Urgent Medical Warning from Dr Liz Scott! (more information and medical links below)

Equine Viral Arteritis 

Equine Viral Arteritis is an equine disease that has had a major outbreak in the western United States in 2006.  EVA has been associated with periodic outbreaks in the US since 1953.  A major outbreak also occurred in the Thoroughbred industry in 1984.  Our goal is to assist our equine clients in decreasing the disease potential in their horses. 

Idaho Equine Hospital suggests the following guidelines for testing and vaccination: 

Stallions:  All stallions should be blood tested for exposure to the virus.  This involves an initial blood test and a follow up test at the same time as vaccination.  This sample must be collected and submitted by an accredited veterinarian.  Stallions that are seronegative  ( ie no antibodies to the virus) should be vaccinated within 10  to 14 days of the blood sample collection.  Stallions that are seropositive (ie have antibodies to the virus), should have their semen tested for the presence of the virus.   

Mares:  All mares should be vaccinated 3 weeks prior to breeding.  Mares post foaling need to wait until their foals are 2 weeks of age to be vaccinated.  Although the vaccine is not approved for pregnant mares, hundreds of mares have been vaccinated without complications.  So, if the mare is in a high risk environment, it is suggested she be vaccinated 6 weeks or more prior to foaling.

Geldings:  should be vaccinated if they are in a high risk environment.

Weanlings:  Fillies in a high risk area should be vaccinated at 6 months.  Colts should be tested and vaccinated at 6 months, and revaccinated at 1 year. 

All semen shipped to your mares and all semen shipped from your stallions (cooled and frozen) should be identified as coming from seronegative or seropositive stallions.  This information is very important so that semen can be handled properly to protect your horses and those surrounding them. 

Stallions that are exposed to the virus prior to vaccination have a 10% to 80% chance of being stallions that could shed the virus for an unlimited time period.  The goal of this protocol is to identify carrier stallions, protects mares and stallions from exposure to the virus and decrease the transmission of the disease.  

Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Liz Scott DVM