A horse in Port Allen, Louisiana, has been diagnosed by the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine with equine enteric coronavirus. This highly infectious RNA virus can cause intestinal distress and is more common during the colder months of the year, said LSU AgCenter equine specialist Neely Walker, MS, PhD.

Coronaviruses are a part of a large group of RNA viruses that can cause both respiratory and intestinal distress in a variety of species, including birds, dogs, cats, swine, cattle, and humans.

Equine coronavirus only affects the intestine and typically is not fatal, but special attention is required to keep it from spreading, Walker said. No vaccine is currently available.

Infection spreads in horses by fecal-oral transmission, which can occur when horses are stabled together or during transport. Clinical signs include fever above 102°F, loss of appetite, and appearing depressed or lethargic, she said