A Equine Herpesvirus AQHA update on EHV-1 outbreak The American Quarter Horse Journal
May 16, 2011The National Cutting Horse Association reports that the Colorado and Utah state veterinarians have confirmed two cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1)
in Colorado.As a precautionary measure, the board of directors of the Breeders Invitational has canceled the cutting event scheduled for May 14-28 in
Tulsa, Oklahoma. NCHA canceled the Mercuria-NCHA World Series of Cutting that was scheduled in conjunction with the Breeders Invitational.NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper requests that owners and trainers report any horses that show neurological symptoms of EHV-1, which are fever, lack of coordination in the hind limbs and dribbling of urine.
“We are monitoring the situation and coordinating with USDA, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Horse Council,” said
Ward Stutz, senior director of breed integrity for the American Quarter Horse Association. “While we hope this outbreak does not necessitate the
closing of state borders or the cancellation of shows during the most busy time of the year, our primary concern is the health and welfare of the
horse. Owners should contact their equine veterinarian immediately if a horse shows any symptoms.Practicing good biosecurity and health measures is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease,” Stutz added. “Owners should familiarize
themselves with the information provided below about EHV-1 and the best management practices to stop the spread of the disease.”Both the EHV-1-affected horses competed at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah, from April 29 through May 8, 2011.
The virus is contagious to horses but can't be transmitted to humans. Read more about quarantine practices to protect your herd.
The equine disease is not transmittable to humans. The virus’ most common strains cause abortion, respiratory disease and neurologic disease. Clinical
signs include a fever typically within four-six days of exposure.Please go to the following links for further information, especially if you had horses at that competition:
Colorado Department of Agriculture Press Release, 5/13/2011, “Equine Herpesvirus Confirmed in Two Colorado Horses.”
American Association of Equine Practitioners Fact Sheet: Equine Herpesvirus National Cutting Horse Association
United States Department of Agriculture information Colorado State University has released some answers to frequently asked
questions about EHV-1 and how to treat it.Frequently Asked Questions Information from Colorado State University
How do we handle horses returning from events where they might have been exposed to this infection?
What do we do if we already have a potentially exposed horse on a farm?
What anti- viral treatments can I use against EHM on a farm?
Is there any value to using booster vaccinations against EHV-1 at this time?1. How do we handle horses returning from events where they might have been exposed to this infection?
For horses that might have been exposed to the risk of infection, there are some steps to take to mitigate the risk at their home facility. Even if
these horses are returning home from events at which no disease was reported, and even if these horses appear healthy, precautions are needed at
this time as these horses could bring it home and spread it at their home farm this is the classic way this disease spreads:These horses should be isolated from any other horses when they return to their home facility. Isolation requires housing them away from other horses,
using different equipment to feed, clean and work with them that is used with any other horses, and rigorous hygiene procedures for horse handlers
(hand hygiene, wearing separate clothes when contacting the horses, etc.). Please discuss this with your veterinarian.We strongly advise owners to call their vets to discuss how long to keep the horses isolated at home, but even if they don't develop fevers this should
be at least 14 -21 days. These horses should have their temperature taken twice a day, as temperature is typically the first and most common sign of infection horses with elevated temperatures (101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or greater) should be swabbed by your vet to find out whether they are shedding EHV-1.If a horse develops a fever and is found to be shedding EHV-1 then the level of risk to other horses on the premises increases significantly. Those
affected farms should work closely with their veterinarian to manage that situation, if it develops.
2. What do we do if we already have a potentially exposed horse on a farm?It still makes sense to isolate this horse from other horses. Even though it might have already been in contact with them, start isolation procedures to
stop further exposure. It is important to not mix horses from different groups to accomplish this. Try to isolate the suspect horse without moving
other horses from one group to another segregation of horse groups is the key, because this will help you reduce spread if an outbreak starts.Check temperatures of all horses on the farm twice daily (fever spikes can be missed if you check once daily). If fevers are detected, then test for
EHV-1. The value of starting healthy horses on anti-viral treatment when there is no evidence of disease on the farm is questionable. The treatment is
expensive, the drug (Valtrex™ - valacyclovir) may have limited availability, and prophylactic therapy against EHM will only work while drug is being
administered. Therefore it is more likely to be effective if administered when fever is first detected.3. What anti- viral treatments can I use against EHM on a farm?
If EHM is present on a farm, then the risk to other horses at that farm is greatly increased. Stringent quarantine and biosecurity procedures must be
implemented immediately. Treatment of horses with clinical neurological disease (EHM) is largely supportive the use of anti-viral drugs is not known to be of value at this stage. Use of anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended: flunixin meglumine (0.5 to 1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 hours). For horses on the farm that develop fever, test EHV-1 positive, or have a high risk of exposure, anti-viral drugs may decrease the chance of developing EHM. Currently, the treatment of choice in a febrile EHV-1 infected horse to prevent the development of EHM is Valacyclovir (Valtrex™), given orally. The use of oral acyclovir is unlikely to be of any value, as it is not absorbed from the GI tract. We currently recommend Valacyclovir (Valtrex™) for prophylactic therapy at a dose of 30 mg/kg q 8 hr for two days, then 20 mg/kg q 12 hr for 1-2 weeks. Maintain on higher dose rate if the horse is still febrile. This is an expensive drug, and daily treatment costs can typically be $20-300 per day. Generic forms of Valacyclovir might be available and might be marginally cheaper.The use of Valacyclovir in horses that have already developed signs of EHM is questionable at this time, in that circumstance the use of intravenous
Ganciclovir is preferable as it might have greater potency against the disease. The dose of Ganciclovir is 2.5 mg/kg q 8 hr IV for one day then 2.5
mg/kg q 12 hr IV for one week.4. Is there any value to using booster vaccinations against EHV-1 at this time?
Unfortunately, there is no evidence at this time that current EHV-1 vaccines can prevent EHM. The more potent EHV-1 vaccines have been shown to reduce nasal shedding and in some cases reduce viremia. These products might have some theoretical value against EHM (by reducing viremia), and certainly against spread of the virus. The more potent EHV-1 vaccines include: Rhinomune®, or Calvenza™ EHV, Boehringer Animal Health; Pneumabort-K®, Pfizer Animal Health; Prodigy Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health. If horses on the farm are previously vaccinated against EHV-1, then booster
vaccination should quickly increase immunity, and perhaps reduce spread of EHV-1 if it is present.Vaccination in these circumstances is controversial, as some authorities speculate that immunity to EHV-1 may play a role in the development of EHM.
While this is unproven, it remains a possibility. The use of vaccination is therefore a risk-based decision. Additional sources of information are
listed below. Until we know more about this outbreak, caution is recommended at all times to reduce the spread of infection. Movement of horses on and
off farms should be limited whenever possible.CQHA Newsletter May 2011 Komen CT Rider's Horse Needs a Home
Pam Korsemeyer, an avid equestrian and supporter of the Susan G. Komen for the Ride for the Cure has found herself unable to care for her horse due to her battle with breast cancer. As a result, we are sending this to all our Ride for the Cure supporters to see if there is anyone who is capable of offering Turo a good home. Please do not respond to Komen, but to Pam directly. Her email is at the bottom of this message. Thank you all and we hope to see you on October 2nd!
Description:
"Turo" is a handsome-looking fellow who is easy to handle and to keep. He is an Arab cross, 15 years old, very sound, 15/2 hands. He was schooling second level stuff and we were working with Vicki Hammers-O'Neil when I had to quit riding last fall, but he has been in steady work with two very good adult riders. I have formed such a tight working relationship with this horse in the more than 5 years I have owned him that it is hard for me to predict how someone else might feel about him. He is very broke to the seat, so riding him up from behind and into a light contact is very effective. If a rider thinks that he or she can just sit there and ride his mouth, they will find that he becomes resentful and uncooperative. He has a big motor and likes to flatten out and GO. Over fences, unless the rider is a good, judicious user of half-halts and seat, he will take flying leaps at fences and unseat the unsuspecting. He needs a quiet, steady hand and seat. His gaits are lovely, but have to be kept "small" or, again he flattens out and just goes fast. He HAS NEVER BOLTED OR BUCKED and I have never fallen off him. He has what one trainer described as a "text book" trot but it is elevated and difficult to sit to. If you have a weak or troubled back, forget it. He does have a tendency to spook. I spent quite a lot of time and energy "desensitizing" him but have not taken him out in so long that I am afraid any new person would have to spend quite a while doing that. He slams on the brakes and spins, or just jumps sideways a couple of yards. Like I said he has never bucked or bolted. A few days ago, a friend of mine was riding him in a field where there are some jump standards and equipment lying around. He ducked and spun on her three times at the same stupid thing. Again, I had him in a really good place when I had to quit. He goes
through water, jumps logs, goes over wooden bridges with no railings -- no problem. What seems to bother him most are lumpy things near the ground--piles of things, boulders with paint on them, logs floating in the water. His sire was a gray Arab of "Crabbet" ancestry named HatchHollow Seraf. I have tons of info about my horse's birth and history. He is stabled in Bethany.
Contact: Pam Korsmeyer at abadin@optonline.netAmy Rader Earns National AQHA Recognition
Amy Rader, in the first quarter of 2009, has earned both the AQHA’s Show Managers Certificate and Specialized All Novice Judge credentials. These credentials are only obtained after a rigorous training, testing and interview process. This selective and difficult process is to ensure that those individuals who hold these certifications will be qualified to perform their duties at AQHA sanctioned events in a knowledgeable, fair, consistent and safe manner. This follows closely on Amy receiving regional recognition by being awarded the CQHA Connecticut Professional Horseman’s Award. Well done Amy!
We are excited to announce the addition of a new funding program for Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates. Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates now has its own little Travelocity®! This is a full featured travel website private labeled with the Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates name and logo. Go check it out! You can find it at:www.r6travel.com
How it works: Every time travel is arranged through an online travel website, travel companies pay commissions for your reservation. When travel is booked on our new website, Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates will receive 60% of these commissions paid as royalties!
This is an exciting program that we will make available to our supporters. They can visit the website, book their personal travel and Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates will receive our share of the commissions. But, we also need to take advantage of the program internally to maximize the funding from this program.
Website Features
If you are familiar with booking travel online, you shouldn’t have any trouble navigating the new website. The site functions in a similar manner to other travel websites such as Travelocity® and Orbitz®. Some of the key features you will find on the website include:
• Air, hotel, car rental search and booking features
• Vacation Packages
• Cruise Packages
• Ordering flowers online
• Ordering Event and sport tickets
Website Address: www.r6travel.com. Also, www.ytboutdoors.com/r6aqha - Please bookmark these URLs.Internal Travel
All business travel for Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates should be arranged through our new website. If you are arranging travel for yourself or someone else in the organization, please use our new website and bookmark the site for future use.Personal Travel
Just like our supporters, the website is available to you and your family to book your personal travel. Please help us increase our funding. Use our new website whenever you travel!Group Travel
In addition to the travel website, we also have group travel services provided to us through this program. Through this part of the service we have a group travel specialist available to arrange group travel events. This includes internal group travel as well as fundraising travel events that can be arranged for supporters. As with the website, all group travel arranged through this program will pay commissions back to Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates travel must comply with YTB Group Travel Guidelines.If you have any questions about this new travel program, please contact Amy Parker, amy@summitwynds.com. Please help to make this exciting new program a success!
Book all travel at: www.r6travel.com
We are excited to announce the addition of a new funding program for Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates. Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates now has its own little Travelocity®! This is a full featured travel website private labeled with the Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates name and logo. Go check it out! You can find it at:www.r6travel.com
How it works: Every time travel is arranged through an online travel website, travel companies pay commissions for your reservation. When travel is booked on our new website, Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates will receive 60% of these commissions paid as royalties!
This is an exciting program that we will make available to our supporters. They can visit the website, book their personal travel and Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates will receive our share of the commissions. But, we also need to take advantage of the program internally to maximize the funding from this program.
Website Features
If you are familiar with booking travel online, you shouldn’t have any trouble navigating the new website. The site functions in a similar manner to other travel websites such as Travelocity® and Orbitz®. Some of the key features you will find on the website include:
• Air, hotel, car rental search and booking features
• Vacation Packages
• Cruise Packages
• Ordering flowers online
• Ordering Event and sport tickets
Website Address: www.r6travel.com. Also, www.ytboutdoors.com/r6aqha - Please bookmark these URLs.Internal Travel
All business travel for Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates should be arranged through our new website. If you are arranging travel for yourself or someone else in the organization, please use our new website and bookmark the site for future use.Personal Travel
Just like our supporters, the website is available to you and your family to book your personal travel. Please help us increase our funding. Use our new website whenever you travel!Group Travel
In addition to the travel website, we also have group travel services provided to us through this program. Through this part of the service we have a group travel specialist available to arrange group travel events. This includes internal group travel as well as fundraising travel events that can be arranged for supporters. As with the website, all group travel arranged through this program will pay commissions back to Region 6 American Quarter Horse Affiliates travel must comply with YTB Group Travel Guidelines.If you have any questions about this new travel program, please contact Amy Parker, amy@summitwynds.com. Please help to make this exciting new program a success!
Book all travel at: www.r6travel.com
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