Starzaan
Well-Known Member
Veterinary update from the Bourton Vale Equine Clinic
Disease situation in the Beaufort Hunt stables and hunt area.
On 15thMarch, a horse showing suspicious clinical signs of equine Herpes virus infection was seen in the Beaufort Hunt stables in Badminton. Tests were taken and sent urgently to the Animal Health Trust. Initially we were extremely puzzled as to how this infection could have been spread to the Beaufort hunt horses but late on Friday night, we learned that a new horse had been moved to Badminton which may have been in contact with the original Heythrop outbreak in February. The new horse arrived on 5thMarch and had been hunted twice with the Beaufort on 6thand 9thMarch and stabled in Badminton stables. Capt Farquhar cancelled hunting on 16thMarch and advised all Beaufort Hunt subscribers not to visit other packs until we had the results of the blood and swab tests. The initial PCR test results came through on the evening of 16thMarch and confirmed the neurological form of Equine Herpes virus infection in a hunt horse.
The incubation period for Equine Herpes virus infection is up to 10 days and we would strongly urge anyone who has hunted with the Beaufort since 6thMarch or if there are any horses in your stable yard which have hunted with the Beaufort since 6thMarch to remain at home and not travel to other hunts or any other horse events for 14 days after the last date of possible contact.
CLINICAL SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1: Temperature increase. Check your horses temperature twice daily and if above 38.5C this is a suspicious sign
2: Dull and off food
3: Respiratory signs,ie coughing or nasal discharge
4: Abortion in pregnant mares
5: Neurological signs, ie incoordination or unsteady on limbs
Transmission is via direct horse to horse contact or by direct aerosol transmission from infected horse usually in shared airspace ie close stabling, transport or group of horses.
Prevention:
1: Isolate any new horses coming onto your yard for a min of 10 days
2: Change clothing and wash hands after contact with any suspect or infected horses. Disinfect horse transport between transporting different horses.
3: Avoid stressful stimuli to horses which may have been exposed to the virus
4: Isolate any horses showing a temperature rise and/or respiratory signs and contact your own vet immediately
5: Vaccination in the face of an outbreak is NOT recommended.
Disease situation in the Beaufort Hunt stables and hunt area.
On 15thMarch, a horse showing suspicious clinical signs of equine Herpes virus infection was seen in the Beaufort Hunt stables in Badminton. Tests were taken and sent urgently to the Animal Health Trust. Initially we were extremely puzzled as to how this infection could have been spread to the Beaufort hunt horses but late on Friday night, we learned that a new horse had been moved to Badminton which may have been in contact with the original Heythrop outbreak in February. The new horse arrived on 5thMarch and had been hunted twice with the Beaufort on 6thand 9thMarch and stabled in Badminton stables. Capt Farquhar cancelled hunting on 16thMarch and advised all Beaufort Hunt subscribers not to visit other packs until we had the results of the blood and swab tests. The initial PCR test results came through on the evening of 16thMarch and confirmed the neurological form of Equine Herpes virus infection in a hunt horse.
The incubation period for Equine Herpes virus infection is up to 10 days and we would strongly urge anyone who has hunted with the Beaufort since 6thMarch or if there are any horses in your stable yard which have hunted with the Beaufort since 6thMarch to remain at home and not travel to other hunts or any other horse events for 14 days after the last date of possible contact.
CLINICAL SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1: Temperature increase. Check your horses temperature twice daily and if above 38.5C this is a suspicious sign
2: Dull and off food
3: Respiratory signs,ie coughing or nasal discharge
4: Abortion in pregnant mares
5: Neurological signs, ie incoordination or unsteady on limbs
Transmission is via direct horse to horse contact or by direct aerosol transmission from infected horse usually in shared airspace ie close stabling, transport or group of horses.
Prevention:
1: Isolate any new horses coming onto your yard for a min of 10 days
2: Change clothing and wash hands after contact with any suspect or infected horses. Disinfect horse transport between transporting different horses.
3: Avoid stressful stimuli to horses which may have been exposed to the virus
4: Isolate any horses showing a temperature rise and/or respiratory signs and contact your own vet immediately
5: Vaccination in the face of an outbreak is NOT recommended.
