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Post by sandy on Feb 12, 2006 23:55:38 GMT -5
Well, can you believe I'm asking for information on show horses? Remember when I joined the group shortly after SHG went up and I only had two AMHR weanlings? Things have sure been changing!
Anyway, for those of you who train and those of you who send your horses to trainers, do you require the strangles vaccine? My trainer hasn't mentioned anything about it, and I know that it often causes reactions almost as bad as the strangles.
However, I've used it in the past with some of my big horses with good results, and with no reactions. What do you all think about this as concerns your show strings?
Another thing I wanted to mention was that a stable in Madison, WI, about 50 miles from me, had to put two horses down due to Equine herpes virus. This has me quite frightened, as there's no vaccine, no cure, and it's fatal. Even though these were big horses, the virus can be spread by a bit of saliva on human clothing, and as such it could move from stable to stable, as horse people often visit each other and congregate.
Has there ever been an outbreak of this near you?
sandy
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Post by zacharyfarms on Feb 19, 2006 15:01:50 GMT -5
Sandy I think they are mistaken about what their horse had if they said their is no vaccination for it. EHV is what you are vaccinating for when you give the Rhino vacs.. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) and 1 (EHV-4) (Equine Viral Rhinopneumonitis)
This is usually a disease of young animals, particularly foals, but can occur in naive older animals. Herpesviruses require CLOSE CONTACT, and remember, ONCE INFECTED, ALWAYS INFECTED. These viruses tend to spread rather slowly through a population of horses, unlike influenza. Based on the fact that this disease is a relatively low risk in the area where you practice and is included (however mininally) in the client’s vaccination schedule, put this one lower on the list as well. She has had no problem with abortions in her mares.
Infectious agent: All Alphaherpesvirinae are enveloped, dsDNA viruses. There are 5 alpha herpesviruses that infect horses (EHV-1, 2, 3, 4, 5), but EHV-1 and EHV-4 are the ones that cause serious clinical disease in horses. EHV-1 and 4 used to be considered subtypes of the same virus, but now are described as two different, but closely related ones. EHV-4 is the respiratory agent, although it has been known to cause abortion and neurologic disease. Likewise, EHV-1 is the reproductive disease that has been known to cause respiratory and neurologic disease. Confusing, yes? And to make things worse, the respiratory diseases caused by either EHV-1 or EHV-4 can look exactly alike.
History: Young animals under 2 years of age. Occurs most frequently on breeding farms, sale or training facilities. May occur more more frequently in the fall.
Clinical Signs: EHV-4 causes serous nasal discharge that is later mucoid or mucopurulent, possible mild coughing, increased lung sounds, fever; can cause abortion in older mares. EHV-1 causes abortion and neurologic signs IN ADDITION to respiratory signs.
Incubation period:2-10 days
How is it transmitted?
IT REQUIRES CLOSE CONTACT, like moms and foals
Is LATENCY an issue?
Yes! Both EHV-1 and 4 can establish PERSISTENT, LIFELONG latency in NERVE GANGLIA (trigeminal ganglion), lymphoid tissues of the respiratory tract, and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Virus can be reactivated following high doses of corticosteroids (or serious stress).
Pathogenesis: Virus penetrates epithelium of upper and lower respiratory tracts within hours, replicates, then infects the local blood vessels and respiratory lymphoid tissues within 24 hours. Immunosuppression occurs, which may predispose animal to secondary lower airway bacterial disease.
Diagnosis: Clinical signs of mild respiratory disease in young horses, viral isolation (rarely done) using nasopharyngeal swab taken early in course of disease OR find virus in tissues (aborted fetus) and apply flourescent or immunoperoxidase stain. Serology can be used, however, vaccination can cause high titers. Distinguishing between EHV-1 and EHV-4 may be difficult due to the similarity in clinical signs between the two virus subtypes. A type specific serologic test can distiguish between EHV-1 and 4.
Treatment and Prevention: In uncomplicated cases, complete recovery occurs in several weeks. However, remember that herpes infection is for life, and reactivation of the virus can cause recurrent disease or continuous shedding! Symptomatic treatment is best; avoid antibiotics unless complicated by secondary infection. REST THE HORSE AND GRADUALLY RETURN IT TO WORK. Isolate animals exhibiting signs, disinfect stable equipment, bedding (remove and burn it). Booster vaccinations during outbreak may help. Quarantine stable until 30 days after last new case is identified.
For prevention, EHV-1 and EHV-4 vaccines are available, but their efficacy at controlling respiratory disease is questionable. Vaccination may at least reduce severity and duration of disease compared to unvaccinated horses. Initially, 2 doses are given at 2-3 week intervals, then booster every 3 months to a year (each product is different). For abortion protection, vaccinate mares at 5, 7, and 9 months gestation.
Judy
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Post by sandy on Feb 19, 2006 22:33:02 GMT -5
Judy, I knew there was a vaccine for EHV-1 and EHV-4, so when they broadcast this, I assumed it was some new type of equine herpesvirus, but they reported this on the news a few days later and again said there was no vaccine for it, and the report stated they were most worried about vets carrying it from one barn to the next, by getting horse slobber on his boots or coat.
The day after the report came out I emailed the news station that reported this, and asked them to please identify what TYPE of herpesvirus they were talking about, as they were saying there was no vaccine for it when there was in fact a vaccine.
I never heard back from them and I never saw a follow up news cast about it, so I'm still in the dark as to what they were talking about, and very confused.
This was a huge show barn where it occurred.
I do so worry about sending Lucy to a training facility where horses from other areas are coming in. However, I'm sure most mini owners sending their horses off to training are very conscientous about making sure their horses are all vaccinated and healthy.
sandy
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Post by beckys on Feb 20, 2006 7:52:19 GMT -5
I did vaccinate my show horses one year for strangles, but the vaccine isn't all that effective unless you know specifically which strangles bacteria your horse is going to get. I now don't generally strangles vaccinate as a rule.
The rhino/flu vaccines do a pretty good job but their efficacy is only about 2-3 months, so I do feel that it is important to vaccinate the show horses frequently for that.
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Post by shadyacres on Feb 20, 2006 23:18:16 GMT -5
Hi Sandy,
Yes, they are right about the NO VACCINATION, There is a vaccination for regular EHV-1 and EHV-4.... The EHV they had where there is no vaccination is EHV Neurological.... It is a combination of both EHV-1 and EHV-2 strains, None of the EHV vaccinations will protect your horse from getting the Neurological form.. It is commonly called EHV-1 Neurological but it is actually a combination of 1 and 2.. With the Neurological form, You will not see any of the typical respritory symptoms, and looks very much like EEE.. Here is some information on it.... I hope this helps some... Every one of our horses are vaccianted for everything....
EHV-1 Neurological Disease
The clinical outcome of EHV-1 infection that carries the most dramatic negative consequences for the welfare of horses is the dreaded neurological disease. Once regarded as a rare and sporadic occurrence, the malady has in recent years been observed with increasing and alarming frequency. Common to all horses with EHV-1 associated central nervous system disease are a weakness and paralysis of the muscles of the hind limbs that give rise to incoordination, gait abnormalities and, in many cases, the inability to rise from the sitting position (Fig 5). The neurologic deficits result from a thrombotic, ischemic inflammation of small blood vessels in the spinal cord and/or brain. The interval between initial EHV-1 infection of the respiratory tract and the subsequent onset of neurological signs is 8 to 12 days. The neurological deficits appear suddenly and reach their peak intensity within 48 hours.The disease is resistant to vaccination, the clinical attack rate is high, and large numbers of fatalities are the rule. The prognosis for non-recumbent horses is favorable, but is poor for animals that remain down for longer than 24 hours.
A major advance in understanding the mechanistic basis of EHV-1 paralytic disease was the recent discovery that a single gene alteration – a mutated version of the viral gene that encodes its replicative polymerase – endows such mutant virus strains with enhanced virulence for the horse. This discovery that a single gene of EHV-1 plays such a prominent role in the viral attribute of hypervirulence has led to a genetic test for identifying latent equine carriers of mutant, neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1.
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Post by sandy on Feb 21, 2006 0:35:41 GMT -5
Thank you for all this information and for clarifying what type of herpes virus they were talking about. This is even scarier!
Sandy
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Post by beckys on Feb 21, 2006 7:32:04 GMT -5
Shadyacres,
Thanks for posting that! I agree with Sandy. Very scary indeed!!
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