Health Alert: Equine Herpes Virus
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed that 2 horses in Los Angeles County have tested positive for equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1). "On November 3, 2016, a 5 year old Saddlebred displaying severe neurologic signs and a 10 year old Saddlebred displaying moderate neurologic signs were confirmed a positive for the non neuropathogenic strain equine herpesvirus-1 at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory," a CDFA statem said. "Due to severity of clinical signs, the 5 year old horse was euthanized on Nov. 3. The department has issued a quarantine for exposed horses a the facility and has implemented enhanced biosecurity measures. All exposed horses will have temperatures taken twice daily and be observed for clinical signs compatible with EHV."
The CDFA said the two horses that tested positive, along with 4 others, recently returned from a horse show in Las Vegas, Nevada, that took place October 27 -29.
"These horses returned to the California home premises on Oct. 30," the CDFA said. "Out of an abundance of caution, show management has notified trainers/owners participating in the event to recommend twice daily temperature monitoring and observation of compatible clinical signs."
Equine herpes virus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses)m abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (the neurologic form). In many horses, fever is the only sign of EHV-1 infection, which can go undetected.
In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur anywhere from 2 weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
Horses with neurologic form usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia(incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has confirmed that 2 horses in Los Angeles County have tested positive for equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1). "On November 3, 2016, a 5 year old Saddlebred displaying severe neurologic signs and a 10 year old Saddlebred displaying moderate neurologic signs were confirmed a positive for the non neuropathogenic strain equine herpesvirus-1 at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory," a CDFA statem said. "Due to severity of clinical signs, the 5 year old horse was euthanized on Nov. 3. The department has issued a quarantine for exposed horses a the facility and has implemented enhanced biosecurity measures. All exposed horses will have temperatures taken twice daily and be observed for clinical signs compatible with EHV."
The CDFA said the two horses that tested positive, along with 4 others, recently returned from a horse show in Las Vegas, Nevada, that took place October 27 -29.
"These horses returned to the California home premises on Oct. 30," the CDFA said. "Out of an abundance of caution, show management has notified trainers/owners participating in the event to recommend twice daily temperature monitoring and observation of compatible clinical signs."
Equine herpes virus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses)m abortion in broodmares, and myeloencephalopathy (the neurologic form). In many horses, fever is the only sign of EHV-1 infection, which can go undetected.
In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur anywhere from 2 weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
Horses with neurologic form usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia(incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.