Little information will be available on the status of five horses that developed fevers at Monmouth Park racetrack in New Jersey until tests are returned on nasal swabs from the animals. The horses reportedly have not shown any neurologic signs. In the meantime, racing jurisdictions have been vigilant about restricting shipments of animals from and between Monmouth and other tracks, which will reduce the impact on the racing industry if equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is confirmed.

“I think Monmouth’s doing an excellent job, being judicious and smart in communicating what’s happening,” said Rob Holland, DVM, PhD, a practitioner from Central Kentucky and senior veterinarian with Pfizer Animal Health who primarily focuses on equine infectious diseases. “From what I understand, they have five to six horses they are concerned about that have fever, so they’re being cautious. But they haven’t identified it (as EHV-1).”

A release from the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority Monday (Oct. 23) explained that two horses had been shipped in to the Monmouth’s barn area late last week, and one of the horses spiked a fever shortly thereafter. A total of five horses in that same barn developed fevers.

George Allen, PhD, a professor in the department of veterinary science at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, is head of the only Office International des Epizooties (the World Organization for Animal Health) reference laboratory for equine herpesvirus in the Western Hemisphere. Allen confirmed that he is scheduled to receive samples from Monmouth for testing, but said he knows little else about the situation