EHV cases are found in 5 states; Oaklawn tightens shipping rules

Cases of neurologic equine herpesvirus have been found in horses in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and Maryland according to the Equine Disease Communication Center.

Some of the cases stem from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event held Nov. 5-9 in Waco, Texas, according to the EDCC. Two cases were discovered at the Barrel Futurities of America World Championship, in horses that had traveled from Waco for the event. That event was scheduled to run Nov. 17-22 in Guthrie, Okla., and part of it was cancelled after EHV was found.

Oaklawn is requiring horses shipping to the track from Louisiana, Oklahoma or Texas to have a health certificate issued within 72 hours, and a veterinary statement must confirm that the horses have not been at a facility where EHV-1 was diagnosed.

Officials with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said that no EHV-1 cases had been found in the state but warned horse owners to quarantine horses who were at either event.

The EDCC reported Friday that seven cases have been detected in Texas, four in Oklahoma, three in Louisiana and one in Colorado. In all of the cases except one in Oklahoma, the horses displayed neurologic signs. Another case in Maryland appears to be unrelated to the Waco event.

Equine herpesvirus, or EHV-1, is common in horses, but the neurologic form of the disease is rare according information posted by the EDCC.

EHV-1 is spread from horse to horse through contact with nasal discharge or inhalation of aerosolized respiratory droplets. Horses can contract the virus by encountering contaminated surfaces such as stalls, water, feed, tack and transport vehicles. Humans can spread the virus from horse to horse through contaminated hands, clothing and equipment.

EHV-1 can cause neurologic signs as a result of a lack of blood flow and resulting damage to the brain or spinal cord. Known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, signs of this condition include fever, swelling or stocking up of the limbs, hind limb weakness and urine dribbling. Some horses are more severely affected and display behavior changes, signs of cranial nerve dysfunction, seizures and inability to stand.

Although EHM is a serious disease, the majority of cases are not fatal. In most outbreaks of EHM, 60% to 70% of affected horses recover with treatment and supportive care. Veterinary evaluation and isolation of exposed or affected horses is crucial.