As of January 1, 2013, the state of Utah has made Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) a reportable disease. Equine Viral Arteritis is primarily a respiratory disease, but can be transmitted during breeding.
Equine Viral Arteritis - Reportable disease in Utah
Although Equine Viral Arteritis causes no clinical signs in many horses, it may cause respiratory infections, abortion in pregnant mares, and severe swelling of the legs, causing lameness.
Although it causes no clinical signs in many horses, it may cause respiratory infections, abortion in pregnant mares, and severe swelling of the legs, causing lameness. The incubation period varies from 2 to 13 days, with an average incubation period of 7 days.
Stallions are long-term carriers and shedders of the disease because the virus is testosterone-dependent, and the virus may become established in the secondary sex glands. Stallions may also spread the virus by the respiratory route during the first weeks after the initial infection. Mares, geldings, and foals that are infected may shed the virus for a couple of weeks, but virus transmission usually ends within three weeks.
Halters, other tack, water buckets, corral fences, transport trailers, and anything a horse can breathe on may become contaminated with the virus, and it may be transmitted to other horses in close proximity via the respiratory route.
Details of the ruling regarding reporting of Equine Viral Arteritis include the following:
Promulgated under authority of Title 4, Subsection 4-2-2(1)(i). It is the intent of this rule to eliminate or reduce the spread of Equine Viral Arteritis among equids by providing for a protocol for handling of equids and semen infected and/or exposed to Equine Arteritis Virus.
R58-23-2. Definitions.
(A) Accredited Veterinarian - means a veterinarian approved by the Deputy Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) in accordance with provisions of 9 CFR Part 161.
(B) Approved Facility - means a facility that has current written approval from the State Veterinarian to house and/or breed a carrier stallion in the state of Utah.
(C) Approved Laboratory - means a laboratory that has been approved by the State Veterinarian.
(D) Carrier Stallion - means any stallion that tests positive for EAV, but has no proof of a negative semen test.
(E) Equine or Equid - means any animal in the family Equidae, including, but not limited to horses, asses, mules, ponies, and zebras.
(F) Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) - means an infectious disease of equids caused by Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV). The disease is characterized by abortion in pregnant mares, illness and death in young foals, inflammation of blood vessels resulting in edema and the potential of establishing a carrier state in stallions.
(G) Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV) - means the viral organism that causes Equine Viral Arteritis.
(H) EVA Positive - means an equid who has been identified as having tested positive to EAV.
R58-23-3. Importation of Stallions.
(A) All stallions used for breeding entering Utah shall be tested for Equine Viral Arteritis by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to entry.
(B) Exceptions to the above (R58-23-3(A)) are stallions that have proof of negative EVA status prior to vaccination and proof of subsequent yearly vaccination.
R58-23-4. Importation of EVA Positive Equids and Semen.
(A) All equids imported into Utah shall be in compliance with R58-1-6.
(B) No EVA carrier stallion used for breeding purposes shall be permitted to enter into Utah without a prior permit from the State Veterinarian.
(C) No semen from a carrier stallion shall be permitted to enter into Utah without a prior permit from the State Veterinarian.
(D) All EVA Carrier Stallions, used for breeding purposes, imported into Utah shall be taken directly to an approved facility and shall remain on said facility until permission from the State Veterinarian is obtained to move the animal to another approved facility.
(E) All semen from an EVA Carrier Stallion imported into Utah shall be shipped directly to an approved facility and shall remain on said facility until inseminated, transported to another approved facility and/or disposed of.
R58-23-5. Handling of EVA Positive Equids and Semen.
(A) All stallions used for breeding purposes identified as EVA positive shall have their semen tested by an accredited veterinarian at an approved laboratory prior to breeding of said stallion.
(B) All carrier stallions used for breeding purposes shall be housed and maintained at an approved facility until permission from the State Veterinarian is given to move the stallion to another approved facility.
(C) All EVA infected semen shall only be collected, handled, evaluated, received, packaged and/or administered on an approved facility.
R58-23-6. Requirements for an Approved Facility.
(A) All equids, including but not limited to stallions, mares and geldings, on approved facilities shall be vaccinated for EVA no less than 21 days before the start of breeding season or no less than 21 days before arriving at an approved facility.
(B) Mares being bred to a carrier stallion, or inseminated with semen from a carrier stallion, shall remain on the approved facility for a minimum of 21 days after the initial breeding date.
(C) Adequate biosecurity precautions shall be in place during the breeding season. The adequacy of biosecurity may be monitored periodically by the Utah Department of Agriculture.
R58-23-7. Equine Viral Arteritis is a Reportable Disease.
(A) All EVA positive equids shall be reported to the State Veterinarian by the private veterinary practitioner immediately upon receiving a positive laboratory report on EVA.
(B) All EVA positive test results processed at a state owned laboratory shall be immediately reported to the State Veterinarian.
(C) The State Veterinarian may require testing of any stallion suspected of being exposed to EAV.
Read more about Equine Viral Arteritis