The State Government of Victoria’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) wants veterinary practitioners to submit samples from horses displaying unexplained clinical signs of nervous system disease.

Victoria’s Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Andrew Cameron, BVSc (Hons), MACVS, said DPI was investigating a number of cases of unexplained neurologic disease in horses.

"Samples from veterinary practitioners investigating any cases of nervous system disease will help our investigation," Cameron said.

In Victoria, cases have been observed along the Murray River and in an area of approximately 50 kilometers around Ballarat. Unexplained neurologic cases have also been observed recently in South Australia and New South Wales. The main clinical sign in horses is ataxia (incoordination)