After determining the virus that caused the death of one horse in California and the quarantine of 17 others is closely related to a single Utah horse show, the University of California Davis has informed horse show and event managers that the shows can go on – albeit carefully.
The UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital informed horse show and event managers Tuesday it has concluded the EHV-1 outbreak is centered around horses that were present at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships held at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden Utah, from April 30 to May 8 or the Kern County Cutting Event in Bakersfield on May 13. This includes cutting horses that did not attend either of these two events but have subsequently come into contact with horses from those events.
Instead of recommending the suspension of all horse shows throughout the region in the coming weeks, UC Davis suggests show and event managers incorporate precautionary steps to minimize the risk for all participants. These steps include a “no fever” policy for all horses at the event as well as a strict verification from participants upon arriving at a horse show venue that all horses on arrival had no contact whatsoever with either the suspect cutting events nor any horses that attended them.
“It is understood that some or most horses with a fever will not have EHV-1; however, in the interest of conducting a safe event under the current circumstances, the no fever policy will be enforced,” UC Davis said in a prepared statement. “If you do not wish to comply with these safety measures please do not attend the event.”
Show managers have embraced the UC Davis announcement as a positive step toward normalcy in a regional show scene that has been disrupted the last week while state officials evaluated the nature of the EHV-1 outbreak.
“UC Davis and California Department of Food and Agriculture have come out with a thoughtful explanation of what are reasonable steps to take for horse owners at competitions in light of the current course the EHM strain of EHV-1 has taken,” said Robert Kellerhouse, General Manager of Galway Downs Equestrian Center in Temecula, where last weekend’s Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association show was cancelled because of the outbreak. “I am very pleased that the experts at UC Davis and CDFA have analyzed the facts and provided a path for people to follow to better protect their horses at competitions.”
Kellerhouse added that one competition under his management, the Event at Woodside, will take place this weekend as scheduled.
The Memorial Day Classic hunter-jumper show scheduled for this weekend at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center is on schedule, but show officials say worried horse owners are staying home. As of Tuesday, two-thirds of the anticipated 600 horses expected in the show, a traditional centerpiece to the region’s show season, are not scheduled to participate, said Marnye Langer, Vice President of Langer Equestrian Group.
“It is now beginning to pick up a little, but much of the damage has been done, “ said Langer. “We have lost sponsors. Arena businesses are being impacted by this. Local charity groups that hold fund-raising activities at the Memorial Day Classic will be making little or no money.
“While the internet is a great tool and resource, it can also fuel the fires of misinformation and heightened emotions,” added Langer, whose event team managed a Colorado show through the crisis before returning to California for the Memorial Day Classic. “No one wants to see horses get sick. We pride ourselves on running safe, excellent, exciting events — horses are not dying right and left, the disease is not spreading like wildfire, the state is not quarantining facilities right and left.”
The state reports no new cases of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) caused by EHV-1 since Monday in California. The count of horses testing positive for the virus is 18 across 12 counties, including Amador (1), Glenn (2), Kern (2), Los Angeles (1), Marin (1), Napa (1), Placer (3), Plumas(1), Sacramento (1), Shasta(1), Stanislaus (3) and Ventura (1).
CDFA has quarantined all infected horses and continues to advise that horses returning from those events and horses that have subsequently come into contact with returning horses avoid moving from their home premises until California has gone 14 days without a new case of EHM.
A mare that did not particpate in either of the cuttings yet exhibited signs of EHM was subject of an investigation by Anmal Health Branch veterinarians who determined she did not have the same strain of virus as the horses in the confirmed cases. The mare, a participant in the Rancheros Vistadores ride in Santa Ynez May 5 – 12, reportedly exhibited neurological signs compatible with a number of equine diseases or conditions, but three sets of nasal swabs and blood testing on this mare indicated she was negative for the mutant strain of EHV-1 that causes EHM. Instead, she tested positive for a more common strain of EHV-1 that most frequently causes respiratory signs and on rare occasion causes neurological signs.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
UC Davis: The shows CAN go on – carefully
Sunday, May 15, 2011
CANCELLED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO EQUINE HERPESVIRUS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 14, 2011
BREEDERS INVITATIONAL LATEST CUTTING TO BE CANCELLED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO EQUINE HERPESVIRUS
OUTBREAK STARTED AT NCHA WESTERN NATIONALS AT OGDEN AND CAUSED CANCELLATION OF THE TEJON CUTTING IN LEBEC, CALIF.
The Breeders Invitational, which began today and was scheduled to run through Saturday, May 28, was cancelled late today due to the Equine Herpesvirus outbreak which has caused dozens of affected horses and even several deaths.
The outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) was traced to horses who attended the NCHA Western Nationals in Ogden, Utah, where one horse reportedly died. From there, many horses headed to a cutting in Bakersfield, Calif., where several horses showed signs of the highly contagious disease and three horses were reported by contestants to have died.
The PCCHA sprung into action, cancelling the PCCHA Tejon Ranch Cutting,
scheduled for May 19-22 at Lebec, Calif. Also, the Breeders Invitational in Tulsa, Okla., decided to cancel their high-paying show later today, after several horses showed signs of a fever. A press release from the Breeder's Invitational will be forthcoming regarding the future of this year's show.
Also, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is investigating two confirmed cases of EHV-1 within the state and two quarantines have been placed on two Weld County premises. One horse was euthanized after showing severe neurological signs associated with the disease and the second horse is currently under observation in a biosecure location.
Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr said, "We will continue to trace the movement of these horses and those horses they came into contact with in order to protect Colorado's equine industry." Both horses had at the NCHA Western Nationals in Ogden.
According to a press release from the Animal Health Division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) has been traced to horses who attended the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah, on April 30-May 8, where many of the horses who participated in the event may have been exposed. Many were from out of state, including Texas.
They encourage owners of horses who participated in Ogden to isolate and monitor their horses for clinical signs of disease. A rectal temperature in excess of 102F commonly precedes other clinical signs and they are urging owners to take temperatures twice a day. If temperatures are above 102F, owners are urged to contact their veterinarians. Laboratory submission of nasal swabs and blood samples collected from the exposed horse can be utilized for virus detection and isolation.
The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and the neurologic form of the virus can reach high morbidity and mortality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically 2-10 days. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, incoordination, hind-end weakness, recumbency,lethargy, urine dribbling and dimished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severeity of signs and the period of recumbency.
There is no specific treatment for EHV-1 but it could include intravenous fluids and anti-inflammatory drugs. Currently there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus. Some of the owners of horses that have been at the affected events, have been giving their horses immune system boosters.
Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission and contaminated hands, equipment, tack and feed all play a role in disease spread. However, horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 illness are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and, therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease.
Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control.
For additional information, go to
USDA.
For an American Association of Equine Practitioners Fact Sheet go to:
AAEP Fact Sheet
You can also contact Kent Fowler, DVM, Animal Health Branch Chief of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. (916) 657-5045 or (916) 837-3419 (cell) or in Colorado contact Christi Lightcap (303) 239-4190 or Christi.lightcap@ag.state.co.us.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Rescue of 133 Allegedly Neglected Horses in Maryland
HSUS Release
CENTREVILLE, Md.— The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Days End Farm Horse Rescue and Summer Winds Stables assisted Queen Anne County Animal Control enforcement in the rescue of 133 horses from a Centreville property. The animals were removed from the property by Queen Anne County Animal Control after the County witnessed poor conditions during an inspection of the property. This is one of the largest equine rescues in the state.
When rescuers arrived on the 200-acre property, they found 133 Polish Arabian horses. Many were in poor health and showing signs of neglect. Many of the animals were extremely emaciated and suffering from a variety of medical ailments including overgrown, infected hooves and parasite infestation. Queen Anne County Animal Control initiated this case and reached out to the rescue groups for assistance.
The horses are being transported to several private stables for temporary shelter. All of the horses will be checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care. The rescued horses are in the custody of Queen Anne County and will be cared for by The HSUS, ASPCA, Summer Winds Stables and Days End until their owner formally surrenders ownership or successfully petitions a court to have her horses returned.
Statements from groups involved in the rescue:
“The Humane Society of the United States is proud to be able to come to the aid of these animals. Our rescue came not a moment too soon for some of the especially sick horses. There’s no excuse for starving or neglecting an animal. It is the responsibility of every horse owner to provide humane, responsible care for their horses at all stages of their life.” – Stacy Segal, equine protection specialist for The HSUS.
“Over breeding has led to the neglect of many of the impounded horses. Our breeders need to be held responsible.” – Brooke Vrany, Days End.
“These horses have suffered greatly and the ASPCA is glad to be able to lend its assistance and get these animals the treatment and care they so desperately need. Our goal is to work with various animal welfare groups to quickly remove the animals from the property and help them get to a safe place.” – Tim Rickey, senior director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response.
“Queen Anne County Animal Control is glad to come to the aid of these animals. We will be doing weekly visits to the property to be sure that the remaining horses are being properly cared for.” – Dave MacGlashan, director of Queen Anne’s County Animal Control
Horse owners who can no longer care for their horses have many humane options available to them:
•Sell the horse to a properly vetted, private owner
•Lease the horse to another horse enthusiast
•Donate the horse to a therapeutic riding center, park police unit or similar program
•Relinquish the horse to a horse rescue or sanctuary
•Consider humane euthanasia
