EHV-1 can spread between horses before they show any signs of infection, so act on suspicion and isolate potentially affected horses while awaiting diagnostic testing results. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

When a veterinarian suspects a horse has the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), it’s imperative he or she take the appropriate diagnostic and control measures to prevent an outbreak of this often fatal infectious disease. This is because EHV-1 can spread between horses before they show any signs of infection, creating a “potential perfect storm,” said Richard Newton, BVSc, MSc, PhD, FRCVS, during the 2018 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 12-15, in Birmingham, U.K.

Newton is the director of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance at the Animal Health Trust, in Newmarket, U.K. In his presentation he described how to manage EHV-1 cases and outbreaks.

Neurologic EHV-1 101

Neurologic EHV-1 is a contagious viral disease that can cause signs of ataxia (incoordination), weakness, paralysis, difficulty urinating and defecation, and recumbency (an inability to rise). It spreads via horse-to-horse contact, contaminated hands and equipment, and possibly through aerosolization, said Newton