Health Alert: EEE, WEE, VEE
The Horse Staff
July 6, 2018
Dr. Steve Reed shares what owners need to know to protect their horses from Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
Dr. Steve Reed shares what owners need to know to protect their horses from Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
Virginia’s 2018 mosquito season is proving to be one of the worst in years, animal health officials said as they encouraged owners to ensure their horses EEE and WNV vaccines are up to date.
Officials say “spring shots” can help protect horses from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus.
Although Hendra virus—which has only been diagnosed in Australia thus far—can strike at any time, traditionally there are more cases during the winter months, which have arrived in Australia.
In a recent study Japanese researchers found that the right mix of equine influenza vaccines provided immunity against the virus; the wrong mix, however, did not.
West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis have high mortality rates in exposed, unvaccinated horses, South Carolina animal health officials said.
Horses with PPID had lessened antibody titers following vaccination for rhinopneumonitis and West Nile virus.
Horses that don’t receive annual vaccinations against the five core equine diseases could be facing serious illness or even death.
Recently Oklahoma has averaged approximately 40 cases of mosquito-borne diseases in horses per year.
Because rabies threatens both horses and the humans who handle them, the AAEP recommends rabies as one of five core vaccines every U.S. horse should receive.
Scientists have developed a new live-attenuated intranasal vaccine to protect horses against equine influenza.
Since its inception, the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) has delivered more than 28,000 doses of core vaccines.
State animal health officials are encouraging horse owners to have their animals vaccinated against mosquito-borne diseases–including Eastern equine encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus–and rabies.
Mosquito season has already arrived in some parts of Nevada and, with heavy rain and snowfall earlier in the year, mosquito habitats and breeding sites near standing water are prevalent.
A Texas veterinarian recalls a real-life equine rabies fatality and what he learned from the case.
Vaccinating mares against the polysaccharide poly-N-acetyl glucosamine appears to effectively protect foals against R. equi pneumonia, researchers found.
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