Two horses in San Joaquin County have been diagnosed with highly contagious equine herpes, a potentially fatal virus for which there is no vaccine. The horses were apparently exposed to the virus sometime between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10 during a visit to Tuolumne County, where seven horses have been stricken with the virus.The California Department of Food and Agriculture said both horses have been isolated and the property — the location of which was not revealed — has been quarantined.Equine herpes cannot be transmitted to humans. It can be spread through the air when horses sneeze, and it can be transmitted if they touch or share feed, brushes or bits.The state said there has been an increase in equine herpes in recent years, including several outbreaks at large horse events and facilities.
Showing posts with label horses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horses. Show all posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Five other Dixie Stampeded horses get equine herpes
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A total of six horses have been diagnosed with EHV1 from the Dixie Stampede herd.
The first horse, Sandy Jo, had to be euthanized over the weekend for getting the virus, known as equine herpes.
The virus spreads easily from horse to horse. It's transmitted through the air.
Now two American Paint, 2 American Quarter horses, and one Percheron also have the virus. They are now separated from the herd and being treated.
The Dixie Stampede says the prognosis for them is good and treatment at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center will continue.
The USDA has inspected Dixie Stampede and commended the facility on its disinfection and treatment protocol.
The symptoms to watch out for? Fever would come first, followed by wobbliness, muscle twitching, weakness, and inability to stand.
If your horse shows any of these you need to get it away from other horses, and get it checked out by a vet.
Dr. Dennis Geiser, the head of the UT Veterinary Center, said preventing the spread comes down to good hygiene.
"Keep them healthy, vaccinate them, deworm them, and just practice good hygiene on your farm, and especially when you go to horse shows and events. Not sharing buckets and brushes and other equipment that might get contaminated with secretions from another horse," he said.
Humans and other animals are not at risk for contracting equine herpes.
Posted by: Leslie Location: Tennessee on Sep 20, 2011 at 11:14 PMWow, we were other in Pigeon Forge this weekend, didnt know anything about it. Sorry to hear that a horse had to be put down. We went to the Dixie Stampede last year and watched a show. Great show and beautiful horses. So sad
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Symptoms Equine Herpes Virus Found in Idaho Horses
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is investigating what it's calling "a suspected outbreak" of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) within the state.
Horses may have been exposed to the severe neurological form of EHV-1 at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah held April 30-May 8, 2011. Confirmed and suspected cases of the disease have also been reported in Utah, Colorado and several other states.
Two Idaho horses that traveled to the event have died and several others are currently under the care of veterinarians.
State Veterinarian, Dr. Bill Barton is recommending horse owners incorporate strict movement controls or containment methods to prevent the spread of the disease. "If you participated in this event, or have contact with horses that traveled to this event, you should notify your veterinarian and isolate and monitor these horses for a minimum of 21 days for clinical signs of the disease," he said.
Equine Herpes Virus is highly contagious among horses. Llamas and alpacas can also be affected but the virus poses no health threat to humans.
Symptoms may include a fever, nasal discharge, incoordination, hind-end weakness, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. The virus is easily spread by airborne transmission, horse-to-horse contact and by contact with nasal secretions on equipment, tack, feed and other surfaces.
People can spread the virus to horses by means of contaminated hands, clothing, shoes and vehicles. Currently there is no equine vaccine for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.
"I encourage owners to frequently monitor their horses and contact their veterinarian immediately should any symptoms of illness be detected," said Dr. Barton.
EHV-1 is also a Notifiable Disease to the State Veterinarian in Idaho. Anyone suspecting or confirming a case of EHV-1 should call (208) 332-8540 or (208) 332-8570 to report cases.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Stressed show horses may spread equine herpes
Equine herpes, a highly contagious infection among horses that can be fatal, may spread when stressed out show horses come together for competitions, according to animal health experts.
That appears to have helped fuel the current equine herpes outbreak, which has killed at least 12 horses and sickened 72 others in 10 states so far. These states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
"Most adult horses are infected with the virus," Philip Johnson, a professor of equine internal medicine at the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine, told Discovery News. "Like most herpes viruses — human and animal — infection leads to a life-long association between the virus and the host. In most healthy horses most of the time, the host's immune system prevents the virus from going active and being especially contagious."
Given "the right circumstances," however, he said "the virus can defeat the constraints of the host's immune system and go active."
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Such circumstances likely were in place at the National Cutting Horse Association's Western National Championships held at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden, Utah, from April 29 to May 8. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this event resulted in 32 confirmed cases of equine herpes, with these horses later spreading the disease to other victims.
Johnson explained that while the virus can "go active in any horse at any time, it's very likely that the immune system has something to do with it. Congregated horses coming together to compete are stressed, adversely affecting the immune system's function."
Another factor is that the virus comes in two strains, with one strain more likely to cause neurological problems than the other. Symptoms can include a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, nasal discharge from the nostrils, unusual tiredness, weakness, leaning, urine dribbling, reduced tail tone, and a difficulty or inability to stand.
Direct horse-to-horse contact, breathing in the virus, contaminated hands of horse workers, and equipment, tack and food harboring the virus can all lead to transmission of the disease.
Bruce King, state veterinarian of Utah, shared that "EHV-1 (equine herpes) is not transmissible to people." But due to the "highly infectious" nature of this particular outbreak, numerous secondary cases in horses have occurred, leading to the "quarantine of the veterinary teaching hospitals in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Pullman, Washington."
King said "voluntary isolation" of infected horses is encouraged, "with a minimum of two temperatures taken and recorded per day on each horse."
Acting Arizona State Veterinarian John Hunt further recommends that "isolation and monitoring continue for 28 days after any clinical signs of disease are observed."
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Hunt agrees that the illness "poses no threat to humans," but Johnson said it could affect other animals, such as mules, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, giraffes and gazelles. So far, the latest outbreak seems to have only impacted horses.
Veterinarians may treat victims with anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-viral drugs and antibiotics for secondary infections. Slings and body padding could be required to help the horses stand up, while intravenous feeding and use of a urinary catheter may also provide additional medical support.
The disease has been documented for at least six decades, but it has resulted in a number of headline-generating outbreaks in recent years.
"It has been conjectured that horse owners subject their competitive horses to more intense confinement, more transport between shows, and stress and transport than they used to, making it easier for the activated virus to pass quickly between horses," Johnson said, adding that grouping "the horses more closely together in temporary housing at horse shows" could also facilitate spread of the disease.
Some vaccines provide protection against the less debilitating form of the virus, but they do not appear to protect against the neurological syndrome. Several virologists are now working on a vaccine that they hope will target this particularly virulent form of herpes.
© 2011 Discovery Channel
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Equine herpes outbreak kills 12 competition horses
LOXAHATCHEE, FL (WFLX) - Across 10 states, 12 horses are now dead and 72 others are suffering from an outbreak of equine herpes. There are reports that the sickness is spreading among competition horses.
"When your horse comes down, he's not riding alone. He's riding down with about six other horses," said Jennifer Swanson the co-founder of Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue, in Loxahatchee.
Symptoms of the virus include fevers of 102 degrees or higher, nasal discharge, weakness, and an inability to stand.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, equine herpes virus, 'myeloencephalopathy', can spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands.
People like Swanson are being vigilant when it comes to the health of their horses. "It transfers very easily. You can lose a horse before you realize there's even a problem," said Swanson.
Equine herpes is highly contagious, and once a horse has it, there is no cure. "A few years ago, some great, great horses were lost because of an outbreak," said Swanson.
The Florida Department of Agriculture is trying to stop the disease from spreading here. "Everybody has to have a health certificate to get into the state, that they check right at the border. They've communicated very well with us. Told us what horses we should and shouldn't get. What states to be concerned about," said Brad Gaver, Swanson's partner in her horse-rescue endeavor.
The folks at "Pure Thoughts" say it still pays off to be careful when it comes to transporting horses. "If you have a show horse that's shipping around, going from show to show, state to state, possibly traveling with other horses. If you're expecting a horse in. I would want to know who it's traveling with? What farms is it coming from?" said Swanson.
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