EveryRider

(EHV)-1 Too Close for Comfort

Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) has been in the news throughout the country recently, with outbreaks of the virus occurring in locations as varied as Florida, Connecticut and California.  A week ago we got the news that this nasty virus was closer than we thought.  The state ordered an immediate quarantine of the Virginia Tech Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center after veterinary doctors reported a suspected infection of the neurological form of equine herpesvirus in three hospitalized horses.  By the next day it was being reported that the quarantine now involved 175 horses and 4 counties in the immediate area.

EHV-1 is a highly infectious disease that usually affects the respiratory system. Occasionally, the virus may also cause neurological disease. Transmission likely occurs by inhaling infected droplets or ingesting material contaminated by nasal discharges or aborted fetuses. The disease can prove fatal in approximately 40 percent of cases. In severe cases, the affected horse will become unable to stand; these cases have a very poor prognosis. To date, there is no effective treatment for EHV-1.

Local horse owners are taking this potential outbreak very seriously.  Proof is evident throughout Virginia's horse country and the region, with event cancellations, self-imposed quarantines, and the halt of all horse sales and auctions in the state of Virginia. The appearance of EHV-1 in Northern Virginia has affected casual horse-hobbyists to 4-H-ers; from fox-hunt clubs to top-flight trainers.  

My facility is less than 25 miles from the Marion Dupont Center, where the virus first appeared. I feel relatively safe knowing that none of the horses here have been off the grounds in the last six months, and no one is going anywhere until this thing blows over.  Unfortunately putting your barn on lock down isn't enough when dealing with a disease as dangerously contagious as EHV-1.  There is no fail safe way to prevent any horse from developing EHV-1.  Several types of vaccine are available for the four known strains of EHV (1-4), though none have proven fully effective against the neurological strain. Your best defense, as they say, is a good offense

There is an old saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Biosecurity is the best possible way to prevent the spread of EHV- 1 at your facility.  Biosecurity  means doing everything you can to reduce the chances of an infectious disease being carried onto your farm by people, animals, equipment, or vehicles, either accidentally or on purpose.  Many local stables are limiting visitors to one entrance and making a foot bath to walk through before entering the Barn.   

Instructions for preparing an easy foot bath
You will need:

1. A low plastic pan or bin, wide enough to fit an adult’s foot, shallow enough to step into easily

2. A plastic doormat (the “fake grass” mats work well)

3. A disinfectant that works when manure or dirt is present, such as      Tek-trol or One Stroke Environ or bleach

4. Water

Mix the disinfectant with water following label instructions. Put the doormat in the plastic pan. Add disinfectant so that the bottom of the “grass” is wet. Ask visitors to walk through the footbath, wiping their feet on the mat. The “grass” scrubs their shoes a bit as they wipe them, and applies the disinfectant. When the liquid starts to get dirty, empty it and put in new disinfectant.

There are several good websites with further information on EHV-1 and how to prevent it.  Here are a few that I found helpful.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf
http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/equine/ehv_pfizer.pdf
http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ansci/equine/ehv_ppt.pdf

questions concerning the quarantine can call the center's toll-free hotline at 1-866-438-7235

Uveitis and Bailey's Blues

Bailey is a 12 year old Appaloosa, and one of our best lesson horses. Yesterday I took off his mask for his daily eye check to find the pretty blue hidden beneath a yellow cloud and swollen lid. Bailey was diagnosed with  Equine Recurrent Uveitis a few years ago, and despite surgery, he still suffers from  occasional episodes. This is his second flare up in the past two months. Prior to last month he was flare up free for almost a year.

Bailey is a sweetheart of a horse and always a trooper despite the extremely painful episodes. He stands in his stall with his head stretched, tilted to the side paitently waiting as i fumble with the three ointment concotion. One antibiotic, one dialator, and one steriod.  He knows the routine, and doesn't even mind the foul taste of banamine as long as its followed immediatley with cookies.

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is the most common cause of blindness in the horse. Uveitis is also known as "Moon blindness" due the recurring nature of the disease once thought to coincide with the phases of the moon.   Despite extensive research, the causes of ERU are still unknown. In general, the disease is believed be an immune-related disease, where the horse™s own cells attack the eye. ERU is triggered by many different sources, including bacteria,viruses, and parasites.  Direct trauma to the eye and stress of any kind can also be sources of ERU flare ups. Identifying the source may then be very difficult, and in many cases, the source is never identified.

Any inflammatory condition of the eye is extremely painful, but the inflammation associated with ERU is also very damaging. Each flare up inflicts more damage, causing the horse™s vision worsen a little more each time. In extreme cases, the eye is so badly damaged and the pain so difficult to manage that removal of the eye is the only humane option. Diligence in cleaning and checking for any signs of change  have helped to catch  the  episodes early enough to maintain Bailey's site.

Unfortunately, without knowing what causes the onset of the symptoms all we can do is wait and treat as quickly as possible.  The limitations of treating with western medicine have become frustrating enough for me to research alternatives.  The conventional treatments are still necessary, especially when dealing with an ulceration.  However, in my opinion re balancing the immune system, and maintaining overall health could greatly reduce the occurrence of the episodes. 

I found a two interesting web sites Natural pet health blog  and Holistic Horsekeeping that suggest several  homeopathic remedies, including natural supplements to address nutritional  deficiencies,and topical treatments to manage pain. 

I also plan to try a supplement that we used at Meredith Manor for horses with EPM, Cushings, and extreme stress.  Transfer Factor, and Transfer Factor Plus by a company called 4life.  Transfer Factors are messenger molecules with intelligence, commonly known as cytokines. These small proteins act as the brains for the immune system. Transfer Factor performs three immune system functions. They identify infectious agents, and instruct the immune system to produce antibodies (boosts immune defense).  Transfer Factor claims to modulates and balance an overactive immune system (i.e. autoimmune diseases and allergies). 

While  I  haven't heard of  many people using  Transfer  Factor  to assist  symptoms of  Uveitis,  I think it would be a worth wile experiment.  We had great results  using transfer factor  with  EPM and I frequently administer the 7 day stress paks for traveling or high stress situations.  In eastern medicine the emphasis is on overall wellness instead of treating a disease.  It's just a shot in the dark, but for Bailey I think its worth a try.