Disease Alerts

Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Exposed: 7;
Age: Weanling; Gender: Stallion; Breed: Spotted Draft Horse; Onset of Clinical Signs: 4/5/2021;
Clinical Signs: Abscessed Submandibular Lymph Nodes, Fever, Nasal Discharge; Confirmation Date: 4/14/2021; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;
Notes: For more information about Strangles go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet-Strep_equi_final%20Cobranded_0.pdf

Source: State Veterinary Office

Number Confirmed: 1;
Notes: A horse In Larimer County has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-respiratory. For more information about EHV-1 go to https://equinediseasecc.org/Content/ContentDocs/DiseaseFactsheet-%20EHV.pdf;

Source: State Veterinary Office

Number Confirmed: 2;
Number Exposed: 8;
Notes: On April 9, 2021 the Colorado Department of Agriculture, State Veterinarian’s Office was notified of a potential Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) case in El Paso county from a private practicing veterinarian. The case had originally presented with a fever of unknown origin on April 4th. After several days with no resolve of clinical symptoms, the clinician submitted a respiratory panel, which came back positive for EHV-1. The index horse was stabled at a farm with 35 horses. After being made aware of the potential for EHV-1 in the index horse, the stable manager began to monitor temperatures on the other horses in the barn. Seven additional febrile horses on the premises were identified from April 7th-9th. A veterinarian submitted samples from a second horse on the premises, which also tested positive for EHV-1. Additionally, one of the febrile horses on the index premises began to show neurological signs on April 11th indicative of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The State Veterinarian’s Office was made aware that a group of horses from the index premises and additional barns in the county had recently traveled together to attend an equine event in Scottsdale, Arizona from 03/14 - 03/29. An additional horse on a second premises that had traveled to and from the show was also found to be febrile. That horse developed neurological signs on April 12th, consistent with EHM. Both premises are under quarantine and are being monitored by the State Veterinarian’s Office and their private practicing veterinarians. A third associated premises that also transported horses to the same event is under a hold order. That premises has had no febrile horses or clinical signs consistent with EHV-1. The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office has been communicating with the Arizona State Veterinarian where the show was hosted to provide notification to other event attendees. For more information about EHM go to https://equinediseasecc.org/Content/ContentDocs/DiseaseFactsheet-EHM.pdf;

Source: Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 6;
Number Exposed: 27;
Facility Type: Training Facility;
Age: 3; Gender: Mare; Breed: Thoroughbred (TB); Onset of Clinical Signs: Not Reported;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Febrile; Confirmation Date: Not Reported; Horse Status: Exposed; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Update April 13, 2021; Original Alert ID#- 1982; 1988; 1992, 2019: Results of testing on the samples (Nasal Swabs and Whole Blood EDTA) collected from each horse stabled in Barn A at Blackwood Training Center on Friday, April 9th have been reported negative for detection of EHV1 DNA by PCR testing. In addition to the testing that has been completed, the horses have been monitored daily and our findings support that it has been greater than 14 days since any horse in Barn A was last potentially exposed to a clinical case. Meeting the criteria above the group of horses have been released in Barn A from restriction on Monday April 12 and are allowed to resume their normal training and racing activities.

Source: Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Information regarding horses from Pimlico racetrack entering Kentucky:  An inability to adequately isolate new arrivals on the grounds of Kentucky tracks and training facilities does warrant an abundance of caution be taken to mitigate risk of disease entry. Based on this, we are directing KY tracks and their associated sanctioned training centers to not allow movement of horses which have resided or been at Pimlico (racing, training, transiting, etc.), on or after March 15, 2021 without prior approval from the KY Office State Veterinarian. We have and will continue to allow horses from Pimlico to enter KY and will work to qualify and facilitate movement of these horses to a KY track or training center on an individual basis following testing and further evaluation. Horses which have recently (since March 15th) been on the grounds at Pimlico can qualify for approval to enter a KY track or sanctioned training center if they have documentation demonstrating they have been off the grounds of Pimlico for 30 days OR horses may move from Pimlico and after having been off the grounds for 24hrs be examined by a veterinarian and tested negative by PCR for EHV-1 (nasal swab and whole blood - EDTA) could qualify for entry onto a Kentucky racing or training facility. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the horse(s) from the point where the sample was collected needs to be issued for movement to the Kentucky racing or training facility and must document the EHV1 testing, current health assessment in addition to meeting the normal entry requirements that includes EHV1 vaccination and EIA test certificate. Our plan is for the current protocol described in this message to remain in effect through the first week of May when we will make determination and provide instruction on how to proceed.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Number Confirmed: 1;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
Age: 24; Gender: Mare; Breed: Draft-cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/31/2021;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Difficulty urinating; Confirmation Date: 4/6/2021; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: The affected horse is being treated at a referral hospital. No other horses on the property are showing clinical signs. Under veterinary supervision, the facility manager has instituted biosecurity protocols and animal movement restrictions. For more information about EHM go to https://equinediseasecc.org/Content/ContentDocs/DiseaseFactsheet-EHM.pdf;

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Number Confirmed: 1;;
Facility Type: Farm;
Age: 23; Gender: Mare; Breed: Not Reported; Onset of Clinical Signs: 4/3/2021;
Confirmation Date: 4/7/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Mare was aborted at 315 days of gestation. The affected mare has been isolated on the property. No other mares are affected at this time. Under veterinary supervision, the facility manager has implemented biosecurity protocols and animal movement restrictions.

Source: Attending Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Suspected: 2;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
Age: 11; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Onset of Clinical Signs: 4/2/2021;
Clinical Signs: Decreased Appetite, Edema, Fever, Lethargy, Swollen submandibular lymph nodes; Confirmation Date: 4/7/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;
Notes: For more information about Strangles go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet-Strep_equi_final%20Cobranded_0.pdf;

Source: Texas Animal Health Commission

Number Confirmed: 7;
Breed: Quarter Horse (QH);
Horse Status: All Euthanized;
Notes: The premises is quarantined and will be released when TAHC's requirements are met. TAHC's staff are working closely with the owners and local veterinarians to monitor potentially exposed horses and implement biosecurity measures. For more information about EIA go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_EIA%20Cobranded.pdf ;

Source: New York Department of Agriculture and Markets

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Exposed: 70;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
 Breed: Thoroughbred (TB); 
Confirmation Date: 4/6/2021; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;
Notes: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry has quarantined Suffolk Equestrian Academy, in Medford, NY, for exposure to Strep equi, aka Strangles. Currently there is one confirmed case of Strangles that has been diagnosed at the stable. The index case and a cohort have been isolated and will continue to be monitored. As for the remaining horses at the stable, they will have a minimum 14 day quarantine which includes twice daily temperature taking and recording and monitoring for signs of any illness. Fevers over 101. 5 or signs of illness should be immediately reported to their veterinarian for further evaluation. Horses returning home from travel to shows or new additions to a stable should be isolated upon arrival and monitored for signs of disease for a minimum of 3-4 weeks. Stable management has been cooperative and is working with attending veterinarians and the Department to institute appropriate biosecurity precautions for all horses on the property. For more information about strangles or how to improve your biosecurity please see: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside Linked Documents/DiseaseFactsheet-Strep_equi_final Cobranded_0.pdf