HEALTH & WELFARE
EHV:
THE RISK HASN’T GONE AWAY
JUST BECAUSE EHV IS NO LONGER MAKING EQUESTRIAN NEWS HEADLINES, THE RISK HASN’T GONE AWAY. THE OUTBREAK IN VALENCIA EARLIER THIS YEAR MAY NOW BE SLIPPING TO THE BACK OF EVERYONE'S MINDS, BUT NOW IS EXACTLY THE TIME EVERY HORSE OWNER SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THEIR BIOSECURITY PROTOCOLS ARE UP TO DATE AND DISCUSSING VACCINATION WITH THEIR VET, SAYS ZOETIS VET WENDY TALBOT.
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iving in a world with Covid-19 has given us a reality check about how airborne disease can take hold and wreak havoc in a matter of months. If there could be a small upside for horse owners from the pandemic it may be that it has helped to clarify the importance of vaccination and biosecurity to protect human health. These should remain our watchwords to minimise infectious disease risks for our horses too. Understanding EHV Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is a contagious viral infection causing respiratory disease,
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abortions and neurological disease. Like the human cold sore virus, EHV lies dormant in the majority of horses after they recover from infection and it will periodically recur, especially in times of stress such as travelling or mixing with other horses at shows or events or on busy yards.1 Once the virus is reactivated the horse will shed virus into the environment possibly causing new outbreaks. This has the potential to affect the health of the whole yard.2 Unfortunately, there is no cure for EHV. Once a horse has the virus it is likely to remain a carrier for the rest of its life.
Horses most at risk of EHV Moving and mixing horses with others increases the risk of spread of infectious disease.6
Competition and Riding Club horses are likely to be at increased risk not only because of their exposure to other horses at venues but also because the stress of travelling and competing can trigger reactivation of the virus in horses that have been previously infected with EHV.7 Horses at livery yards, especially those with new horses regularly coming on to the yard are also likely to be more susceptible so it is always best for newcomers to be quarantined and for other yard occupants to avoid all contact until the new horse has been confirmed as free of disease.7 Breeding studs and yards with pregnant mares can also be particularly vulnerable to outbreaks which can result in the rapid loss of large numbers of foals (abortion storms).8 How does vaccination help? Vaccination plays a pivotal role because it helps tip the balance in favour of the horse’s immune system. Continued overleaf...
What are the signs of EHV? Your horse will need to be tested by a vet to determine whether the virus is present but signs of respiratory disease are similar to equine influenza and can include: 3,4 ›› Fever ›› Nasal discharge that goes from clear to thick and yellow ›› Weepy eyes ›› Swollen glands ›› Cough ›› Lethargy ›› Reduced appetite ›› No obvious signs but you may have noticed a consistent reduced performance.5
