Volume 27, Issue 12 , Pages 521-524, December 2007
What's News
Article Outline
- International Equine Disease Outbreaks
- What in the World is Going on with Equine Influenza?
- American Horse Council Provides Global and U.S. Horse Population Resources
- AAEP Annual Convention to Offer Quality Education for Veterinarians and Horse Owners
International Equine Disease Outbreaks
The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks:
Contagious equine metritis was confirmed in three trotting horses ages 7, 8, and 9 in the Orne region of France. Four cases of Eastern equine encephalitis were reported in Florida.
Cases of respiratory disease caused by equine herpesvirus (EHV) were widely reported among a variety of horse breeds in France and in two racehorses in the United Kingdom. Abortions attributable to EHV-1 were reported among trotting mares in Orne and Saddlebred mares in the Calvados region of France. Japan reported cases of EHV-1 among Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred mares on five premises. Four cases were confirmed in the United Kingdom, including two attributable to EHV-4. Twenty-two cases of EHV-1 abortion were diagnosed among Thoroughbred mares during the 2007 foaling season in Central Kentucky. Cases of the paralytic form of EHV-1 were reported at the end of April at Balmoral Park, a Standardbred racetrack in Illinois. Three cases of coital exanthema (EHV-3) among two Thoroughbreds and a Falabella stallion were reported in the United Kingdom.
As the result of an extensive survey among horses entering competitions or other equine events, Italy reported 136 animals seropositive for equine infectious anemia, and Germany reported one confirmed case in a Warmblood horse.
A detailed report from South Africa provided information on equine fatalities that occurred in Western Cape Province between March and May 2007 involving approximately 20 deaths on 11 premises. The cause of death was attributable to infection with equine encephalosis virus serotypes 1 (Bryanston) and 4 (Kaalplaas), but not African horse sickness.
During July, equine viral arteritis was confirmed on 11 premises in France with non-Thoroughbred horses. Approximately 100 animals showed clinical signs, and seven stallions were identified as “shedders” of equine arteritis virus (EAV). Four foals died, and one abortion was confirmed after infection with EAV. Transmission had occurred through use of infected semen from four Percheron, two Normandy cobs, and an Arab stallion housed in the same facility at Haras du Pin National Stud, Orne.
Equine influenza was reported from Ireland on three premises and in Sweden, involving over 60 premises housing Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred racing and breeding horses. The United Kingdom reported influenza on eight premises, several of which had received animals from a sale in Ireland. A single Saddlebred horse farm in Central Kentucky also had influenza cases.
Lawsonia intercellularis was identified as the cause of illness among Thoroughbred animals on several farms in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Piroplasmosis was identified as the cause of illness among four Thoroughbred colts on a horse farm in Turkey. Strangles was widely reported on premises in Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Africa. Two equine cases of West Nile Virus infection were reported at the end of June in California and Texas. By the end of August, equine cases had been reported in 21 states.
Reprinted from Equine Disease Quarterly, October 2007, Vol. 16, No. 4
University of Kentucky, Gluck Equine Research Center
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q_oct07.asp
What in the World is Going on with Equine Influenza?
Equine influenza has appeared in Japan for the first time since 1972. The first cases were observed in mid-August, and soon thereafter several hundred clinical cases appeared in multiple training centers. This outbreak prompted the Japan Racing Association to cancel all race meetings and ban horse movements throughout the country. Meanwhile, on August 17, equine influenza was detected in imported horses at a quarantine station in Sydney, Australia. Equine influenza is an exotic disease in Australia; it had never been detected there before.
The horses remained in quarantine, but the virus did not. On August 24, influenza was detected at an equestrian center in central Sydney. It has since spread to many other premises in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. In response, the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry called it the most serious disease threat Australia's horseracing industry had ever faced and issued an order for a national standstill in movement of horses, donkeys, and mules.
Equine influenza is a common upper respiratory disease of the horse. Typical symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, and a dry hacking cough. It is considered enzootic in the United States and Eurasia and has also circulated widely in South America, China, and India. Several vaccines are available, and the current generation of vaccines has been carefully tested to prove effectiveness.
Because Australia previously was free of equine influenza virus, vaccination was not practiced, and the horse population had no immunologic protection: an ideal condition for equine influenza to spread very quickly.
Rapid diagnostic testing and virus nucleotide sequencing revealed that the Japanese and Australian viruses are subtype H3N8, which is the same subtype as all other equine influenza viruses currently circulating. The viruses are related to other recent equine influenza viruses and are not unique. As of August 30, no fatalities had been reported.
Equine influenza is occasionally fatal in young foals lacking protection from maternal antibodies. However, with appropriate veterinary care, it is rarely fatal even in naïve horses from weanling age onward. Sometimes, especially in vaccinated horses, the clinical signs are so mild as to be overlooked, which is another reason why influenza spreads so easily: unrecognized subclinical cases can still shed virus that is infectious to contact horses.
Effective quarantine is the best prevention against the introduction of disease. Australia, Japan, South Africa in 2003, and also Hong Kong in 1992 used quarantine systems for imported horses with the explicit purpose of keeping exotic diseases such as equine influenza out of their countries. In both South Africa (2003) and Australia (2007) it appears that their quarantine systems did succeed in keeping influenza-infected imports separate from the general horse population, but they failed to stop the transfer of the virus itself into the general population. This transfer strongly suggests that influenza might have been carried out of the quarantine facilities by incidental human activity—perhaps in unwashed horse trailers, on unwashed hands or equipment, or on clothing. The influenza virus particle is easily killed by soap or common disinfectants, but it can survive for hours or days in the environment and even longer if kept cool and moist. Vigilance against the spread of influenza viruses on contaminated materials or unwashed hands is an essential part of quarantine. Equine practitioners and handlers who have contact with both sick and healthy horses in a day's work must be always careful and never complacent.
Influenza is a moving target—the viruses mutate and gradually change so that the vaccinated horse's immune system no longer recognizes them. Vaccines need to be updated to keep up with the changing virus. The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) has an equine influenza expert surveillance panel that annually reviews the international situation and makes recommendations regarding the best virus strains to use in vaccines. The lynchpins of the surveillance system are the OIE international reference laboratories for equine influenza, located at the Animal Health Trust (Newmarket, United Kingdom), the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center (Lexington, KY), and the Institute for Medical Microbiology (Munich, Germany). The latest recommended update, originating in 2004, is that vaccines should contain strains similar to the South Africa/2003 virus and the Newmarket/2/93 virus. It takes time for updated recommendations to be translated into commercially available products, and to date no vaccine in the United States exactly meets the latest recommendation. Fortunately, the current generation of vaccines still retains some effectiveness.
CONTACT:
Dr. Thomas Chambers, (859) 257-4757
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Reprinted from Equine Disease Quarterly, October 2007, Vol. 16, No. 4
University of Kentucky, Gluck Equine Research Center
http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/q_oct07.asp
American Horse Council Provides Global and U.S. Horse Population Resources
by: Press Release
The American Horse Council (AHC) now provides a link to a published report on the Global Horse Population, compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. A link to the report can be found on the Features section of the AHC's web site: www.horsecouncil.org/features.html
According to the 2006 report, there are 58,372,106 horses in the world. The United States reports the highest total number of horses by far, with an approximate 9,500,000. These new data provided by FAOSTAT are strikingly similar to the AHC's own independent study, which reported a U.S. horse population of 9,223,000 in 2005.
Countries with horse population totals over one million included: China (7,402,450); Mexico (6,260,000); Brazil (5,787,249); Argentina (3,655,000); Columbia (2,533,621); Mongolia (2,029,100); Ethiopia (1,655,383); Russian Federation (1,319,358); and Kazakhstan (1,163,500). Guam (20) and Grenada (30) had the lowest population totals. Two countries, Rwanda and Saint Helena, reported a zero horse population.
In a published document from the AHC, entitled “The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on the United States,” the AHC provides detailed analysis on the total population of U.S. horses by state. Texas reports the largest horse population, with an estimated 978,822. Other leading states include California (698,345); Florida (500,124); Oklahoma (326,134); Kentucky (320,173); Ohio (306,898); and Missouri (281,255). The state with the fewest horses is Rhode Island (3,509), followed by the District of Columbia, which reports a fluctuating total of approximately 33.
The AHC's report further demonstrates that the horse industry has a direct impact of $39 billion on the U.S. economy and an overall impact of $102 billion, which factors in indirect and induced spending. Each of the primary use segments of the industry, recreational horse use being the largest segment, with 3.9 million horses in this classification, creates an immense impact on the overall economy. Additionally, the horse industry supports 1.4 million equivalent full-time jobs.
For more resources, or to find out how to order a copy of the AHC's report, “The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on the United States,” including comprehensive state-by-state breakout information for 15 states, please visit the American Horse Council online (www.horsecouncil.org) or call 202-296-4031.
Please direct all related press, related media, and educational inquiries to Sarah Chase, Director of Communications: schase@horsecouncil.org or 202-296-4031 ext. 211.
As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, DC, the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media, and the industry on behalf of all horse-related interests each and every day.
The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world, from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries, and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers, and state horse councils.
AAEP Annual Convention to Offer Quality Education for Veterinarians and Horse Owners
by: Press Release
The 53rd Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners will be held in Orlando, Florida, December 1–5, continuing its long history of providing premier continuing education for equine veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and horse owners. More than 3,000 practitioners, students, and technicians attend the convention each year, making it the largest equine veterinary meeting in the world. The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center will be the primary location for convention events.
Program Chair Eleanor M. Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP, and the Educational Programs Committee have developed a lineup of the most relevant veterinary issues for today's practitioner. The convention will feature in-depth sessions covering a broad range of topics such as infectious disease, lameness, and perinatology. Twenty-seven “How To” presentations will focus on techniques that can be applied immediately to the daily care of the horse and seven sessions of Table Topics will allow participants to engage in dialogue with colleagues on a variety of veterinary issues.
This year's featured speakers include Dickson D. Varner, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACT. He will deliver the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture, “From a Sperm's Eye View—Revisiting Our Perception of This Intriguing Cell.” The State-of-the-Art Lecture is produced by the AAEP Foundation, Inc. with support from Platinum Performance, an AAEP Educational Partner. The popular Kester News Hour will feature new presenters Margo Macpherson, DVM, Scott Palmer, VMD, and Bonnie Rush, DVM. They will review current equine literature in reproduction, medicine, lameness, and surgery. This year's keynote speech will be delivered by motivational speaker Connie Podesta. The keynote session is sponsored by Bayer HealthCare—Animal Health Division.
Other convention highlights include:
In addition, the convention will feature a sold-out trade show with over 375 exhibitors and optional case-based dry laboratories and wet laboratories. Several career programs for veterinary students also are planned. To learn more about the convention or to register online, visit www.aaep.org/convention.htm. For assistance, please contact the AAEP office at (859) 233-0147.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research, and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
PII: S0737-0806(07)00347-4
doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2007.10.009
Volume 27, Issue 12 , Pages 521-524, December 2007