The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported Feb. 6 that the Wyoming State Veterinarian’s office has confirmed a case of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a horse residing at a private facility in Campbell County.

“On Jan. 30, 2018 a 6-year-old QH gelding of unknown vaccination status at a private facility had rapid progression of hind leg ataxia, weakness, recumbency, and (abnormal) cranial nerve response,” the EDCC said in a statement on its website. “The Wyoming Livestock Board was informed on Friday, Feb. 3, of a horse in the Gillette area seen by a practitioner for rapidly progressive neurologic signs which, upon referral, was ultimately euthanized and transported to Colorado State University for necropsy. Nasal swabs taken before euthanasia were positive on PCR for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) wild-type.

“On Feb. 5, a second horse in the Gillette area seen by another practitioner was reported as having a sudden onset of neurologic signs and is currently being treated and held in isolation at the veterinary facility,” the agency added. “Results from nasal swabs and blood samples are pending from the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory.

At the state Livestock Board’s recommendation, self-imposed quarantines are in place pending final necropsy report and test results, respectively, and horses residing there are being monitored closely and having temperatures taken twice daily