Walking On Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2019 | Page 13
For the Health of It
diagnosis.
According to the USDA APHIS,
the percentage of positives for the
Coggins’ test has declined from
“nearly 4 percent in 1972 to less
than 0.01 percent in 2005.” The
agency states that historically the
disease was present particularly in
“hot zones” such as Texas, Oklaho-
ma, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennes-
see, Alabama, Georgia, North and
South Caroline, Virginia, Kentucky,
among others. Recent figures show
that the prevalence of EIA in the
United States is roughly less than 8
in 100,000, according to the USDA
APHIS.
Many states have different re-
quirements with regard to handling
horses positive for EIA. Because
there is no cure for the disease, and
a horse positive for it is a threat to
healthy horses, many states require
euthanasia. Others allow for very
strict quarantine measures, where
horses are removed from the herd
and kept in a 200-yard buffer zone
away from all other horses. Some
require confinement to a screened
stall. Isolated horses are to never
have contact with with the rest of
the herd again.
Though EIA is low in incidence
in the United States, to reduce risk
of horses being infected with EIA,
the USDA APHIS recommends
horseowners:
• Never share needles among
horses. Dispose of needles
after each use.
• Sterilize instruments thorough-
ly after each use.
• Keep stables and area clean
and drained to avoid attracting
insects that spread the disease.
• Use insect control such as
insecticides.
• Quarantine unhealthy, infected
animals. Do not breed horses
that have tested positive to
EIA.
• Quarantine all horse species
that are new to your facility
until you have a Coggins’ test.
• Have the Coggins’ test result
done and available for horse
shows, fairs, and other places
where animals co-mingle.
• Follow state laws concerning
EIA.
Ron Petracek - Idaho Influenced Horseman
& Director Of Articles for EquineInternet.
com Looking for more Equine Information?
Visit our Huge Equine Network and Buy-
Sell-Trade Click => http://www.Equinefieds.
com/network.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
expert/Ron_Petracek/72418
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.
com/509657
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