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

The Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) Equine Surveillance Network reported Feb. 27 that five horses in Saskatchewan have tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA).

“On Feb. 22, positive EIA results were confirmed by the CFIA’s (Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s) national reference laboratory for four horses located on a premises in the rural municipality of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, the CAHSS said in an alert on its website. “The horses were epidemiologically linked to a previously identified case in Alberta and were sampled by the CFIA as part of an ongoing disease investigation.

“An additional positive result was reported on Feb. 26, for an epidemiologically linked animal, which was exhibiting clinical signs of disease. All of the infected horses have the same owner, but one animal currently resides on a separate premises