Disease Alerts

Source: Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 6;
Number Exposed: 27;
Facility Type: Training Facility;
Age: 3; Gender: Mare; Breed: Thoroughbred (TB); Onset of Clinical Signs: Not Reported;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Febrile; Confirmation Date: Not Reported; Horse Status: Exposed; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Update April 13, 2021; Original Alert ID#- 1982; 1988; 1992, 2019: Results of testing on the samples (Nasal Swabs and Whole Blood EDTA) collected from each horse stabled in Barn A at Blackwood Training Center on Friday, April 9th have been reported negative for detection of EHV1 DNA by PCR testing. In addition to the testing that has been completed, the horses have been monitored daily and our findings support that it has been greater than 14 days since any horse in Barn A was last potentially exposed to a clinical case. Meeting the criteria above the group of horses have been released in Barn A from restriction on Monday April 12 and are allowed to resume their normal training and racing activities.

Source: Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Information regarding horses from Pimlico racetrack entering Kentucky:  An inability to adequately isolate new arrivals on the grounds of Kentucky tracks and training facilities does warrant an abundance of caution be taken to mitigate risk of disease entry. Based on this, we are directing KY tracks and their associated sanctioned training centers to not allow movement of horses which have resided or been at Pimlico (racing, training, transiting, etc.), on or after March 15, 2021 without prior approval from the KY Office State Veterinarian. We have and will continue to allow horses from Pimlico to enter KY and will work to qualify and facilitate movement of these horses to a KY track or training center on an individual basis following testing and further evaluation. Horses which have recently (since March 15th) been on the grounds at Pimlico can qualify for approval to enter a KY track or sanctioned training center if they have documentation demonstrating they have been off the grounds of Pimlico for 30 days OR horses may move from Pimlico and after having been off the grounds for 24hrs be examined by a veterinarian and tested negative by PCR for EHV-1 (nasal swab and whole blood - EDTA) could qualify for entry onto a Kentucky racing or training facility. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the horse(s) from the point where the sample was collected needs to be issued for movement to the Kentucky racing or training facility and must document the EHV1 testing, current health assessment in addition to meeting the normal entry requirements that includes EHV1 vaccination and EIA test certificate. Our plan is for the current protocol described in this message to remain in effect through the first week of May when we will make determination and provide instruction on how to proceed.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Number Confirmed: 1;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
Age: 24; Gender: Mare; Breed: Draft-cross; Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/31/2021;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Difficulty urinating; Confirmation Date: 4/6/2021; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: The affected horse is being treated at a referral hospital. No other horses on the property are showing clinical signs. Under veterinary supervision, the facility manager has instituted biosecurity protocols and animal movement restrictions. For more information about EHM go to https://equinediseasecc.org/Content/ContentDocs/DiseaseFactsheet-EHM.pdf;

Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food

Number Confirmed: 1;;
Facility Type: Farm;
Age: 23; Gender: Mare; Breed: Not Reported; Onset of Clinical Signs: 4/3/2021;
Confirmation Date: 4/7/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Mare was aborted at 315 days of gestation. The affected mare has been isolated on the property. No other mares are affected at this time. Under veterinary supervision, the facility manager has implemented biosecurity protocols and animal movement restrictions.

Source: Attending Veterinarian

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Suspected: 2;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
Age: 11; Gender: Gelding; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Onset of Clinical Signs: 4/2/2021;
Clinical Signs: Decreased Appetite, Edema, Fever, Lethargy, Swollen submandibular lymph nodes; Confirmation Date: 4/7/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Unvaccinated;
Notes: For more information about Strangles go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet-Strep_equi_final%20Cobranded_0.pdf;

Source: Texas Animal Health Commission

Number Confirmed: 7;
Breed: Quarter Horse (QH);
Horse Status: All Euthanized;
Notes: The premises is quarantined and will be released when TAHC's requirements are met. TAHC's staff are working closely with the owners and local veterinarians to monitor potentially exposed horses and implement biosecurity measures. For more information about EIA go to https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_EIA%20Cobranded.pdf ;

Source: New York Department of Agriculture and Markets

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Exposed: 70;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
 Breed: Thoroughbred (TB); 
Confirmation Date: 4/6/2021; Horse Status: Recovering; Vaccination Status: Status Unknown;
Notes: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Animal Industry has quarantined Suffolk Equestrian Academy, in Medford, NY, for exposure to Strep equi, aka Strangles. Currently there is one confirmed case of Strangles that has been diagnosed at the stable. The index case and a cohort have been isolated and will continue to be monitored. As for the remaining horses at the stable, they will have a minimum 14 day quarantine which includes twice daily temperature taking and recording and monitoring for signs of any illness. Fevers over 101. 5 or signs of illness should be immediately reported to their veterinarian for further evaluation. Horses returning home from travel to shows or new additions to a stable should be isolated upon arrival and monitored for signs of disease for a minimum of 3-4 weeks. Stable management has been cooperative and is working with attending veterinarians and the Department to institute appropriate biosecurity precautions for all horses on the property. For more information about strangles or how to improve your biosecurity please see: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside Linked Documents/DiseaseFactsheet-Strep_equi_final Cobranded_0.pdf

Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Exposed: 91;
Facility Type: Boarding Facility;
Age: 21; Gender: Mare; Breed: Quarter Horse (QH); Onset of Clinical Signs: Not Reported;
Clinical Signs: Ataxia, Painful Neck, proprioceptive deficits in hind end; Confirmation Date: 3/24/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Update 4/7/21: Original Alert ID: 2002: No additional cases to report. As there were additional cases for fourteen (14) days on the home premises, the quarantine was released. ;

Source: New York Department of Agriculture and Markets

Number Confirmed: 2 EHM, 6 EHV-1
Number Exposed: 35;
Facility Type: Stable;
Onset of Clinical Signs: 3/7/2021;
Confirmation Date: 3/10/2021; Horse Status: Affected And Alive; Vaccination Status: Not Reported;
Notes: Update 4/7/21: Original Alert ID: 1981: The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is releasing an EHM quarantine that was placed on a private stable that is located in Brewster, NY. In total, 2 EHM cases and 6 EHV-1 cases were diagnosed during the quarantine. Fortunately all affected horses have survived. ;

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Number Confirmed: 1;
Number Exposed: 1;
Facility Type: Private Facility;
Notes: A private facility in Marion County is under quarantine after a horse has tested positive for Strangles. Owners acquiring any new horse and especially those from "kill pens" are encouraged to isolated the horse and monitor for clinical signs of disease. This is the 16th case of strangles for Florida in 2021. For more information about Strangles go the Strangles Factsheet.