As spring approaches and temperatures rise, growing mosquito populations will increase the risk for deadly mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus (WNV) and equine encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness).
“Prevention of contagious diseases is dependent on an effective vaccination program and a carefully developed and strictly enforced management program,” said Steve Conboy, DVM, a Central Kentucky equine practitioner, at the 2005 American
Four equine vaccines have been developed and approved for West Nile virus (WNV) in the past five years, one of which was the first DNA vaccine for any mammal. The pace of this progress is unheard of in industries that make vaccines for other
Scientists recently showed that the Fort Dodge Animal Health West Nile virus (WNV) DNA vaccine, which is licensed but not yet commercially available, should protect foals from the virus regardless of residual antibodies received at birth from
In light of the current equine herpesvirus type-1 neurologic outbreaks, Rob Holland, DVM, senior veterinarian at Pfizer Animal Health, has suggested that owners take steps to prevent EHV-1 infection in their horses.
“Other than
“There are a huge number of (vaccine) choices out there and it’s hard sometimes to see our way through the forest,” said Julia Wilson, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor in Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota. “What
A new research model has been developed and successfully used to test a new type of vaccine against West Nile virus (WNV). Maureen Long, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor at the University of Florida, proved a chimera WNV vaccine was
As desirable as it would be to have a national (or even regional) one-size-fits-all protocol for vaccinating adult horses, vaccination recommendations are best tailored to individual circumstances. These primarily include the areas of the countr
Protecting tender immune systems against disease is the surest way to ensure the young horse doesn’t fall victim to either temporarily uncomfortable or life-ending infections.
Even though foals receive some immunity by drinking colostru
Botulism is the most potent biologic toxin known, and horses are highly sensitive to its presence and effects.
According to Equine Disease Quarterly, which is published by the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center and sponsored by Lloyd’s, the Influenza Expert Surveillance Panel this year recommended that influenza vaccines contain the
Vaccination of broodmares is just one part of a complete disease prevention program, but its importance should not be underestimated. Immunization is one of the least expensive, and most effective, strategies horse breeders can use to protect
Three New England states have confirmed nine cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in horses this year, and none of the horses survived. This suggests that horse owners should take further measures to protect horses against this deadly
Florida is in the thick of a near-record Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) year. One veterinarian found that in 2003, owners spent ten times the cost of vaccination to treat unvaccinated EEE survivors (typically less than 10% of affected horses
When it comes to protection from infectious diseases, the best defense is a good offense. Not only is a strategic vaccination program important, but the housing and handling of horses on a farm can enhance vaccination efficacy. A successful
West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in October 1999 because of an alert zoo veterinarian in New York. The epicenter in 2005, as in 2004, is expected to be California. In six short years, a disease that had never been seen before in North
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