Romanian Horses and English Dealers

Fairynuff

Fairynuff

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I would like to tell you story regarding the above and the 'couldn't give a damn' attitude by one Essex dealer/show jumper.
Last year when all the ' Franch' thing was fairly hot I noticed an Ad on the HM site. The ad was for 6 Romanian mares of various ages who were being sold from France via this lady in Essex. The ad stated that these mares had been saved from the butcher. I phoned the number given on the ad and spoke in person with the lady dealer/showjumper. I asked if the mares had current Coggins test docs with negative results and she told me that they did not but I wasnt to worry as she hadnt had any trouble in the past and that it wasnt worth the hassle of having the blood test done. I told her that I would call her back. The ad disappeared the same day.
I would like to make it clear that-ROMANIAN horses destined for IMMEDIATE slaughter on arrival at Italian slaughter houses DO NOT need a NEGATIVE COGGINS TEST DOCUMENT so any romanian horse found ANYWHERE else and has no Coggins test is a SLAUGHTER HORSE who has 'fallen off a lorry' and ended up with dealers in France, Belgium and even Wiltshire.
 
WRT the recent outbreak, It also says quite clearly in this report that these animals were NOT competition or breeding animals.

So they are as first thought, brought over by a Low-End dealer to make a fast buck.

quote "The EIA was picked up after routine post-import testing of horses from Romania and Belgium. They arrived in the UK on 22 December.


The horses are not competition or racehorses, or breeding animals — and Romania is one of the largest exporters of horses for slaughter in Europe.

" unquote

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/294020.html
 
Quite Martha, they are in all likelihood slaughter bound horses with NO COGGINS TEST pre export from Rumania. Sadly this particular dealer is not the only one to bring these horses into the country in order to make a fast buck.
 
What I am finding staggering is the lack of reaction or comment from the vast majority of members on this forum.

There have been some very worthy comments from a large group of forum members but a vast majority of the forum have remained silent, or perhaps not even read the posts.

Maybe I am be totally pessimitic but do people not realise that, if this disease spreads and their horse is infected, it will be PTS and they will get no compensation and probably no insurance payout either??

Or did I climb out of bed on the wrong side this morning?
 

thank you for highlighting this with these and the other posts..I have never been interested in warmbloods per se so never knew about this.

anyway forgive my ignorance for asking a really obvious question... just why aren't these these tests mandatory for all equines entering the UK? or was that point of the railing against Defra? any thoughts on at least setting up a petition/facebook entry to stir some public interest? also, as I can't find this info anywhere and thought you might know -Is this disease "only" transferable by midges? can humans transfer it via contact?
 
As they have been in Wiltshire for at least 4 weeks, I'm assuming said dealer would have sold stock either at Sales, swapped out to other dealers, sold to Joe Public.

Is DEFRA going to track down EVERY animal moved during this period and test?

IT DAMN WELL SHOULD IMO.
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the disease is passed from one horse to another via biting insect, infected needles etc and as they discovered in Ireland via aerosol (airborne) although this is rare.
I have heard so many saying that the transmission via insects in GB is nothing to worry about due to the cold weather...WRONG. Here in Italy we have rigid winters with temps going well below zero...Italy is ENDEMIC. Romanian winters are almost Arctic so where this idea of cold=no insects comes from I have no idea
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Not every horse shows symptoms of the disease and some will be healthy carriers for life-they are infectious but remain healthy. Remember 'Typhoid Mary?'
 
Luci07

this is a quote I found yesterday while looking up the transmission

[ QUOTE ]
Transmission of the EIA Virus

The EIA virus is spread mechanically. That is, blood, containing the virus has to be transmitted from an infected horse to a susceptible horse by a vector, such as an insect, infected syringes, needles or surgical equipment. The virus can cross the placental barrier and cause fetal infection and a symptomatic stallion can infect healthy mares during breeding.

(a) Insect Vectors

The EIA virus is mechanically transmitted from one horse to another by the bloodsucking horse flies, deer flies (Tabanids), stable flies (Stomoxys spp.), mosquitoes and possibly midges. For transmission of the EIA virus to occur, the horse fly (vector) must first find and begin feeding on an infected horse, be interrupted in its feeding, and then transfer the virus during a subsequent feeding on a susceptible horse. Feeding must occur within a short period of time. Tabanids’ large size and noisy flight attract attention and their cutting/slashing rnouthparts inflict considerable pain, therefore, their feeding is frequently interrupted. Research has indicated that the EIA virus can be transmitted up to 30 minutes after the first feeding, however, transmission after 4 hours was unsuccessful.

Horse flies may have a home range or flight distance of up to 4 miles and therefore, in Canada, permanent quarantine requires complete isolation in a fly proof building.

(b) Placental Barrier

The virus apparently can cross the placental barrier and cause fetal infection. Mares with signs of acute EIA during pregnancy run the greatest risk of carrying infected fetuses. Infected fetuses can be aborted or be born alive "virus positive" and possibly be a seropositive virus carrier. The fetal response may be related to the age of the fetus at the time of the virus infection.

(c) Other Vectors and Factors Affecting Virus Transmission

The trading of horses and the indiscriminate use of non-disposable hypodermic needles, teeth floats, gags, nose twitches and stomach tubes all contribute to the spread of the EIA virus. During the fall when horses are changing hands, the spread of the disease is more prevalent.

|

[/ QUOTE ]

from here :http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/89-114.htm


With regards to the import regulations and testing I am not very au fait with them, could maybe an INAG peep do a quick summary for those not informed? or is it best for people to go to the website? http://www.inagforequines.org/index.htm
 
There is clearly a very serious threat of this disease coming over to this country either by the importation of horses or insects coming over.

If these horses where brought in by a dealer why has action not been taken against the dealer responsible for bringing them in as they are jepodising the health of British horses?

Action needs to be taken to enure that every horse including competition horses are isolated and tested prior to being imported on to British soil.

What one does about insects bringing it over is another question.

A vacination also needs to be developed to protect horses from this disease.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not every horse shows symptoms of the disease and some will be healthy carriers for life-they are infectious but remain healthy. Remember 'Typhoid Mary?'

[/ QUOTE ]

So, should those of us with Romanian horses have there blood tested
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? It is suspected mine was born in transit, so not technically lived anywhere but the UK.
 
In short, horses from Rumania bound for slaughter in Italy, do not have to have a Coggins Test to determine whether they are either infected or carriers of EIA, some of these horses are stopped off in France and are bought very cheaply by unscrupulous dealers from the UK to sell on. Because of the TPA horses from France are imported with no health checks and this, it would seem, is how we have come to the current situation.

INAG has been campaigning to get the TPA amended so that it only covers, racing, breeding or competition horses, which would go a long way to prevent just the type of scenario that is happening now.

TBH I am still reeling over the fact that Defra has today put a halt on Exports from this country but Imports it seems can continue as normal!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not every horse shows symptoms of the disease and some will be healthy carriers for life-they are infectious but remain healthy. Remember 'Typhoid Mary?'

[/ QUOTE ]

So, should those of us with Romanian horses have there blood tested
confused.gif
? It is suspected mine was born in transit, so not technically lived anywhere but the UK.

[/ QUOTE ]

If your horse came from Rumania from a bonefid breeder then there would have been a Coggins Test done, it is only those bound for immediate slaughter in Italy that escape the test, however, if you are unsure I would have the test just to put your own mind at rest tbh.
 
Thanks Sirena, thats kinda what I assumed but didnt know to be happy posting it, I wonder why these horses have now been coggins tested though? presumably they didnt have to be??

what gets me that its not like this has happened without warning, anyone with any forsight could see it was prob only a matter of time.
 
What more is there to say Rubyredshoes? All horses being transported and entering British soil should have negative Coggins tests accompanying their health certificates and horses should be tested every year. End of story.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Sirena, thats kinda what I assumed but didnt know to be happy posting it, I wonder why these horses have now been coggins tested though? presumably they didnt have to be??

what gets me that its not like this has happened without warning, anyone with any forsight could see it was prob only a matter of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did wonder the very same thing ester, call me suspicious!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Sirena, thats kinda what I assumed but didnt know to be happy posting it, I wonder why these horses have now been coggins tested though? presumably they didnt have to be??

what gets me that its not like this has happened without warning, anyone with any forsight could see it was prob only a matter of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did wonder the very same thing ester, call me suspicious!

[/ QUOTE ]

well it make me think one was symptomatic tbh
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Sirena, thats kinda what I assumed but didnt know to be happy posting it, I wonder why these horses have now been coggins tested though? presumably they didnt have to be??

what gets me that its not like this has happened without warning, anyone with any forsight could see it was prob only a matter of time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I did wonder the very same thing ester, call me suspicious!

[/ QUOTE ]

well it make me think one was symptomatic tbh

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep me too, these dealers don't spend money on tests unless they absolutely have to, I just wonder how long it was symptomatic for. Previous Rumanian horses have not been tested once in the UK so why did they test these hmmmmmmmmmmm I smell a big fat rat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A vacination also needs to be developed to protect horses from this disease.

[/ QUOTE ]

I cannot see this happening at all, viruses are too 'clever' if we dont have a vaccination for HIV which is very similar- which would be deemed more important than EIA tbh. we arent going to manage to develop one for EIA. From what I have read over the last couple of days EIA has been suggested as a model for developing a vaccine for HIV, as it would not be human infectious and that might be a route to vaccine but I wouldnt hold your breath on managing one. We arent that good at it yet.
 
What is truly shocking is the lack of protection this country has from animal imports in terms of disease.

What is DEFRA's roll again..........??
 
There is already a vaccine for EIA which has been used in parts of the world for many years. The Americans have been working on providing a vaccine so I dont think it is totally beyond the realms of possibility that we could have one within 10 years. West Nile Virus doesnt have a vaccine for humans but there has been a number of vaccines for horses for years.
 
ah thanks blitzen, have only been having a rough look recently and looking from a purely biological point of view. I will go have a bit more of a hunt, would be interesting to see if the vaccine is long standing or not and how good it is. Would be easier and cheaper just to protect our herd and make the most of our island status in this way in the first place though!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Would be easier and cheaper just to protect our herd and make the most of our island status in this way in the first place though!

[/ QUOTE ]
Absolutely! Which is why all that is needed is for DEFRA to not allow any horses without current negative Coggins tests entry onto British soil. It seems quite simple to me, and apparently to most of the rest of the world, but good old Britain always has to slack behind everyone else.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What is DEFRA's roll again..........??

[/ QUOTE ]

To Bu**er our farmers till they can no longer afford to farm & ensure the UK is a prime breeding ground for all sorts of infectious diseases
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What is DEFRA's roll again..........??

[/ QUOTE ]

To Bu**er our farmers till they can no longer afford to farm & ensure the UK is a prime breeding ground for all sorts of infectious diseases

[/ QUOTE ]

and charge us for the privelege
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Equine infectious anaemia detected in horses
News Release

Ref: 06/10
Date: 19 January 2010

Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) has been detected in two horses in Wiltshire following importation from Romania via Belgium, Defra confirmed today.

The premises is currently under restriction and the two infected horses will be humanely destroyed in line with existing regulations. The other horses on the premises will be subject to epidemiological investigation in the coming weeks. A further two horses have also been under investigation and test results have proved negative.

The animals arrived in a group of 10 horses, nine of which originated from Romania and one from Belgium. The nine Romanian horses were tested for EIA as part of routine post-import testing. Seven horses all tested negative. The horse that originated in Belgium is due to be tested shortly.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said:

“This is the first case of equine infectious anaemia infected animals being imported into Great Britain since 1976 and shows the success of our post import testing regime. These were apparently healthy horses carrying a notifiable disease that we are keen to keep out of Great Britain. After considering the risk I have decided to take appropriate action and humanely destroy these two horses that tested positive.”
 
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