This report collates information provided by diagnostic laboratories in Lexington, Kentucky, University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) and Equine Diagnostic Solutions, Inc. We also want to thank IDEXX laboratories providing data for Germany.
Colorful line of horses grazing in a pasture.
This report summarizes heightened activity of several relevant contagious or environment-linked diseases among equids.
© 2017 by Lubos Chlubny
We have further included information from the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation, the International Collating Centre (ICC) in Newmarket/ Cambridge, United Kingdom, and information from the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).
This report summarizes heightened activity of several relevant contagious or environment-linked diseases among equids. We encourage everyone to report laboratory- confirmed (toxico)infectious disease of Equidae to the ICC in Cambridge, UK, or EDCC, USA. With few exceptions (Ecuador and Chile), reports are from Europe and North America.
Information from all our sources again for the second quarter shows Strep. equi spp. equi (Strangles) as the most frequently and consistently diagnosed equine pathogen. Reports from various sources reflect ‘newly diagnosed’ infection from North America and Europe.
There have been sporadic reports of equine influenza virus, both from Europe (UK and NL) and North America (mainly from the Pacific Northwest). Many mares are in or entering their third trimester of pregnancies.
Not surprisingly, the numbers for EHV- 1 (and incidental EHV-4) abortions are up for this quarter. Kentucky reports incidental cases. Continuing into the second quarter of 2024, there have been more cases of EHV-1 neurologic disease (EHM) cases/outbreaks, both in North America and Northern Europe.
We report three cases of Coital exanthema (EHV-3) from France.
USA reports a small outbreak of CEM (Taylorella equigenitalis) in central Florida. CEM was diagnosed in a pony mare after natural cover. Subsequently, the stallion, but also a gelding and a separate pony stallion, tested positive. Germany reports four positive cases of CEM for this quarter.
A cluster of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) cases was detected in Texas; and single cases in a few other states or provinces in North America. A single case of EIA was identified in Chile.
The Southeast United States reports a number of Eastern Encephalitis virus cases, which is early in the season. In addition, there was one report of Eastern Encephalitis from Ecuador. Last, but not least, it is the season for grass sickness (equine dysautonomia) with almost 20 cases reported from the United Kingdom.
Press release by Equine Disease Quarterly, Lutz Goehring, DVM, MS, PhD, Dip. ACVIM/ECEIM
Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
University of Kentucky