Ongoing study reveals important respiratory disease findings, including notable changes in influenza 

Madison, N.J., April 17, 2019 – Merck Animal Health announces 10 years of key findings from its ongoing Equine Respiratory Biosurveillance Program. Recognized as the largest equine infectious respiratory biosurveillance study ever compiled and comprising one of the largest collections of equine influenza isolates in the United States, the program has provided new information on the major infectious respiratory disease threats that has shaped industry management and preventative strategies. The comprehensive, ongoing national surveillance study managed by Merck Animal Health in partnership with University of California, Davis (UC Davis) monitors equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4 (EHV-1, EHV-4), equine influenza virus (EIV) and Streptococcus equi (S. equi or strangles), which have been tracked from the inception of the program, and equine rhinitis A/B viruses (ERAV/ERBV), added in 2012.

Nicola Pusterla, D.V.M., Dipl. ACVIM, who was integral to the Respiratory Biosurveillance Program’s design and implementation and leads the UC Davis Equine Infectious Disease Research Laboratory where program samples are submitted and analyzed, says the program is a testament to the value of pursuing diagnostic testing and disseminating that information.

“When we started this program, we had no idea how much we would gain over this period,” says Dr. Pusterla. “The study has increased awareness of respiratory pathogens in the veterinary community, provided invaluable epidemiological information pertaining to common and less characterized respiratory pathogens and provided sequencing of EIV isolates to monitor how the virus is changing in the field and to evaluate and improve the efficacy of vaccines. What Merck Animal Health has done is and will remain an unmatched service to the entire U.S. equine community