EQUINE RHINOPNEUMONITIS:  HERPES VIRUS 4 & 1

·        Equine Herpes Virus 4 (EHV4) most common. (EHV1 causes abortion)

·        spread by droplets in air

·        most will get it by 1 year of age

·        signs usually mild:  fever, nasal discharge, depressed, cough

·        Secondary bacterial infections are real danger

·        Vaccines do not give long term immunity.
         Start Foals at 3-4 months of age. Repeat vaccination at 4-8 months of age.

·        Boosters may be needed every 2 months until foal is mature.

·        Adults may need boost at 3-12 month intervals.

Equine Influenza:

·        Several strains.  Spreads Explosively through a niave herd.

·        Acute illness with T=103-107.5˚, depressed, harsh cough that persists for several weeks.

·        Recovery in 2-3 weeks.  Secondary bacteria real danger.

·        Vaccination:  limited duration of immunity.  May be as little as 2 to 6 months.     Many give    boosters every 3-4 months but need to allow the horse 3-4 days to    recover from vaccination.

·        Initially give two injections 3-6 weeks apart and a booster at 6 months; yearly    thereafter.

·        Pregnant mares:  Vaccinated with a booster 4-6 weeks before foaling

·        Foals:  vaccinate at 6 months if mare was correctly vaccinated.

STRANGLES:  STREPTOCOCCUS EQUI

·        Sick horses will shed for 4 weeks

·        Discharges highly contaminated and horses eat or breath in off fomites, etc...

·        If uncomplicated will run course in 10-14 days.  High morbidity, low mortality

·        Secondary complications:  Bastard strangles, Purpura hemorrhagica

·        Vaccinations:  Most use “M-Protein” vaccine.

·        1, 2, 3, months of age and 5 and 3 weeks before shows due to short duration of          immunity.

·        Some have severe local reactions.

·        Incomplete immunity so horses may develop some symptoms but usually much more          mild that infection.

 EQUINE RHINOPNEUMONITIS:  HERPES VIRUS 1 & (4 rarely)

·        Most common cause of late term abortion in mares.  Abort within 1 month of being exposed         if not vaccinated.

·       Multiple Vaccinations at 5th, 7th, and 9th months of gestation

·       BOOSTER 1 month before breeding (Pneumabort-K from FD)

EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (SWAMP FEVER):  EEE, WEE, VEE

·        WEE least deadly & rarely reported in US. (20-50% mortality)

·        EEE more virulent (50-90% mortality).   Seen in Eastern and Midwestern States.  Very          poor outlook for horse with EEE. 

·        Sudden depression, fever, ataxia, head pressing, circling, seizures.

·        VEE: South & Central America, Mexico, and Texas.  (50-75% mortality)

·        Vaccines:  WEE/EEE commonly used VEE required to get into Texas. Give 1 month          before mosquito season.

Tetanus:  Clostridium tetani

·        Horses very susceptible.  Sudden onset, very stiff limbs (“saw horse” stance)

·        Good Antibody response -- may last up to 5 years.

·        Yearly boosters and booster in face of injury.

·        Serum-induced hepatopathy

·        Mares should receive booster 1 month before foaling to ensure that baby has some          immunity.

·        Foal boostered at 2, 3, and 6 monthes of age followed by annual boosters.

POTOMAC HORSE FEVER (EHRLICHIA RISTICII)

·        Requires 2 booster 3-6 weeks apart then annually.

·        Only needed if transporting in to endemic areas -- East Coast, east and midwest.

EQUINE VIRAL ARTERITIS (NO REPORTED CASES SINCE 1984)

·        Acute, contagious disease:  fever, nasal & eye discharges, edema, abortion.

·        Commercial MLV vaccine available but rarely used.  Cannot tell vaccine titer from natural          viral infection.

·        NOT RECOMMENDED