Equine reportable disease

Question 1

Accreditation needed to deal with reportable diseases

Answer 1

For some of the following diseases e.g EIA vets must be “accredited” by the CFIA in order to collect and submit samples for testing
VT can assist with blood collection and filling out the forms which are then double checked and signed by the accredited DVM prior to submission
Samples must be sent to an “accredited” lab for testing
Suspicion of any of the following reportable disease requires immediate reporting to the CFIA
Regulations regarding the following reportable diseases changes regularly. See CFIA canada website for up to date info as required
Don’t forget “equids” included donkeys and mules

Question 2

Equine infectious anemia is caused by

Answer 2

Viral disease
Biting slides, mosquitos
Repeated needle use, dental floats

Question 3

Equine infectious anemia signs

Answer 3

Symptomatic
Anemia, thrombocytopenia
Weight loss, lethargy, edema, petechiae/ecchymosis
Asymptomatic
Reservoir for infection of other horses

Question 4

Do you have to test for EIA

Answer 4

No well-established surveillance program
Horses are tested “voluntarily”: local stables/show grounds may require it
Neg. coggins required to leave Canada and return
Coggins tests are good for 6 months from date of collection
No vaccine, no cure

Question 5

What to do if you think they have EIA

Answer 5

No vaccine, no cure
Immediate quarantine of facility
Petechiae/ecchymosis
ELSIA or AGID (Coggins Test)
All horses on the property including those there in the previous 30 days are also traced and tested
If positive, horse is humanely euthanized
Owners may receive a small amount of compensation

Question 6

Testing to be done for EIA include

Answer 6

Blood is collected in a red top tube and submitted with form
An ELSIA may be run first. It is faster, detects antibodies earlier and is more sensitive. BUT higher risk of false positive
Therefore, all positives are confirmed with a Coggins tests

Question 7

AGID is done by

Answer 7

Serum
48 hours
Precipitation of antibodies and antigen
Positive test
Hexagon
Negative test
Triangle

Question 8

Vesicular stomatitis is caused by and symptoms in horses

Answer 8

Viral disease
Symptoms
-Mild fever
-Painful blisters, hypersalivation
-Mouth, lips, prepuce, udder, coronary bands
Also cattle, sheep, swine, humans (zoonotic)
-DDX foot and mouth disease

Question 9

Transmission and treatment for vesicular stomatitis in horses

Answer 9

Transmission
-Biting insects
-Direct or indirect contact with infectious fluids e.g saliva, fluids from lesions
No vaccine licensed for use in horses
Not fatal, disease usually runs its course in 2-8 days
Last found in Canada in 1949 but outbreaks occur in USA periodically affecting important of horses/livestock

Question 10

Some reportable disease that are less common in equine are

Answer 10

Anthrax
Brucellosis
-Fistolous withers
-Poll evil
Rabies

Question 11

Reportable diseases not in Canada

Answer 11

African horse sickness
Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE)
Contagious equine metritis
Equine piroplasmosis

Question 12

Contagious equine metritis is caused by

Answer 12

Transmissible venereal disease
Bacteria, Taylorella equigenitalis
Transmitted by natural breeding
Stallions asymptomatic carriers
Mares- infertility/abortions
Mares and stallions tested when imported to Canada

Question 13

Equine piroplasmosis is caused by

Answer 13

Tick born blood parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi)
Horses imported from endemic countries are tested