Equine disease outbreaks for third quarter of 2015 listed

Posted on by Listify Me

Canada confirmed 41 cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in four western provinces in the third quarter of 2015, the latest issue of Equine Disease Quarterly reports.

The majority of the cases were Saskatchewan and Alberta.

EIA is a viral disease most commonly transmitted by large biting insects. It can also be transmitted through use of blood-contaminated materials on different horses, such as medical instruments.

There is no vaccine or treatment. Infected horses can run a low-grade fever or become lethargic, but often there are no clinical signs.

The pathogen is categorized as a lentivirus: it contains genetic RNA material, which it uses to produce DNA. This DNA is then incorporated into the genetic makeup of infected cells. A horse will remain infected throughout its lifetime and can pass the disease to other horses.

The following other equine disease outbreaks for the third quarter were collated from information supplied to the International Collating Center in Newmarket, England, and from other sources.

  • Vesicular stomatitis (New Jersey serotype) was reported in the United States, with 192 virus-confirmed outbreaks in eight states: Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Disease was additionally identified on 335 premises based on clinical signs.
  • Influenza was reported by France,  Britain, and the US. Two cases were involved in a single outbreak in France. Britain confirmed three outbreaks: single cases on two premises and several affected animals on a third premises. All cases involved unvaccinated horses or ponies. Influenza was reported as endemic in the US with outbreaks confirmed in five states.
  • Equine herpesvirus-1 and -4 (EHV-1, -4) related diseases were recorded in Argentina, France, Germany, Ireland, Britain, and the US. EHV-1 associated respiratory disease was diagnosed in Germany (isolated cases), Ireland (single case), the UK (single case co-infected with strangles), and the US (several states). EHV-1 abortions were reported by Argentina, France, Britain and the US. Two outbreaks were identified in France involving thoroughbreds and French trotters, and single cases were confirmed in Argentina, Britain, and the US. One case of EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy was recorded in France. Outbreaks of EHV-4 respiratory disease were confirmed in France (11 outbreaks) and Germany (three outbreaks).
  • Strangles was recorded in France (13 outbreaks), Germany (five premises), Ireland (21 cases in four provinces), Switzerland (three outbreaks), Britain (one outbreak). Strangles was reported as endemic in the US, with disease confirmed on 18 premises in 11 states.
  • Switzerland reported a single case of EHV-5 co-infection with Theileria equi. Multiple cases of either EHV-2 or EHV-5 were confirmed in the US.
  • Equine arteritis virus infection was reported in a warmblood stallion in Germany.
  • Equine piroplasmosis was reported as endemic in France.
  • Germany and South Korea confirmed outbreaks of contagious equine metritis. Germany recorded outbreaks involving 19 non-thoroughbreds on four premises, one of which involved two stallions and 14 mares on an Icelandic horse farm. Seventy-one positive Thoroughbreds on 36 premises were identified in South Korea.
  • One case of coital exanthema (EHV-3 infection) was diagnosed in the US. The US also reported two cases of nocardioform placentitis, both associated with Amycolatopsis spp.
  • Salmonellosis was recorded in Germany (one case), Ireland (one case), and the US (several outbreaks involving Group B and C1 Salmonella spp). The US diagnosed proliferative enteropathy due to Lawsonia intracellularis in two foals. Outbreaks of rotavirus infection were reported in France (two outbreaks) and Germany (one case). Two cases of clostridial enteritis associated with C. perfringens Type A toxin were identified in the US.
  • Thirty-six cases of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) were diagnosed in eight states in the US, with Florida and Texas having the most numerous cases. The vast majority of EEE cases were in unvaccinated horses.
  • West Nile virus infection was reported in France and the US. Thirty cases were confirmed in France; all but one occurred in two geographic areas. The US reported 58 cases, with the greatest numbers in Texas, Washington, and Colorado, nearly all in unvaccinated horses. Switzerland confirmed two cases of tick-borne encephalitis.
  • A Getah virus outbreak was reported in Japan involving 25 thoroughbred horses on one premises. The majority of cases occurred in two year olds, 10 of which had not been vaccinated.
  • Rhodococcal disease was reported as endemic in the US, with numerous outbreaks in various states.
  • Single cases of the following diseases were reported during the third quarter of 2015: ehrlichiosis and borreliosis (Switzerland); and anthrax, neorickettsiosis, and pythiosis (the USA).

Equine Disease Quarterly is funded by underwriters at Lloyd’s, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents.