The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported Feb. 12 that the Arizona Department of Agriculture has confirmed equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM; caused in this case by wild-type equine herpesvirus-1, or EHV-1) in a horse at Turf Paradise, a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racetrack in Maricopa County.

“The horse presented with neurologic signs on Feb. 8, 2018, and was moved to a referral hospital,” the EDCC stated. “One barn at the racetrack has been quarantined while the Office of the State Veterinarian works with track officials … to monitor exposed horses.”

All owners are advised to practice strict biosecurity measures and report any sick horses to officials, the EDCC said.

Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM (the neurologic form). In many horses, the only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected