Prevention and control of h3n8 eiv in the equine population rely on hygiene, quarantine, and vaccination programs to reduce infection and spread between horses. Equine influenza ei, colloquially known as horse flu, is currently caused by. Horses 15 yr old are the most susceptible to infection. Outbreaks are possible and occur in endemic countries. Equine influenza is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection caused by strains of the influenza virus type a. Ny, pa, co, fl h3n2 2015 2015 outbreak in chicago avian to dog transmission first reported in owned dogs longer shedding periods 21 days. The horses most at risk should be vaccinated three or four times a. Equine influenza is caused by a type a orthomyxovirus. For example, the recommendation for equine influenza may increase if the horse is competing, yet decrease as the same horse is being rested for a season. Equine influenza ei is a highly contagious though rarely fatal respiratory disease of horses, donkeys, mules and other equidae. Countries free of equine influenza include iceland, australia and new zealand.
Definition equine influenza virus is a rna virus which is endemic in horse populations in many countries worldwide and which occurs sporadically in epidemic form from time to time. Equine influenza inquiry government response department. Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules. Vaccination remains the most effective approach for preventing and controlling equine influenza virus eiv in horses. The basic facts on equine influenza the horse owners. Equine influenza respiratory system veterinary manual. Equine influenza ei is an acute, highly contagious, viral disease which can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses and other equine species. Wherein, equine influenza ei is the main cause of respiratory illness in equines across globe and is caused by equine influenza a virus eiva which has impacted the equine industry internationally due to high morbidity and. The risk for eiv infection is not limited to equids. The best method of prevention is to maintain high standards. Orthomyxovirus a equine 2 was first recognized in 1963 as a cause of widespread epidemics and has subsequently become endemic in many countries, except for new zealand and iceland. Outbreaks have occurred worldwide in the past decade. Orthomyxovirus aequine2 was first recognized in 1963 as a cause of widespread epidemics and has subsequently become endemic in many countries, except for new zealand and iceland. Equine influenza has high morbidity outbreaks but low.
Good biosecurity is an important aspect of disease prevention, below is a list of actions which can help to improve the biosecurity on your yard. Listed below are some ways you can help to reduce the spread of equine infectious disease. If your horse is stricken with equine influenza, you might not think immediately about mathematical formulas. Eiv is less pathogenic than the ubiquitous equine herpesviruses ehv1. Prevention is the singularly most important aspect vaccinate regularly with your veterinarians advice keep horse areas cleaned up and sanitized proper feeds and feeding management. Equine influenza has high morbidity outbreaks but low mortality, and it is clinically characterized by fever. Evaluation of current equine influenza vaccination protocols prior. Transmission of equine influenza virus to dogs science.
Equine influenza is an upper respiratory disease characterized by fever, lethargy, coughing, dyspnea, and nasal discharge that affects horses and other equids and has a severe impact on the equine industry. The united states equestrian federation usef and equine disease communication center edcc do not guarantee or warrant the performance of any person or entity advertising on its site. Key facts about equine influenza msd animal health hub. Simple rapid procedures are now available for the diagnosis of equine influenza. Fluvac innovator vaccines help deliver demonstrated protection against circulating contemporary equine influenza viruses, and aid in the prevention of equine influenza due to type a2 viruses.
Current perspectives on control of equine influenza veterinary. Molecular and antigenic analyses of three influenza viruses isolated from outbreaks of severe respiratory disease in racing greyhounds revealed that they are closely related to h3n8 equine influenza virus. Ei is exotic to australia and would have a major impact on the australian horse industry if it were to become established here. A bivalent liveattenuated vaccine for the prevention of. Prevention vaccination plays an important role in prevention of influenza a infections. Equine influenza ei virus or equine flu is a highly contagious viral pathogen causing respiratory disease and is considered endemic in europe and north america. Pdf a highly contagious virus infection of horses, influenza is the single most. Definition equine influenza virus is a rna virus which is endemic in horse populations in. Prevention and control vaccination against equine influenza is common. Historically, eiv outbreaks have caused high levels of equine illness and economic damage. Another issue that can affect vaccine effectiveness is exposure. The oie now considers h7n7 strains likely to be extinct since these strains have not been isolated for over 20 years.
Equine influenza flu is a respiratory disease caused by a highly contagious virus. This is a highly contagious virus that can be contracted through direct contact with an infected horse or indirectly by contaminated environment. A vaccinated horse may come in contact with another horse that is. Top 5 most deadly horse diseases manna pro products, llc. Equine influenza diagnosis influenza infection may be suspected from clinical signs but confirmation requires either detection of the virus or detection of changes in the horses antibody levels to the virus.
Although most contemporary economies are not heavily reliant on equines, outbreaks of equine influenza impose a serious impact on the equestrian industry. A large number of vaccine strategies to control h3n8 eiv in horses are available 31,32. The compound has been proposed for treatment of influenza. Pdf a highly contagious virus infection of horses, influenza is the single most important equine respiratory disease in many countries. Equine influenza apr 2015 wildlife health australia. Equine influenza virusa neglected, reemergent disease threat. Among all the emerging and reemerging animal diseases, influenza group is the prototype member associated with severe respiratory infections in wide host species.
The sample population for the apha is different from that for the other contributing laboratories, as. Prevention and control of influenza is based on frequent use of inactivated, adjuvanted vaccines, which confer only. After contracting the virus, your horse will start to show symptoms of equine influenza within a couple of days and will be contagious for a further five days. Equine influenza virus is a leading cause of respiratory disease in the horses. Flu commonly causes fever, coughing and nasal discharge. Two washington horses test positive for equine influenza.
Equine influenza occurs globally, previously caused by two main strains of virus. Fluvac innovator equine influenza vaccine zoetis us. However, the ongoing evolution of eiv has increased the genetic and antigenic differences between currently available vaccines and circulating strains, resulting in suboptimal vaccine efficacy. Mark crisman, senior veterinarian, equine technical services at zoetis. Both are typea influenza viruses and are related to but differ from human and avian influenza viruses. It is extremely contagious and has devastating effects on a horses performance. Equine influenza flu equine influenza, is one of the most common infectious diseases of the respi ratory tract of horses. In this paper the current state of knowledge of equine influenza virus and the most important. There is no specific treatment for influenza virus spread with a disinfectant. Equine influenza virus eiv is a common, highly contagious equid respiratory disease. Equine influenza virus eiv, the causative agent of ei, is considered to be. The viruses are 80 to 120 nanometer status of equine influenza in the world nm in diameter and consists of a core of eight the disease is wide spread throughout the world.
Martinson, in pathologic basis of veterinary disease sixth edition, 2017. Subclinical infection with virus shedding can occur in vaccinated horses, particularly where there is a mismatch between the vaccine strains and the virus strains. Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that affects a number of mammal species, including horses. Equine influenza ei caused by equine influenza virus eiv, an orthomyxovirus, is usually a self. Equine influenza is a common, highly contagious, and selflimiting upper respiratory infection of horses caused by aerogenous exposure to type a strains of influenza virus h7n7 aequi1 and h3n8 aequi2.
Equine influenza flu is highly contagious so will spread rapidly through an unvaccinated population of horses. Developing a vaccination and deworming program amanda m. Can we predict, prevent and minimize equine influenza. The oie also convenes an expert surveillance panel on equine. As recommended by the world organization for animal health oie, the inclusion of. The virus can travel up to 50 yards 150 feet in the air so isolation of horses showing clinical signs is imperative. Vaccination is helpful, but it simply protects the horse for a short period of time, said dr.
It is widespread endemic within the uk and therefore it is important that we recognise the signs. Equine influenza is a serious viral affecting the upper and lower respiratory tract. Prevention and control of influenza is based on frequent use of inactivated. Disease prevention relies on a combination of good biosecurity and vaccination. Equine influenza horse flu is the disease caused by strains of influenza a that are enzootic in horse species. Younger horses tend to be more susceptible to the virus, which is transmitted via airborn secretions from coughing horses or contaminated tack and equipment.
Outbreaks of disease occur most often when susceptible horses are congregated and housed in close contact with each other eg. The detection of ei in australia is regarded as an emergency and every attempt will be made to eradicate the disease. Equine influenza is one of the most economically important contagious respiratory diseases of horses. The american association of equine practitioners lists equine influenza among riskbased vaccinations, which are recommended for horses deemed to be more likely to come in contact with the disease. Equine influenza virus a neglected, reemergent disease. The disease has been recorded throughout history, and when horses were the main draft animals, outbreaks of ei crippled the economy. Nac was shown to block or reduce cytopathic effects in influenzainfected macrophages, to reduce dna fragmentation in equine influenzainfected canine kidney cells, and to reduce rantes production in cultured airway cells in response to influenza virus by 18%. Equine influenza is spread via nasal discharge by direct contact with airborne droplets from horses snorting or coughing. Equine influenza is an rna virus with two main subtypes. Predominant international circulating h3n8 strains are. Equine influenza is highly contagious and spreads rapidly among naive horses. Equine influenza ei is a highly contagious though rarely fatal respiratory disease of horses, donkeys and mules and other equidae. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the canine influenza virus genomes form a monophyletic group, consistent with a single interspecies virus transfer. The virus can be detected from swabs collected from the back of the throat but this has to be done in the first few days of infection.
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