Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) & Equine Piroplasmosis (EP)

Question 1

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)

Answer 1

Retrovirus
Infectious and potentially fatal viral dz
Acute & chr., no cure life long carrier

Question 2

CS of EIA

Answer 2

Fever, WL, icterus, anemia and swelling limbs
No signs in chr. affected horses

Question 3

Transmission of EIA

Answer 3

Blood sucking flies: tabanid (horse and deer fly)
Iatrogenic: (needles, syringes, IV sets, blood transfusion)
In utero, milk, semen, aerolization of infected blood

Question 4

How is EIA transmitted via blood

Answer 4

Interrupted feeding behavior (must change hosts) by blood feeding insects

Question 5

EIA testing and positive case history

Answer 5

1.3 mill tests per year
Fewer than 100 new cases per year
Significant # tied to unsanctioned/ bushtrack racing

Question 6

Equine Piroplamosis (EP)

Answer 6

Life-long infection by hemoparasites
Endemic 80% of world
Foreign animal dz (FAD)

Question 7

EP transmission

Answer 7

Theileria/ babesia equi, babesia caballi spread by ticks
Vertical transmission

Question 8

CS associated by EP

Answer 8

Fever, leth, inappetence, anemia, icterus, colic, WL, exercise intolerance, sudden death OR
No signs at all

Question 9

EP surveillance

Answer 9

Testing to enter sanctioned racetracks in 10 states
Export testing, sporadic interstate movement, change in ownership and historic testing

Question 10

Disposition of EP positive horses

Answer 10

Euthanasia or export out of the country
Life-time quarantine

Question 11

EP tx

Answer 11

High-dose imidocarb- off label
T. equi resistent

Question 12

Unsanctioned (bushtrack) racing

Answer 12

Races organized not at sanctioned tracks (191 bushtracks in 30 states)
Horses: US born, AQHA registered, previous racing careers

Question 13

Animal health impacts of bushtrack racing

Answer 13

553 cases of EP and 448 cases of EIA (<1,000 infected)
Spread by iatrogenic transmission

Question 14

Criminal activity of bushtrack racing

Answer 14

Narcotics to horses: cocaine, methamphetamines and ritalin
Illegal gambling, illegal immigrates
Human trafficking and money laundering

Question 15

Challenges to stopping bushtrack racing

Answer 15

State racing commissions unable or unwilling to take action
States with no racing commission have no authority
Language barrier
Physical danger if health officials go onsite
Illegal activities