Six horses at a private facility in Spokane County, Washington, have developed clinical signs consistent with EHV-1, and one of those six horses has tested positive for the disease. Three horses have been euthanized.
On January 26, a mare was presented to a private veterinary clinic, where she was diagnosed with pleuropneumonia and euthanized due to poor prognosis and financial constraints. On January 31, a mare aborted without showing other signs of illness.
On February 2, a third horse became febrile with neurological signs. She was euthanized three days later after becoming recumbent and presented to the diagnostic lab for necropsy; PCR confirmed EHV-1 neuropathogenic strain.
A fifth horse began exhibiting neurological signs on February 5, and a sixth horse developed neurological signs on February 6. All horses on the premises have been quarantined and are being monitored twice daily for fever and other clinical signs. Twenty-seven horses are exposed.
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.
EHV 101
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.
In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from two weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
Horses with EHM usually have a fever at the onset of the disease and might show signs of a respiratory infection. A few days later, neurologic signs such as ataxia (incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the fore- and hind limbs, urine retention and dribbling, loss of tail tone, and recumbency (inability to rise) develop.
Herpesvirus is easily spread by nose-to-nose or close contact with an infectious horse; sharing contaminated equipment including bits, buckets, and towels; or clothing, hands, or equipment of people who have recently had contact with an infectious horse. Routine biosecurity measures, including hygiene and basic cleaning and disinfection practices, should be in place at all times to help prevent disease spread.
Current EHV-1 vaccines might reduce viral shedding but are not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Implementing routine biosecurity practices is the best way to minimize viral spread, and the best method of disease control is disease prevention.
