incoordination , hind end weakness , recumbency / paralysis , lethargy , urine dribbling , decreased tail tone , and / or head tilt . It is important to consult with your local veterinarian when deciding which horse ( s ), if any , to test for EHV on nasal swabs and blood because some percentage of the normal horse population will be cycling virus without displaying clinical signs of the disease .
PREVENTION : For all of the equine herpes viruses , vaccination is not fully protective . An effective immune response requires a local mucosal response , systemic antibody production , and a cell mediated immune response . No current vaccine achieves all of these measures . Current EHV vaccines may reduce the amount of the virus shed in secretions of the respiratory tract , but do not protect against the neurologic form . Unfortunately , boostering well vaccinated horses during an outbreak is not helpful . Vaccinations 14 days prior to exposure are not likely to be harmful , and may help limit the spread of the disease .
BIOSECURITY : Horses with confirmed equine herpes myeloencephalopathy should be isolated and the farm quarantined . Strict hygiene and biosecurity measures should be implemented because the virus can be aerosolized . A secondary containment should be setup
for exposed horses to control the spread of the virus . If it is necessary to admit a horse to a farm with ongoing cases , they should be current on EHV-1 vaccination and isolated away from the resident population . The neuropathic strain of EHV-1 can also cause abortion and location of pregnant mares should be considered during an outbreak .
TREATMENT : The prognosis after infection is dependent on the severity of the neurologic symptoms and the duration of recumbency . The disease spreads quickly and can have high morbidity and mortality . Most cases are treated symptomatically , although some practitioners have used antiviral therapy . Symptomatic therapy includes NSAIDs , DMSO , aspirin , L-lysine , vitamin E and / or corticosteroids , along with nursing care . Neurologic or recumbent horses can be maintained in a sling for a short period of time in referral facilities or in custom setups on the farm .
PROGNOSIS : Horses that remain standing have a good prognosis for recovery and improvement is generally seen in a few days . However it may takes months to over a year before a horse is completely recovered and returned to its previous level of performance . Some horses may be left with permanent residual neurologic deficits .
Dr . Craig Sweatt • Dr . Tom Hutchins • Dr . Stacy McLeod
Small Animal • Equine • Livestock • Ambulatory Services 8283 FM 920 • Weatherford , Texas • 817-458-3355
SEPTEMBER 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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