Federal officials are calling for more education, research, and cooperation when it comes to emerging equine diseases.

During the June 22 American Horse Council (AHC) National Issues Forum, a panel discussion on "Emerging Diseases: A Challenge to the Horse Industry" took center stage. It was co-hosted by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the AHC.

Among the diseases discussed were equine infectious anemia, contagious equine metritis, equine piroplasmosis, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. The talks covered everything from initial reporting and treatment of diseases to international shipping restrictions.

Dr. Tim Cordes, a senior staff veterinarian with the USDA, noted that about 2 million horses a year received a Coggins test for EIA, and the cost of the test has jumped almost 20% from 1998 to 2005. He said about $60 million is spent on Coggins testing each year to find about 100 positives