Ten horses in Texas recently tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The cases are located in Harris, Denton, and Wise Counties.
In Harris County, cases have been reported at three premises. The first premises, which has been quarantined since September due to previous cases, has one new case. The second premises previously reported EIA cases in July and also has one new case. The third premises has four confirmed cases and has been under quarantine since December.
Two premises in Denton County have been under quarantine since mid-January. The premises have one confirmed case each.
In Wise County, three premises have each reported one case.
The affected horses have been euthanized. Quarantines on the premises will not be released until the Texas Animal Health Commission’s requirements have been met.
EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.
About EIA
Equine infectious anemia is a viral disease that attacks horses’ immune systems. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids from an infected to an uninfected animal, often by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies. It can also be transmitted through the use of blood-contaminated instruments or needles.
A Coggins test screens horses’ blood for antibodies that are indicative of the presence of the EIA virus. Most U.S. states require horses to have proof of a negative Coggins test to travel across state lines.
Once an animal is infected with EIA, it is infected for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of disease. Not all horses show signs of disease, but those that do can exhibit:
- Progressive body condition loss;
- Muscle weakness;
- Poor stamina;
- Fever;
- Depression; and
- Anemia.
EIA has no vaccine and no cure. A horse diagnosed with the disease dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions (at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids) for the rest of his life.
