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

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office has been notified that another horse in that state has tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). This is the fourth confirmed case of EIA in Colorado horses this year.

The horse was tested for routine movement purposes in Fremont County, where it is currently under a quarantine order. The investigation is ongoing but appears to be unrelated to the prior three cases of EIA in Colorado horses this year. The initial test was completed at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, in Rocky Ford, with the confirmatory test completed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, in Ames, Iowa, on Dec. 4.

“The current risk to the general equine population is low at this time, given that we are at the end of fly vector season in Colorado,” said State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. “This disease occurrence also highlights the importance of disease prevention practices, such as not sharing needles, syringes, tack, and equipment, along with routine testing for EIA