Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis
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Equine Disease Quarterly Newsletter Presorted Standard US Postage Paid 5 Department of Veterinary Science Permit 51 Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Lexington KY University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0099 cessfully medicated, it should have limited intense mental management. As a last resort for cases that Address Service Requested exercise during the heat of the day and should do not respond to conventional therapies, moving be accommodated in facilities that minimize an the horse to a geographically less hot and humid increase in body temperature by providing shade, climate may eventually restore its ability to sweat. movement of air, misters, or even cold-water hos- CONTACT: ing. The simplest of treatments is supplementation Dr. Joan Gariboldi with electrolytes based on abnormalities identified (859) 333-5303 OCTOBER 2015 by the blood chemistry combined with environ- [email protected] Volume 24, Number 4 Lexington, Kentucky COMMENTARY KENTUCKY IN THIS ISSUE ore than 100 land-grant colleges and uni- Universities and partners are incorporating rural Mversities have Extension educators who readiness into disaster readiness curricula, which Commentary bring research-based information to agricultural includes specific materials focused on equine issues Manifestations of Equine Herpesvirus–1 International producers and the public, including horse own- before, during, and after disasters strike. Beneath ers. Over the last decade, the university specialists the surface of many of the partnerships you will Second Quarter 2015 ................ 2 and educators involved with both equine science find delegates from EDEN developing, publishing, and disaster education (preparedness, mitigation, and collaborating on new materials on a regular quine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is one of five of impending parturition. The fetus is aborted Getah Virus ......... 3 Eherpesviruses commonly found in horses. fresh, in contrast to other causes of abortion such response and recovery) have made significant col- basis. EHV-1 infections manifest in three syndromes: as leptospirosis where the fetus may be significantly National laborative strides in developing and publishing It is imperative that information and resources respiratory, reproductive, and neurologic. Like decomposed. Eastern Equine resource information. These efforts include mate- for horse managers during disasters is both other herpesviruses, EHV-1 can establish latent Following any abortion, the mare should be Encephalomyelitis .. 4 rials on three different platforms: eXtension (the research-based and refereed by experts and civic infections, making it possible for outbreaks of isolated, fetal tissues should be contained and Anhidrosis .......... 4 national Extension website: http://learn.extension. authorities for validity. With the popular nature disease to occur in herds that are considered closed. submitted to a diagnostic laboratory, and in- org), My Horse University (a collaborative effort of horses internationally, valid information that is While quarantine of new arrivals, segregation of contact mares should not be moved nor should liver. Characteristic intranuclear inclusion bodies fests with acute onset ataxia or paresis, often ac- Kentucky between university equine specialists: www.my- readily available is critical when crucial incidents young stock, breeding stock and show stock, and new mares be brought in until a diagnosis has been are frequent. Common ancillary tests for detection companied by weakness, urinary incontinence, Equine horseuniversity.com), and the Extension Disaster are impending or ongoing. No equine manager vaccination are important management tools in rendered. Fetal tissues and uterine fluids should of the virus include fluorescent antibody testing, poor tail and anal tone, and tail elevation, either Herpesvirus-1 ....... 5 Education Network (EDEN) (collaboration of can afford to be basing response on “popular” or the prevention of EHV-1 infections, complete be considered infectious, and contaminated areas virus isolation, and polymerase chain reaction singly or in combination. EHM can occur as a disaster educators across the United States: www. “web-based” practices or materials during a crisis. protection is not possible to achieve. Vaccination should be cleaned with detergent and disinfected. testing. sporadic case of neurologic disease, but often eden.lsu.edu). In most cases equine managers will have an average confirms relatively short-term immunity (4-5 Contaminated bedding should be bagged and EHV-1 abortions can occur singly or may manifests as an outbreak within a single population Webinars on animal disaster preparedness and of 30 minutes to 2 hours to prepare for a disaster, months) and immunity is not entirely protective, discarded and not spread on pastures. spread rapidly in a susceptible population, leading of horses. Outbreaks are often identified in dense biosecurity are available on eXtension and My although in some cases it can be as little as 15 meaning that even well-vaccinated horses can In the case of EHV-1 abortions, the fetal tissues to the classic “abortion storm.” With improved populations of horses, such as at racetracks, horse Horse University (enter “disaster” in the search minutes. During two floods and seven wildfires develop disease. and fluids contain high concentrations of virus; management and readily available vaccines for shows or show barns, riding stables, etc. Generally, engines), along with a wealth of other equine and in the western United States it took an average of The respiratory form of EHV-1 is generally mild infected foals and mares also shed virus via the EHV-1, the number of cases of EHV-1 abortion these horses are well-vaccinated and vaccination livestock information. The EDEN website is an 15 minutes per horse to respond to disaster if the and self-limiting. Clinical signs are indistinguish- respiratory route. EHV-1 is transmitted via the has declined dramatically over the past 30 years, seems to be neither protective nor a risk factor. extensive information hub that has disaster-specific responders were already equipped and organized. able from other viral causes of respiratory disease, respiratory route and fomites. However, since it with the vast majority of cases being single events. While the pathology of EHM is well-understood, information (e.g., drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, If not ready, the average was closer to one hour per such as equine influenza and EHV-4. Horses is an enveloped virus, herpesvirus is readily inac- EHV-1 confirmed abortions diagnosed at the the production and development of disease is not animal disease), as well as resources for communi- horse. exhibit a fever, cough, serous nasal discharge, and tivated by thorough cleaning with detergents fol- University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic and is the subject of continued research. Prevention ties, families, and children dealing with disasters. For those reasons equine managers should have mild lethargy. lowed by disinfectants. Biosecurity and restricted Laboratory are shown in Figure 3. During that of outbreaks of EHM relies on close observation A notable effort has been the EDEN Strength- a disaster plan, equipment, personnel, evacuation Reproductive disease is generally considered to movement of horses are important in containing same time, EHV-1 neonatal deaths were diagnosed of the horses, including monitoring of rectal tem- ening Community Agrosecurity Preparedness routes, emergency supplies, first-aid kits, and be the most economically important manifestation EHV-1 infections. in 2011 (one), 2012 (two), and 2014 (one). peratures, swift isolation of affected horses, and (S-CAP) program, which is a two-day course that emergency contact information ready at all times. of EHV-1. Infection with EHV-1 causes abortion Laboratory diagnosis relies on gross and histo- Respiratory and reproductive manifestations of often quarantine of the premises. facilitates emergency managers and agriculture/ The eXtension, My Horse University, and EDEN in the last trimester of gestation. Affected foals logic examination in conjunction with laboratory EHV-1 are well-documented and have long been A constant presence in the horse world, EHV-1 livestock owners to evaluate vulnerabilities within resources can help utilize the hard-earned, factual are occasionally born alive but are generally very testing. Gross lesions can include pleural and recognized. While viral latency and the production is well known, but many challenges remain. counties and develop enhanced agrosecurity plans knowledge developed by professionals to reduce of a vaccine that produces long-term immunity weak and succumb within days of birth, often with peritoneal effusion, over-expanded lungs with CONTACT: to address local needs. This process almost always impacts from disasters. Remember: Having a plan secondary disease conditions. The virus infects the rib impressions and small white foci scattered and confirms better protection continue to be Dr. Laura Kennedy includes establishing response and evacuation can save human and animal lives. mare through the respiratory tract and then enters throughout the liver. However, there are many studied, these syndromes are well understood. (859) 257-8283 guidelines for equine owners. To date, 48 S-CAP [email protected] CONTACT: A manifestation of EHV-1 that is less under- the bloodstream (viremia), traveling to and infect- cases in which lesions are not identified at necropsy. University of Kentucky workshops