A Coggins test screens horses’ blood for antibodies that are indicative of the presence of EIA. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed a case of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in a Saskatchewan horse, the Equine Disease Communication Center reported July 24.

“On July 20 a positive EIA result was confirmed by the CFIA’s national reference laboratory for a horse on a premises in the rural municipality of Great Bend, Saskatchewan,” the EDCC said. “The horse had been sampled by an accredited veterinarian to satisfy a pre-entry requirement for a particular premises. Initial reports indicate that this horse has traveled extensively within the province for both work and competition. No clinical signs of disease were noted at the time of sampling.

“A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, a quarantine has been placed on the infected animal and its on-premises contact animals,” the EDCC continued. “The quarantine will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of positive cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current program policy