Isolated case of horse virus found in Aiken
A horse has reportedly tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus-1 (equine rhinopneumonitis) in the Aiken area.
The incident is an isolated case, but horse owners should take the proper precautions to protect their horses against infection.
“There isn’t an outbreak of equine herpes in Aiken County,” said Dr. Jamie Carter of Southern Equine Services, who is treating the horse.
“The horse is being treated and recovering very nicely. It was a voluntary quarantine at the farm, and no other horses on the farm have shown any symptoms.”
Equine herpes is a common virus that occurs globally, according to the Complete Equine Veterinary Manual. There are eight subtypes of the equine herpes virus affecting horses and donkeys, and EHV-1 is the most common. EHV-1 can cause respiratory, reproductive (abortion in pregnant mares) and neurological disease.
The virus is usually spread by the respiratory tract through direct contact with nasal secretions from one horse to another or through the air.
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EHV-1 can be carried from one horse to another on shared water buckets, tack, or by a person’s hands or clothes, wrote Dr. Nicola Pusterla, a professor in the department of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, in Equus magazine.
EHV-1 is a common infectious agent and is responsible for a mild respiratory disorder that can affect the central nervous system and, in some cases, can be fatal.
The virus has an incubation period of two to seven days.
A horse infected with the neurological form may experience a high temperature, nasal discharge, gait abnormalities, rear limb ataxia (uncoordination), have difficulty defecating or urinating or have trouble rising or standing, Pusterla wrote.
In the event a horse is diagnosed with the neurological form, the horse should be isolated for three weeks, and proper hygiene measures should be maintained.
There are vaccinations available for EHV-1, but there are no vaccines available to protect against the neurological form of the disease.
Decisions to vaccinate should be made by horse owners in consultation with their veterinarians.