There is a confirmed case at the Brazos equine clinic in Stephenville, Texas - a colt that was at the cutting competition in Utah.
Here is some good info from my holistic vet...
We are sending out some information about the EHV-1 outbreak. This is the neurological form of Herpes. The vaccination does not seem to provide any protection from this form of the disease. Some people say that the respiratory form gets into the spinal cord and that is when you see neurological signs. They say that you can vaccinate against the respiratory form. Horses that died from the neurological form of herpes last year at the east coast race track were all vaccinated for the respiratory form. There is also some speculation that horses that are frequently vaccinated for EHV-1 could be more susceptible to the neurological form. If you are interested in giving your horse a booster shot for this disease, Pneumobort-K is a good choice. Actually, any EHV-1 vaccine is fine if you want to booster your horse. Remember, once a horse is vaccinated, you don’t really see an immune response for two weeks. We are not pushing vaccination at this time. A teleconference held the evening of May 19 featuring Nicola Pusterla, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of equine internal medicine at the University of California – Davis, regarding the EHV-1 outbreak gave out some additional information about the outbreak. The horse’s that may have spread the EHV-1 virus left Ogden Utah twenty days ago. There have been five confirmed deaths of horses, and three horses have been euthanized. It seems that a horse can carry the virus and not show clinical signs. These horse’s have infected some others that have displayed clinical signs. He also informed us that many horses in the general population will test positive for latent rhino virus and not pose a threat. Cases have been seen in Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, Canada, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah. There is no evidence that the virus could be spread using cooled semen, although it may not hurt to wipe down the outside of the box and the syringes with soap or diluted Clorox water. The dilution for the bleach is 4-8 ounces of bleach per gallon of water. Wyoming and Colorado have stepped up their entrance requirements, so if you are planning a trip with your horse to these states, be sure to comply with their new regulations. Dr. Pusterla told us that a nasal swab from a horse with EHV-1 should be very accurate at detecting the disease. New horses should be quarantined for 21-28 days to be sure they are not carrying the virus. Two nasal swabs, done 7-10 days apart on any new horse that comes into your barn would be another way to screen the animal to make sure it is not carrying the latent virus. The EHV-1 virus does NOT come from the EHV-4 virus or vice versa. They are two separate entities. Your farrier should wash his or her hands and perhaps even change clothes between barns. The virus is killed by bleach, and is actually easily controlled with just good hygiene, such as handwashing ,foot baths, and protective clothing. Veterinarians and their technicians can change smocks between barns or between horses, wear booties over their shoes, and wash their hands.
One good way to protect your horse is to STAY HOME. The virus is highly contagious and is spread by nasal secretion, through the air, and on stall walls and feeders. The next smart thing to do, if your horse is at risk or needs to go to a show, is to put the horse on 15cc of Lemon Balm to kill the virus and 15cc of Skullcap to keep the virus from getting into the cells; two or three times a day; starting five to seven days before a show and continuing through the show and a couple of days after the show. We use the very strong and very pure Lemon Balm and Skullcap from Buck Mountain Botanicals. You can buy these products at the clinic.
Another name for Herpes is Rhinopneumonitis or Rhino. It is a virus. If your horse is acting sick, check the temperature frequently. Horses with Herpes virus will spike a fever. The normal temperature for a horse is about 100 degrees. One of the vets attending the teleconference said they are seeing horses with neurological signs that did not first have a fever. If your horse is having trouble walking or balancing or urinating , have the horse checked by a veterinarian. Get the nasal swab done, and you can also have a blood test (PCR) done. Dr. Pusterla said the blood test is only accurate about 80% of the time. If you suspect your horse could have contracted rhino (or herpes), I would suggest giving 4cc of Neoplasene mixed in water and added to some feed, two times daily. If the horse is not eating, mix the neoplasene in water and add molasses and give the dose via a syringe. Neoplasene will kill the virus. We have neoplasene at the clinic.
Other treatments for Herpes virus include:
L-Lysine powder one tablesthingy three times daily(available at whole horse clinic)
Homeopathic Nosodes for Herpes virus (available at the clinic)
Lauricidin, made from Saw Palmetto, developed by chemist Jon Kabara (available on the internet)
Vitamin C powder (available at clinic) to strengthen the immune system
Silver Lining Herbs nerve and brain formula, immune formula
Various anti-herpes drugs from the human market could help, but are very expensive
We are attaching several emails that are helpful in describing the symptoms and treatment of equine neurological herpes virus:
AUSTIN - Animal Health officials nationwide are currently investigating the possible spread of the neurologic form of Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) disease, which has been detected in horses that participated in the National Cutting Horse Association Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah from April 29 - May 8. EHV-1 is a viral disease of equine which does not affect humans. The neurologic form of the disease can manifest itself as hind limb weakness, tremors, recumbency or other nervous system type symptoms which may be preceded by fever or respiratory signs. The disease is most commonly spread by aerosol transmission and can result in death of the affected animal. Texas Animal Health Officials are currently investigating approximately 20 horses in Texas that were reported to have attended the event. All horses known to have attended the event are under movement restrictions. There are no cases of the disease in Texas at this moment.
Texas has only one confirmed clinical case of neurologic EHV-1 so far, which was a horse originating from New Mexico that sought treatment at a vet clinic in West Texas earlier this week. The horse has since been returned to New Mexico and is now quarantined on its premises of origin. A number of other states have also reported clinical cases in horses that attended the event. Texas veterinarians and TAHC officials will continue to monitor all exposed horses closely and it is possible that new cases will be diagnosed. “Strict adherence to the imposed movement restrictions and practicing good biosecurity procedures by the involved horse owners will be the key to limiting the scope of this situation”, stated Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas’ State Veterinarian.
“The TAHC has not recommended the cancellation of any events or imposed more stringent interstate entry requirements at this time, but that decision will be re-evaluated daily”, added Dr. Ellis. Horse owners are advised to contact their veterinarian or local TAHC office if they have any questions concerning the health of their equine. Biosecurity measures recommended for the exposed horses include isolation, daily temperature monitoring, use of separate tack and buckets, use of protective outer clothing by caretakers, disinfectant foot baths, and handling exposed animals last when feeding or providing care.
Horse owners planning on attending upcoming events are encouraged to contact event organizers in advance in case they have voluntarily cancelled the event. Horse owners should also contact the state of destination for any out of state shows they wish to attend to determine their latest entry requirements. The TAHC will continue to monitor the current situation and will provide timely updates as new information is received.
For information regarding EHV-1, visit
www.tahc.state.tx.us . Several useful links can also be accessed through our website. You can also keep up with EHV-1 information through our Facebook (www.facebook.com/TexasAHC) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TAHC) .
Leisa Fletcher
Public Information Asst./Graphic Designer
Texas Animal Health Commission
2105 Kramer Ln.
Austin, TX 78758
Office: 512-719-0734
www.tahc.state.tx.us Equine Herpesvirus Awareness
An outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) has been traced to horses that attended the National Cutting Horse Association’s (NCHA) Western National Championships in Odgen, UT on April 30 - May 8, 2011. Affected horses have been identified in Colorado. Additional states have possible cases pending and/or are looking for animals that attended the event and returned home.
Texas does not currently have any confirmed positives. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has identified all horses that attended the show in Utah and are currently working on contacting the equine owners and advising them to isolate exposed horses for at least two weeks, follow good biosecurity practices and watch for possible clinical signs.
EHV-1 Information Equine Herpes Virus is a common virus in equine populations worldwide. There are several strains of the virus, with EHV-1 and EHV-4 being most often involved in clinical disease. EHV-1 can cause respiratory disease, abortion and neurologic disease. The neurologic disease is sometimes referred to as Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM.) Although EHV-1 is highly contagious among horses, it does not pose a threat to human health.
Transmission EHV is transmitted primarily by aerosol and through direct and indirect contact. Aerosol transmission occurs when infectious droplets are inhaled. The source of infectious droplets is most often respiratory secretions. In the case of abortions, virus may be present in the placenta, fetal membranes and fluid, and aborted fetuses.
Direct horse-to-horse contact is a common route of transmission of the virus, but indirect transmission is also important. This occurs when infectious materials (nasal secretions, fluids from abortions, etc.) are carried between infected and non-infected horses by people or fomites (inanimate objects such as buckets, etc).
Signs of EHV-1
Fever is one of the most common clinical signs and often precedes the development of other signs. Respiratory signs include coughing and nasal discharge. Abortions caused by EHV generally occur after 5 months of gestation. Neurologic signs associated with EHM are highly variable, but often the hindquarters are most severely affected. Horses with EHM may appear weak and uncoordinated. Urine dribbling and loss of tail tone may also be seen. Severely affected horses may become unable to rise.
It is important to remember that none of these signs are specific to EHV, and diagnostic testing is required to confirm EHV infection. Also, many horses exposed to EHV never develop clinical signs.
What to do if you suspect your horse has been exposed If you suspect your horse has been exposed to EHV, contact your veterinarian. In general, exposed horses should be isolated and have their temperatures monitored twice daily for 10 days. If an exposed horse develops a fever or other signs consistent with EHV infection, diagnostic testing should be performed. Testing of healthy horses is generally not recommended.
Useful Links/Resources
·
www.aqha.com/·
www.nchacutting.com/·
www.nchacutting.com/ag/shows/pdf/csu_20110515.pdf·
www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Equine%20Herpes%20Virus.pdf·
www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/If you do not have to travel to shows this weekend it is advised to monitor the situation and stay at home. If you have to attend a show, practice diligent biosecurity, as you always should when traveling with your horse. Take your horse's rectal temperature twice daily and contact a veterinarian if it rises above 101.5 F. If you believe your horse is at high risk of exposure and the exposure is worth the risk, contact your veterinarian about preventative treatment with antiviral medication (Valtrex), aspirin, L-Lysine and Zylexis. Veterinarians across the state are keeping in close contact to monitor this outbreak and hopefully through accurate communication we can prevent further horses developing clinical disease and minimize widespread panic.
Facts
Equine Herpes Virus - 1 (EHV-1) - DNA virus that causes abortion, respiratory disease and neurologic disease. Fever (>101.5 F) typically precedes other clinical signs. Respiratory signs include nasal discharge and coughing. Abortions are usually late term (>8 months) and occur without warning. Neurologic symptoms include in-coordination, urine dribbling and inability to get up. Fever and respiratory signs may precede neurologic signs.
Transmission - Usually by aerosolization of respiratory secretions. However, virus can stay viable in the environment for several weeks.
Diagnosis - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of nasal swabs and blood, done by your veterinarian.
Treatment - No specific treatment is available. Experimental treatments for the neurologic form include; antivirals, anticoagulants (aspirin) and primarily supportive care.
Prevention - Biosecurity guidelines should be in place for any large group of horses that travel in and out of the facility. Any new horse should be isolated for 28 days. All horses should have their temperature taken at least once daily. Vaccination might be helpful, but has not been proven to be effective against the neurologic form of EHV-1.
The vaccination for Equine Herpes takes about 2 weeks to take effect after it is given, so there is no need to vaccinate your horse at this point. Also, there is no evidence that the vaccine will prevent your horse from contracting the neurological form of herpes, since the horses that died last year at the racetrack in the east were vaccinated.
Lu Ann Groves DVM
3330 Harris Hill Rd
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-396-2234
Fax: 512-396-6176
www.thewholehorse.com 
