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

On Nov. 2, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Reference Laboratory confirmed a case of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in a horse on a premises in the municipal district of Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada, the Equine Disease Communication Center reported Nov. 7.

“The horse had been sampled by an accredited veterinarian to comply with U.S. import conditions,” the EDCC said. “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. Initial reports indicate that there are several equines on the affected premises.

“The quarantine will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of positive cases,” the EDCC continued. “Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current program policy