Halfstep
Well-Known Member
Anyone know about it causing neurological symptoms/ataxia? Or about it full stop? Especially in mares. Thanks.
Equine herpes virus 1?
- Thread starter Halfstep
- Start date
Lucy_Nottingham
Well-Known Member
There are a number of different strands of herpes virus.
Herpes virus 1 is the one that causes neurological problems (as you obv know) and it can present in many different ways from ataxia, to head tilt, to sudden onset recumbency.
It is treatable but mainly through intensive TLC and nursing not from any miracle drugs. Some horses get better but some start off so bad some owners don't want to see their horse go through it .
However I do know a horse that suffered from it, and went through the nursing etc and now is an intermediate eventer! so there are success stories.
What sort of things did you want to know sorry?
There is know sex predilection as well btw so it doesnt really matter if the horse is a mare or a gelding (unless the mare is pregnant perhaps...)
Herpes virus 1 is the one that causes neurological problems (as you obv know) and it can present in many different ways from ataxia, to head tilt, to sudden onset recumbency.
It is treatable but mainly through intensive TLC and nursing not from any miracle drugs. Some horses get better but some start off so bad some owners don't want to see their horse go through it .
However I do know a horse that suffered from it, and went through the nursing etc and now is an intermediate eventer! so there are success stories.
What sort of things did you want to know sorry?
There is know sex predilection as well btw so it doesnt really matter if the horse is a mare or a gelding (unless the mare is pregnant perhaps...)
Halfstep
Well-Known Member
Success stories are good, thanks! mare had severe sudden onset of ataxia which has since resolved. What I was unsure about is whether said mare could/should be put in foal in the future - does Herpes ever leave the system? Thanks for your response!
foraday
Well-Known Member
Only your vet will be able to tell you whether or not the mare can be put in foal again. The test will show whether she is EHV1 positive or not.
It is a notifiable disease so therefore all the precautions would have taken place.
For a mare to go to a TB stud EHV1 is a test that they have to be negative for
Good luck
It is a notifiable disease so therefore all the precautions would have taken place.
For a mare to go to a TB stud EHV1 is a test that they have to be negative for
Good luck
Lucy_Nottingham
Well-Known Member
No Herpes does not leave the system unfortuantly.
Its the same virus in us that causes: coldsores, chickenpox, measles, glandular fever (all of which I have had!!!) I am just waiting for the genital version!
(and by waiting I mean trying to avoid at all costs!!!)
If it was a sudden onset and then quickly went in a few days I would say it is unlikely to have been herpes as it is a long drawn out process which, if not treated/managed becomes fatal due to myeloencephalitis (swelling/inflammation of the brain and neuronal tissue) and lots of other nasty side effects which result often in euthanasia........
there are many different causes that can cause ataxia and I would say if your mare had had herpes that the vet would have told you so and recommended a treatment/management protocol.
HOWEVER if it was herpes, and it is now OK the only reason it would flare up again would be if the mare become severely immuno supressed and something stimulated it (remember preganancy can lead to immunosuppressive state) however I wouldn't have thought pregnancy would lead to it, but there is always a risk.
So If you did want to put her in foal I would say it should be ok so long as there have not been any subsequent bouts of ataxia etc (how severe was the ataxia btw?) and just mention it to the vet and monitor her perhaps more carefully for any changes in behaviour/demenour etc than you would any other preg mare....
hope this helps some!
Its the same virus in us that causes: coldsores, chickenpox, measles, glandular fever (all of which I have had!!!) I am just waiting for the genital version!
(and by waiting I mean trying to avoid at all costs!!!)If it was a sudden onset and then quickly went in a few days I would say it is unlikely to have been herpes as it is a long drawn out process which, if not treated/managed becomes fatal due to myeloencephalitis (swelling/inflammation of the brain and neuronal tissue) and lots of other nasty side effects which result often in euthanasia........
there are many different causes that can cause ataxia and I would say if your mare had had herpes that the vet would have told you so and recommended a treatment/management protocol.
HOWEVER if it was herpes, and it is now OK the only reason it would flare up again would be if the mare become severely immuno supressed and something stimulated it (remember preganancy can lead to immunosuppressive state) however I wouldn't have thought pregnancy would lead to it, but there is always a risk.
So If you did want to put her in foal I would say it should be ok so long as there have not been any subsequent bouts of ataxia etc (how severe was the ataxia btw?) and just mention it to the vet and monitor her perhaps more carefully for any changes in behaviour/demenour etc than you would any other preg mare....
hope this helps some!