The Connecticut Horse
Council, Inc.
EHV Alert #5 January 16th
2007
For
Immediate Release:
CHC would like to report that Dr. Stewart Beckett DVM,
Chairman of the Board for The Connecticut Horse Council, Inc. attended a
meeting convened by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
Equine Committee which took place on January 15th. This meeting was specific to
the current outbreaks of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) in the state. Connecticut
state veterinarian Dr. Mary Jane Lis DVM was also present.
The CVMA equine committee
came to the following consensus at this meeting:
Currently, the risk of horses contracting EHV is
probably no greater than it was earlier in the fall. The horse confirmed as
positive at Fairfield Equine Associates (FEA) lived by himself for the last
year, had surgery on his leg(s) and spiked a high fever. There were no other
signs, but he was swabbed in light of the Florida situation and it came back
positive for EHV. This horse recovered uneventfully and never exhibited any
neurological signs.
The University of Connecticut (UConn) horses had an
outbreak in the polo barn that has spread through the barn like a typical
respiratory infection as time has passed. It started Jan. 3 with neurologic
signs in 3 animals, with fevers following in the others. Usually the horses
have fevers first, then signs. The fevers are persistent and not well
controlled with banamine. In the UConn case perhaps the fevers were missed
earlier because they showed no signs to suspect any illness.
There is no known connection between these cases. No one
knows of any other horses in CT so affected. It is thought that all horses get
EHV at a weanling age and carry it with them for life, just like humans with
colds and cold sores. The disease then shows up after periods of stress such as
long distance hauling, extreme physical exertion, etc. Immunity is short
duration with vaccines or clinical infection just like our cold viruses. These
cases both seem to be animals that were stressed and independently broke with the
disease because of the stress. This virus has been documented for at least
35 years, and is thought to be the same or similar to the virus that causes
abortion in pregnant broodmares.
Therefore, if these are independent cases that developed
spontaneously, then not showing or riding would not help other horses, although
contact with sick or recovering animals should always be avoided.
Vaccines provide some help in preventing the
disease signs, but they are not great. No vaccine has been proven to be better
than the others in efficacy. Protective antibodies are only demonstrable for 2
months after vaccination or infection.
Temperatures of the horses are valid signs and a good
monitoring technique. In the event of an outbreak, temperatures should be monitored
twice daily. Horses showing high temperatures should be moved to isolation at
the first rise of temperature.
Biosecurity will become more important with horses. Buckets
and tack should stay with one individual or cleaned in appropriate disinfectant.
Hand washing between horses and barns is important, as well as limiting the
people that handle the horses.
*****
The meeting convened by CVMA came after reports of EHV
outbreaks in other states, as well as two confirmed reports of outbreaks in
Connecticut at Fairfield Equine Associates and the University of Connecticut.
Also as a result of the two confirmed outbreaks in Connecticut, The Department
of Agriculture decided to postpone a scheduled sale of rescued horses that was
to take place at UConn. Additionally, the University decided to cancel the
Horse Symposium scheduled for March 24th & 25th. In
place of the Symposium, there will be a conference on equine health and
management scheduled for March 24th.
It should be noted that this virus is not transmissible
to humans.
CHC takes all issues regarding horse health very
seriously, and we will continue to stay in communication with the Connecticut
state veterinarian and CVMA. As information becomes available, we will make
every effort to keep our members informed. Horse owners who have specific questions about EHV should
contact their veterinarians directly. For more information about this release
or for current updates, please visit the Connecticut Horse Council, Inc.
website at www.cthorsecouncil.org or contact CHC President Amy
Stegall president@cthorsecouncil.org
or CHC Chairman Dr. Stewart
Beckett chip@beckettvet.com