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Shadowfax Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:26 pmDr Sarah- Consuted vets at OSU and New Bolton Center.
EHV-1 AND 4 are the same virus
Comes in 3 forms
1) Respiratory-Exposed horses carry the virus for life.
Can shed virus at any time.
Stress and health problems cause them to shed virus.
Incubation 24 hours to ten days after it becomes active.
2) Abortive- Not applicable in this case. Causes mares to loose foals.
3) Neurological-
Caused by immune system response to the virus.
Can be fatal
Respiratory symptoms, fever can occur prior to Neurological symptoms but not always.
Attacks spinal cord and brain stem.
Symptoms: Hind leg weakness, Ataxia, Urinary incontinence, hind leg numbness, Fever, snotty nose.
Not all horses develop the Neurological form. Not all horses that have the Respiratory symptoms will develop neurological form and not all horses that do develop neurological form will have respiratory symptoms.
Transmission:
Primarily aerosol
Hands, feet, equipment that are contaminated moving form horse to horse.
Horses can be carriers and not have symptoms, still shed virus.
Horse can carry for years before shedding virus. Could come form a horse that has
been on the farm for years.
Virulence: Virus is not strong outside of host. Can be killed by a wide range of disinfectants.
Bleach solution highly effective. 1:10 solution.
Can survive up to 35 days under ideal conditions
Probably not more than 7 days in average environment
Hot dry conditions and sunlight will kill it quickly
Needs warmth moisture and organic materiel for growth
Treatment: Antibiotics are not efective
Supportive care, anti inflamitories, Bute DMSO, Banamine
Antiviral meds: Acyclovere Moderatly effective
Valcylovere Very effective but prohibitively expensive. Cost $700/day
Once recumbent prognosis is poor.
Recover can tale months to years but is possible.
Horses that remain standing can survive.
Horses wiht stong immune system has a better chance of not getting it or only getting
respiratory version.
Prevention:
Vaccination There is no vaccination for neurological form.Vaccinations help reduce shedding of virus in carrier horses
Vaccination probably useless in the face of an outbreak.
Moderately helpful in reducing the virus in the environment
Vaccination probably will not help in this case and is not being reccomended. Owners may
choose to vaccinate a low risk horse on discussion with the vet.
Keep area clean. minimize foot traffic, use foot baths and keep them clean. Wipe shoes off
before entering foot bath.
Insects are not a major vector.
Blood tests to screen titers useless in this case.
Isolation:
Minimize horse to horse contact. No intermingling of groups not already mixed.
No excess contact with other horses. Touch only horses you must and use preventative measures in between.
Turn out is allowed as long as current groups remain the same. Strongly encouraged.
Stalling can lead to stress and other health issues.
Currently intermingled groups are considered stable and safe to continue turn out.
Horses boarded in hack stables are at greater risk but no direct contact exists so they may
continue to be turned out with their group.
Monitoring:
Check temps frequently. Keep fevered or suspect horses in and call vet. Temps higher
than 102* requires vet.
Horses presenting any symptom will be nasal swabbed and blood tested. As precaution.
Case by case basis. All horses showing neurological symptoms will be tested.
Average 24-48 hours once lab receives the samples to get results.
Riding:
Ridding on off property trails is permitted. Use only boarders trails. Use of outdoor arena is ok.
No riding on hack horse grounds.
Quarantine:
Farm is under state ordered Quarantine. State vet has been notified. Minimum 3 weeks from date of last sick horse. Possibly longer. To be determined.
Misc:
Horses that have been exposed do not develop a long standing immunity. Can still get it.
Chiro, massage, farrier can come at their discretion. Should be notified and make it last stop of the day. Sanitize any exposed equipment upon leaving.
EHV-1 AND 4 are the same virus
Comes in 3 forms
1) Respiratory-Exposed horses carry the virus for life.
Can shed virus at any time.
Stress and health problems cause them to shed virus.
Incubation 24 hours to ten days after it becomes active.
2) Abortive- Not applicable in this case. Causes mares to loose foals.
3) Neurological-
Caused by immune system response to the virus.
Can be fatal
Respiratory symptoms, fever can occur prior to Neurological symptoms but not always.
Attacks spinal cord and brain stem.
Symptoms: Hind leg weakness, Ataxia, Urinary incontinence, hind leg numbness, Fever, snotty nose.
Not all horses develop the Neurological form. Not all horses that have the Respiratory symptoms will develop neurological form and not all horses that do develop neurological form will have respiratory symptoms.
Transmission:
Primarily aerosol
Hands, feet, equipment that are contaminated moving form horse to horse.
Horses can be carriers and not have symptoms, still shed virus.
Horse can carry for years before shedding virus. Could come form a horse that has
been on the farm for years.
Virulence: Virus is not strong outside of host. Can be killed by a wide range of disinfectants.
Bleach solution highly effective. 1:10 solution.
Can survive up to 35 days under ideal conditions
Probably not more than 7 days in average environment
Hot dry conditions and sunlight will kill it quickly
Needs warmth moisture and organic materiel for growth
Treatment: Antibiotics are not efective
Supportive care, anti inflamitories, Bute DMSO, Banamine
Antiviral meds: Acyclovere Moderatly effective
Valcylovere Very effective but prohibitively expensive. Cost $700/day
Once recumbent prognosis is poor.
Recover can tale months to years but is possible.
Horses that remain standing can survive.
Horses wiht stong immune system has a better chance of not getting it or only getting
respiratory version.
Prevention:
Vaccination There is no vaccination for neurological form.Vaccinations help reduce shedding of virus in carrier horses
Vaccination probably useless in the face of an outbreak.
Moderately helpful in reducing the virus in the environment
Vaccination probably will not help in this case and is not being reccomended. Owners may
choose to vaccinate a low risk horse on discussion with the vet.
Keep area clean. minimize foot traffic, use foot baths and keep them clean. Wipe shoes off
before entering foot bath.
Insects are not a major vector.
Blood tests to screen titers useless in this case.
Isolation:
Minimize horse to horse contact. No intermingling of groups not already mixed.
No excess contact with other horses. Touch only horses you must and use preventative measures in between.
Turn out is allowed as long as current groups remain the same. Strongly encouraged.
Stalling can lead to stress and other health issues.
Currently intermingled groups are considered stable and safe to continue turn out.
Horses boarded in hack stables are at greater risk but no direct contact exists so they may
continue to be turned out with their group.
Monitoring:
Check temps frequently. Keep fevered or suspect horses in and call vet. Temps higher
than 102* requires vet.
Horses presenting any symptom will be nasal swabbed and blood tested. As precaution.
Case by case basis. All horses showing neurological symptoms will be tested.
Average 24-48 hours once lab receives the samples to get results.
Riding:
Ridding on off property trails is permitted. Use only boarders trails. Use of outdoor arena is ok.
No riding on hack horse grounds.
Quarantine:
Farm is under state ordered Quarantine. State vet has been notified. Minimum 3 weeks from date of last sick horse. Possibly longer. To be determined.
Misc:
Horses that have been exposed do not develop a long standing immunity. Can still get it.
Chiro, massage, farrier can come at their discretion. Should be notified and make it last stop of the day. Sanitize any exposed equipment upon leaving.