Infectious disease risk is everywhere. Thankfully, we can mitigate these risks and protect horses from infectious disease through effective and efficient vaccination, along with proper biosecurity measures.
Veterinarian vaccinating a horse with the aid of an intern.
Beyond determining which diseases to vaccinate against consider the duration of protection a vaccine provides since some may need to be given annually, while others require additional booster shots.
© 2013 by Karin Belgrave New window.
Pathogenic microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, can cause infectious disease in horses and can be spread — animal to animal, insects to animal, environment to animal, and even at times, from animals to humans. Horses that contract an infectious disease may experience poor performance, short and long-term health issues and even death.
Vaccination is one of the most efficient and effective methods of protecting horses against infectious disease by stimulating the horse’s immune system, mimicking the exposure to the infectious organism without causing disease.
Building a Vaccination Program
A “standard” vaccination protocol for all horses does not exist. Each individual horse’s situation requires an evaluation to determine contributing risk factors, like:
• Exposure to disease
• Age
• Breed
• Use or discipline
• Consequences of the disease
• Potential adverse reactions to vaccines
• Cost of immunization compared to cost of clinical illness
According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), vaccines are split into two categories: core and risk-based.
Core vaccines are recommended by the AAEP for all horses against diseases that are endemic to a region, carry potential public health significance, and/or pose a risk of severe disease. In the United States, core vaccines include:
• Tetanus
• Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE)
• Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE)
• West Nile virus (WNV)
• Rabies
Risk-based vaccines are recommended by veterinarians, based on a horse’s individual health history, region, contact with other horses and their job. Risk-based vaccines may include:
• Equine influenza virus (EIV)
• Equine herpesvirus Types 1 and 4 (EHV-1 & EHV-4)
• Strangles
• Potomac horse fever
• Botulism
• Leptospirosis
• Equine viral arteritis
• Anthrax
• Snake bite
Some pathogens, like equine influenza virus (EIV), change and adapt over time, meaning choosing the right vaccine containing relevant strains is essential to achieving immunity. Vaccines containing outdated strains may provide suboptimal protection. Clinical signs may be reduced, but vaccinated horses may shed as much live virus as non-vaccinated horses.
Beyond determining which diseases to vaccinate against, it’s important to consider the duration of protection a vaccine provides. Some may only need to be administered annually, while others may require additional booster vaccinations throughout the year. In foals, the presence of maternal antibodies may require a different protocol to maximize protection.
Vaccines You Can Trust
The entire portfolio of Boehringer Ingelheim equine vaccines has undergone extensive research and study to ensure every vaccine delivers the highest standard of care and disease protection.
Press release by Boehringer Ingelheim