The Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) outbreak continues to expand in Wyoming. Cases have been reported in horses on 6 different premises in Goshen County to date. Eight premises in Platte County have recently been quarantined. Cases in Platte County involve both horses and cattle.
Horse with Vesicular Stomatitis blisters on muzzle
Cases pf Vesicular Stomatitis continue to expand in Wyoming with 14 new cases confirmed through the end of August 2015.
Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral blister-forming disease affecting humans and livestock, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, llamas, and alpacas. Vesicular stomatitis virus is the only one of the blister-forming viruses to affect horses, which differentiates it from other devastating diseases of livestock such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
The vesicles burst after a day or two leaving ulcerative sores. Horses with mouth lesions may avoid food and water and may drool copiously, in fact excess salivation is often one of the first signs noted. Horses with coronary band lesions may become lame, and weight loss is not uncommon.
The disease generally runs its course within two weeks. While it causes significant economic loss and pain/debilitation to the horse, VS is generally not fatal.
Prevention
Basic sanitation and biosecurity measures provide the best prevention against VS spread. Infected horses should be quarantined and handled and fed last â after all of the healthy animals on the farm have been cared for.
People handling infected horses should shower, change clothing, and disinfect all equipment after use. Latex gloves should be worn by those handling infected horses to reduce the risk of transmission between horses and from the horse to the handler.
Basic farm biosecurity should involve:
- Fly and insect control
- Individual feeders and equipment
- Regular cleaning of feeders, waterers, trailers, and other equipment
- Isolation of new horses for 21 days
- Providing good nutrition and a regular exercise, vaccination, and deworming schedule since healthy horses are likely to have stronger immune systems.
A vaccine does exist for VS; however, since use of the vaccine will result in a positive antibody test, its use is regulated by government officials and is only to be used in certain situations.