millimoo
Well-Known Member
All, sorry if this is posted elsewhere, but is anyone changing their competition habits due to the EHV virus outbreaks at a Dressage & Hunting yard in the Gloucestershire area...
I never really knew much about EHV, but there are enough concerns on the BD Forum for some to pull out of the Winter Championships due to be held at Hartbury in a couple of weeks?
I'll be honest, that I find it very worrying as the strain appears to be the paralysis type (poor poor owners, horses & yards effected)
The info below is copied from the BD forum thread, and is information from B&W Equine clinic regarding the EHV1 outbreak in Glos.
B&W Statement on EHV1
We advise that any yards that are concerned about EHV1 should minimise their risk of infection by vaccinating all horses on the premises( 2 injections 4 weeks apart) and by restricting the movement of horses on or off the premises. Any new horses to a yard should be isolated for a period 3 weeks.
Yards that have been in direct contact with infected animals SHOULD NOT VACCINATE
The incubation period of EHV1 is up to three weeks. Therefore a horse may develop the disease up to 3 weeks following contact with the virus. The virus is spread by close horse to horse contact and also may be airborne over short distances. The virus does not survive for long periods in the environment
To minimise the spread of disease clients are advised to monitor their horses, temperature. If there is a temperature spike (greater than 38.5C or 101F) please speak to your normal veterinary surgeon, the animal should be immediately isolated and any in contact horses monitored closely.
Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (Paralytic Form)
Equine herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV1) is very common in most horse populations of the world. The virus typically causes one of three clinical conditions-
1. A mild respiratory disease with coughing and nasal discharge. This typically affects young horses. THIS IS COMMON
2. Abortion, typically in the last trimester of pregnancy. THIS IS RARE
3. Sudden onset paralysis/weakness with a high temperature. The condition tends to affect older horses (over 5 years). THIS IS VERY RARE
There is currently an outbreak of EHV1 paralysis in Gloucestershire, this is associated with a virus mutation. The condition should be considered VERY INFECTIOUS.
Diagnosis of EHV1 Paralysis-. This is made by detecting virus particles on a blood sample or nasal swab in animals showing signs of the condition.
Treatment. There is no specific treatment for the condition. Horses that are very wobbly or unable to stand are usually destroyed on humane grounds
Prevention-
1 Minimise the risk of exposure by avoiding mixing of horses from different premises.
2. Maintain a closed herd (i.e. no horses on or off the premises)
3. A vaccine is available (Pfizer EHV1,4) which may help to prevent infection and severity of subsequent disease (2 injections given 4 weeks apart)
I never really knew much about EHV, but there are enough concerns on the BD Forum for some to pull out of the Winter Championships due to be held at Hartbury in a couple of weeks?
I'll be honest, that I find it very worrying as the strain appears to be the paralysis type (poor poor owners, horses & yards effected)
The info below is copied from the BD forum thread, and is information from B&W Equine clinic regarding the EHV1 outbreak in Glos.
B&W Statement on EHV1
We advise that any yards that are concerned about EHV1 should minimise their risk of infection by vaccinating all horses on the premises( 2 injections 4 weeks apart) and by restricting the movement of horses on or off the premises. Any new horses to a yard should be isolated for a period 3 weeks.
Yards that have been in direct contact with infected animals SHOULD NOT VACCINATE
The incubation period of EHV1 is up to three weeks. Therefore a horse may develop the disease up to 3 weeks following contact with the virus. The virus is spread by close horse to horse contact and also may be airborne over short distances. The virus does not survive for long periods in the environment
To minimise the spread of disease clients are advised to monitor their horses, temperature. If there is a temperature spike (greater than 38.5C or 101F) please speak to your normal veterinary surgeon, the animal should be immediately isolated and any in contact horses monitored closely.
Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (Paralytic Form)
Equine herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV1) is very common in most horse populations of the world. The virus typically causes one of three clinical conditions-
1. A mild respiratory disease with coughing and nasal discharge. This typically affects young horses. THIS IS COMMON
2. Abortion, typically in the last trimester of pregnancy. THIS IS RARE
3. Sudden onset paralysis/weakness with a high temperature. The condition tends to affect older horses (over 5 years). THIS IS VERY RARE
There is currently an outbreak of EHV1 paralysis in Gloucestershire, this is associated with a virus mutation. The condition should be considered VERY INFECTIOUS.
Diagnosis of EHV1 Paralysis-. This is made by detecting virus particles on a blood sample or nasal swab in animals showing signs of the condition.
Treatment. There is no specific treatment for the condition. Horses that are very wobbly or unable to stand are usually destroyed on humane grounds
Prevention-
1 Minimise the risk of exposure by avoiding mixing of horses from different premises.
2. Maintain a closed herd (i.e. no horses on or off the premises)
3. A vaccine is available (Pfizer EHV1,4) which may help to prevent infection and severity of subsequent disease (2 injections given 4 weeks apart)