African Horse Sickness

Dr. C.V. Niranjan, MVSc (Surgery) Chairman of Veterinary Commission Turf Authorities of RWITC, MUMBAI HISTORY OF AHS IN INDIA

The first case was reported in of Army in April 1960. From 1960 to 1963 : 22,977 horses got affected and 20,822 died (90.6% mortality). Control Measures : In the initial stages, AHS 7 Virus strain Vaccine used - which failed to provide sufficient protection. Later indigenous Mouse adopted strain 9 was used - Monovalent AHS -9 chick embryo origin vaccine . Last report was in 1963. Thereafter no reports of AHS in India till date. In 82nd General Session of OIE, India was declared as member country recognized free from African horse sicknes Ref: 82 GS/FR – PARIS, May 2014 CURRENT STATUS OF EQUINE POPULATION IN INDIA Govt of India 2019 Livestock census: Equine population 0.54 million (0.34m horses & ponies, 0.08m mules, 0.12m donkeys) This includes Thoroughbred horses - both Racing & Breeding, Army equines - Indian Cavalry, Sports horses – , Tent pegging, , Endurance, and Elite indigenous horses. Indian Thoroughbred horse population is : 8,805 : 4,137 racing horses and 4,668 breeding and young stock. India has 7 race courses and 62 registered stud farms across the country. These HHP Indian thoroughbreds are securely maintained under constant veterinary inspection for any infectious diseases

Bangalore Hyderabad Equine Disease Diagnsotic Centres HHP Horses movement Protocol

Owing to seventh-largest country in the world, with a total area of 3,287,263 square kilometres. The Racing and other sport horses move from one area to other – imposing a big risk factor despite the distance from affected country.

and breeding horses follow SOP guidelines of Turf Authorities of India, approved by Govt. Of India.

 Equestrian horses follow guidelines of the National Federation - Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) and Indian Polo Association.

 Army horses are highly secured and have strict movement protocols.

Indian Protocol Followed in Movement of Horses

• All Race horses follow strict SOP :

• If a horse is moved form one race club to other

• Must obtain prior permission to bring the horse inside the race club, which is valid only for 48 hrs &

• Every horse must carry Passport, valid Coggin’s certificate, with valid Equine Influenza vaccination and Health Certificate.

• If a horse is moving from a Stud farm to Race Club: must produce additional Glanders negative Certificate, which is valid for 30 days &

Must have been protected against Equine Influenza duly endorsed in the passport

• The Movement of horses is strictly regulated EPIDEMIOLOGY

 India is AHS free country.

 Hosts are Equids: horses, mules, donkeys & Zebras .

 Transmission : Vector – Culicoides spps. present in India

 Thailand is separated from India by Myanmar.

 Possibilities of spread/incursion of vector-borne AHS into India cannot be totally ignored considering wide-spread prevalence of Culicoides vectors across India, disease epidemiology and past Indian experience which wiped out huge equine population. PREPARDNESS IN CASE OF OUTBREAK

Govt. of India will enact emergency AHS control measures under: “ THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN ANIMALS ACT, 2009”

This Act provides for the prevention, control and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases affecting animals, for prevention of outbreak or spreading of such diseases from one State to another, and to meet the international obligations of India for facilitating import and export of animals and animal products and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. As per the Act : Prevention & Control of Infectious diseases: 1. Veterinarians to undertake inspection and specify their jurisdiction 2. Segregation/ quarantine/slaughter of infected animals 3. Immediately notify the public through News paper publication and public announcements 4. Complete Ban on movement of the following across the controlled area – Any horse either alive or dead (which is infected or suspected to), fodder, bedding or other material that has come in contact with the infected animal, 5. No organization of fairs/ animal market. 6. No person shall bring or make an attempt to bring into market or other congregation of animals. 7. Initiate zoo-sanitary measures and vector control measures

8.Housing of horses 1hr before the sunset till 2hrs after sunrise

9.Insecticide spray of horses, stables, dung pits and trucks and Evening smoking of premises. NEED OF THE HOUR

1. Continue the Passive Surveillence 2. Strengthening of the Labs for real time RT PCR requiring references for positive control – Reference Positive sera and AHSV strains (serotype specific) needed for Diagnosis, Serotyping and VN tests.

3. International Technical support & expertise from OIE reference labs in UK, Spain and South .