Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)
1.
The disease -
EVA is caused by a Virus. It can lead to severe sickness
and abortion and can be fatal. It is spread via the
semen of stallions and teasers (through natural mating
and through semen used for Al), or through the respiratory
route from any recently infected horse or through contract
with aborted foetuses and other products of parturition.
2.
Symptoms -
The symptoms vary. Sometimes they are obvious and
sometimes none are visible at all. Those seen include:
· Fever
· Dullness
· 'Nettle rash'
· 'Pink eye' (conjunctivitis)
· Discharge from the nose
· Abortion
· Swelling in the lower legs or around the eye, or
in the scrotum and udder
3.
Disease prevention -
Ask your veterinary surgeon to take blood samples
from your horse (mare, stallion and teasers) and send
them to a laboratory for testing to see if specific
evidence of viral infection is present. Do not use
the horse for mating, teasing or for collecting semen
until the laboratory results are available.
If
the results show that infection is present (i.e. a
positive result), do not use the hose for mating,
teasing or for collecting semen Until your veterinary
surgeon is satisfied that it is no longer infectious.
Stallions and teasers may stay infectious for months,
Years or even permanently without showing any symptoms
of infection.
Breeders using Al must not inseminate mares with semen
from infected stallions. Also, note that the virus
can survive in chilled And frozen semen.
The notes below are for horses which have not been
vaccinated against EVA. For vaccinated horses, refer
to the full Codes of Practice and consult your veterinary
surgeon.
Imported
Mares and Stallions (including returning 'shuttle'
stallions)
Before a horse is imported, blood samples should be
taken.
When a horse arrives from abroad, place it in isolation
for at least 31 days.
Your veterinary surgeon should take blood samples
on the horse's arrival in this county and at least
14 days later.
Imported
Semen
Blood samples should be taken at the time the semen
was collected.
In addition, imported frozen semen should be tested
on arrival in this country.
The
results from the above tests for imported mares stallions
and semen will show whether it is safe to mate the
horse or inseminate a stallion's semen-the rules are
the same as for domestic horses below.
Domestic
Stallions and Teasers
Your veterinary surgeon should take blood samples
after 1st January but before mating, teasing or collecting
semen.
If the result is negative, the mare can be used for
mating/teasing and collecting semen for Al
If the result is positive, isolate the stallion/teaser
and notify the Divisional Veterinary Manager of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, IMMEDIATELY.
Discuss the next steps with your Veterinary Surgeon.
Domestic
Mare
Your veterinary surgeon should take blood samples
within 4 weeks before mating or teasing. · If the
result is negative, the mare can be mated.
If the result is positive, isolate the mare. Your
veterinary surgeon should take a second blood test
at least 2 weeks after the first one. Consult the
veterinary surgeon about the results.
Isolate and test all horses in contact with the infected
mare.
EVA
blood test results should be retained securely. For
Al, ensure that the above stallion/semen tests have
been carried out, with negative results, before accepting
semen.
4. Disease control
If EVA is suspected or confirmed in mares or stallions:
Seek veterinary advice and notify the MAFF Divisional
Veterinary Manager IMMEDIATELY.
·
Stop mating, teasing and collecting and inseminating
semen.
· Stop movement of horses on/off the premises.
· Isolate all horses with symptoms of infection and
all horses which have recently been at your premises
or which are due to visit.
· Notify owners of all horses which are on your premises,
which have recently been at your premises or which
are due to visit.
Also
notify your breeders' association and, in the case
of stallions, any individuals to whom straws of his
semen have been Sent for Al. For further action needed,
refer to the full Codes of Practice and consult your
veterinary surgeon.
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