INFECTIOUS EQUINE DISEASES A Question & Answer session with Dr. Ashley Whitehead about the prevention and minimization of infectious equine diseases. B Y J E N N W E B ST E R & AS H L EY W H I T E H E A D, DR M , B S C , DV S C .
Q. Can you please tell us about equine diseases in Alberta and/or the importance of reporting them. What kind of equine diseases would this include?
hard at improving the system for private veterinarians to report directly into this system, but things take time in government.
A. We had a great discussion at a recent AEF meeting
Q.What usually happens in these incidences? Can you provide any Alberta examples?
regarding infectious diseases in Alberta with Potomac Horse Fever being the starting point. We also discussed non-infectious diseases that are unique in Alberta such as congenital hypothyroidism in foals and Clostridial hepatitis. Diseases that are reportable to the US-based Equine Disease Communication Centre (EDDC) that would be important in Alberta horses are as follows: Coronavirus - It’s important to note, Equine Corona Virus (ECoV) is NOT the same virus as COVID-19. It is a viral disease caused by an RNA virus. The disease causes gastrointestinal disease in horses. Others include: Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Equine herpes virus (respiratory, abortion, neurological), Equine infectious anemia, Equine influenza, Pigeon fever, Potomac horse fever, Rabies, Rotavirus, Salmonella, Strangles, and West Nile Virus.
Q.Are there any specific diseases we should be worried about right now? Anything pertaining to winter?
A. Winter poses a risk to horses as they tend to reduce their
“social distancing” both out in the field and we are now working in arenas. This means that there are more contact points between horses. It remains important to keep your distance and keep common areas cleaned just as we are doing for people. Strangles – Streptococcus equi equi is always a concern in Alberta. Coronavirus (different strain completely from COVID-19) can cause fever, depression, off feed, plus or minus diarrhea in the winter months. It is highly contagious between horses. Lice becomes an issue in the winter when horses are huddling together to keep warm. Viral respiratory diseases (EHV, Influenza, Rhinovirus) horses are in close contact and barns have closed doors so there is not as much ventilation.
Alberta examples of Potomac Horse Fever occurrences this year.
A. Once disease positive case(s) are reported to the EDCC,
the EDCC has a veterinarian double check the data and contact the original veterinarian for any clarifications. The information that is put on the website and in the alerts is based on county or municipality, and does not identify individuals or barns so you don’t have to worry there – everything is anonymous. There is an alert signup that sends emails each day with the information on the disease status. There is an app and social media pages along with the website. It has lots of great information on other diseases.
Q. Does this protect the public? Is there any kind of assistance to the barn or horse owner in these cases?
A. The most important part of an infectious disease is the Q. If a disease occurs that should be reported, what is the prevention and timely treatment if one is identified. By having process of doing so?
A. Owners can remind their veterinarians to report any infectious disease to the Equine Disease Communication Centre www.equinediseasecc.org once there is a positive test result. This allows others to know that a disease is in the area. Currently, the Canadian system (Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System www.cahss.ca/surveillance/equine/) only has reporting of notifiable or reportable diseases (Provincial and Federal). But there is a fantastic dashboard where you can look at the disease history in Canada’s horses. We are working
the information on what is in the area, owners can adjust their routines (maybe I won’t travel to a show, etc.) It is also really important, as individuals will be more attentive to their animals, looking for early signs of disease, and veterinarians can diagnose cases quicker if they know a disease is in the area. These all mean that our horses are safer and healthier. If one of the diseases that is identified in a horse or horse population is a reportable disease (Provincial or Federal), then the government is involved with the disease response and quarantine. Most of our equine infectious diseases do not fall within this category. AB ALBERTA BITS I FALL/WINTER 2020
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