North Dakota’s state veterinarian Larry Schuler, DVM, reported the state’s first 2003 equine case of West Nile virus (WNV) on May 8.

According to Schuler, test results received from Texas A&M University indicated that a horse in the Fargo area (Cass County) had been infected with the virus.

“Since the majority of West Nile virus cases usually appear from July

A 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Crow Wing County, was Minnesota’s first equine West Nile virus (WNV) case for 2003, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH). Paul Anderson, MBAH assistant director, said the virus was expected to appear again this year, but not so early in the season. The first U.S. equine WNV case of 2003 was reported in Florida in early

Each state has a veterinary practice act, which is a legal interpretation of what constitutes veterinary practice in that state on all species. For example, chiropractic or acupuncture might be considered veterinarian-only skills in some states, while in other states they can be performed by a skilled lay person under a licensed veterinarian’s direction.

The American Veterinary Medical

Rob Keene, DVM, field veterinarian for Fort Dodge Animal Health, talked about the West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine at the West Nile Virus Workshop held March 7 at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center. Keene explained plans for packaging and marketing the vaccine–which received a full license from the USDA on Feb. 6–and described the efforts already underway to combine the

Colorado State University (CSU) researchers released results March 25 from a study that examined the characteristics of 2002’s West Nile virus (WNV) equine outbreaks in Colorado and Nebraska. The study was a collaborative effort between the state veterinarians in Colorado and Nebraska, the Veterinary Diagnostic Center in Nebraska, and CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical

Maureen Long, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, of the University of Florida (UF), spoke about West Nile virus (WNV) protective strategies for horse owners and veterinarians at a March 7 meeting in Lexington, Ky. Veterinarians and public officials gathered at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center for a workshop designed to educate local practitioners about the disease.

Long and

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was confirmed as the cause of illness in three Thoroughbreds stabled in a training barn at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. The March 18 announcement of this fact followed treatment of EHV-1 outbreaks in Ohio and Pennsylvania since January. (See article #32 online for more on EHV.) All three Kentucky horses had fevers, and two of the horses developed neurologic

Classes resumed March 10 at the University of Findlay’s James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Complex, which had been under quarantine since the weekend of Jan. 18 because of an outbreak of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1). (For more on the outbreak, see article #4179 online.)

The University followed the guidelines and advice of George Allen, PhD, of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center

Equine influenza has spread to nearly 20 premises—mostly Thoroughbred training stables–in the United Kingdom, and it has been detected in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the country. “The reason(it’s unusual) is because despite the fact that horses have been very well vaccinated and have very high antibody levels, they are still becoming infected with this strain of virus,”

Uterine lavage can be performed immediately prior to artificial insemination in mares without adversely affecting fertility, according to a recent study completed at the University of Idaho (UI) in Moscow, Idaho. The uterine lavage process is used to clear the uterus of inflammatory fluids that could decrease the viability of semen in mares.

Researchers already knew that uterine lavag

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments on a proposed change to Animal Welfare Act regulations that would require registered research facilities that use equids in research, other than for agricultural research purposes, to maintain medical records as part of their program of adequate veterinary care.

Currently, the maintenance of veterinary

The number of confirmed Eastern equine encephalitis cases (EEE) in horses has risen to 23 in north central Florida, according to Bill Jeter, DVM, Diagnostic Veterinary Manager for Florida’s Division of Animal Industry. This confirmed earlier speculations that 2003 will have higher-than-normal numbers of EEE cases this year. The virus has been confirmed in 12 counties, and 14 of the 23 cases

“It’s very unusual to get EHV-1 outbreaks all at the same time on different premises,” said James Wood, BSc, BvetMed, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, DLSHTM, Dipl. ECVPH, Head of Epidemiology at the Animal Health Trust in the United Kingdom, about the recent flare of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 cases in his country. At least 12 horses have been euthanized after infection with the debilitating virus.

Following the first day of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event on Thursday afternoon, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital will be sponsoring an educational event at the Kentucky Horse Park South Theater in Lexington, Ky. The sessions will run from 4:00-6:00pm, and a light suppe

The United Kingdom’s Animal Health Trust (AHT) has detailed the country’s EHV-1 outbreak that began in early March. At least 12 horses have been euthanized due to advanced neurologic deterioration resulting from infection.

The first reported cases were detected in Gloucestershire. Two Thoroughbreds showed neurologic signs on March 12-13. Both had rapid progression of hindlimb ataxia

Equine influenza has been confirmed to date in 14 Thoroughbred race training stables since March 13, according to the United Kingdom’s Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Influenza is not usually life threatening, but rather makes a horse uncomfortable and vulnerable to other diseases. Treatment typically includes a minimum of three to four weeks of rest to avoid long-term