from the horse’s mouth!
Dental problems are a common cause of weight loss. A complete oral examination and teeth floating could help your horse chew better, use feed more efficiently and even perform better in the ring. It could even help prevent future colic. We typically recommend dental work be done yearly, but some horses need this more frequently or may need specialty dentistry work. Signs that your horse may need dental work could include but are not limited to dropping feed when eating, packing feed in cheeks, pain when bridling and poor performance. If you are worried about your horse’s mouth call us for an appointment.
Not sure what to feed or how to feed it?
Call us or make an appointment for a nutrition consultation. We can help you evaluate your feeding program or make changes for weight gain or weight loss as needed.
Beadle Lake Large Animal Clinic 7115 Tower Road Battle Creek, MI 49014 Hours:Monday & Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM