As the end of 2016 approaches, the Equine Disease Communication Center continues to report on cases of infectious horse diseases throughout the USA. The goal of the EDCC is to alert the horse industry about disease outbreak information to help mitigate and prevent the spread of disease.
Horse affected by an infectious disease
Thanks to the Equine Disease Communication Center, horse owners in the USA have access to timely information about outbreaks of infectious diseases such as equine herpes virus and strangles.
According to the EDCC, On Dec 26, 2016 the State Veterinarianâs Office in New Orleans, LA confirmed a positive PCR tests of nasal swabs and blood for the EHV-1 neurotropic strain in a 2-year old Thoroughbred gelding at the New Orleans Fairgrounds Race Track. The horse had been at the Fairgrounds since Dec 4, 2016 and broke with a fever on Dec 20th with no neurological signs.
The horse responded to symptomatic treatment until Dec 25th when it developed neurological signs, was subsequently euthanized on the 26th and taken to the LSU school of veterinary medicine for necropsy.
The horse was confined to its stall in Barn #14 since Dec 20th and had no direct contact with any other horses, but Barn 14, which houses 46 other horses, is currently under quarantine by the LA State Veterinarianâs Office.
Horses will be monitored and have temperatures twice daily with increased biosecurity on the premises. An investigation with the State Racing Commission is currently under way.
Enhanced biosecurity is in place for the barn and high traffic areas at the track and an after-hours exercise program has been implemented for the quarantined horses. A quarantine-isolation facility has been readied for use if a horse spikes a fever.
Trainers in other barns have been advised to voluntarily monitor their horsesâ temperatures and copies of a tracking log were distributed. Track records show that 8 horses left Barn 14 since Dec 20, 2016 when the index case became febrile and 7 of those horses are still at the Fairgrounds in other barns and are being monitored.
The 8th horse reportedly has left the premises and its destination is still under investigation. LDAF, USDA, and Racing Commission veterinarians, and track personnel are monitoring the incident on-site and updates will follow.
As of 12/28/2016, an outbreak of Equine Herpes Viruses cases in Inyo County, CA, appears to be contained with no new cases in the equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy outbreak. The premises continue under quarantine and California Department of Food and Agriculture continues to monitor the situation.
All confirmed positive horses continue to show improvement and are recovering. Additional testing of the previously three confirmed cases occurred today and results from CAHFS laboratory will be released Dec. 29th. For additional information go to: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html
In Los Angeles, CA, as of 7 AM on December 29, 2016, all horses in C Barn at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center have been released from the quarantine in place since November 3, 2016, for an outbreak of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM).
The isolation barns will continue under quarantine as additional EHV-1 testing will occur on the two horses remaining in isolation.Enhanced biosecurity measures continue for quarantined horses and horsesâ temperatures continue to be monitored twice daily. The last febrile case occurred on December 12, 2016.
A case of Strangles was confirmed on December 23, 2016, in Escambia County, Florida and the premise was placed under quarantine for strangles. Per the owner, the horse was imported from the Bastrop kill pen facility in Louisiana on December 20. No animals have left the facility since clinical signs began. This is the first case in Escambia County and the 24th case for Florida in 2016.
This information comes from The Equine Disease Communication Center which works to protect horses and the horse industry from the threat of infectious diseases in North America. The communication system is designed to seek and report real time information about disease outbreaks similar to how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerts the human population about diseases in people.