Cerebral palsy is spreading rapidly among horses in the US. Here’s what you need to know
There are many different types of herpesviruses out there, and some of them can be very problematic for the animals in our care. Authorities are now tracking a growing outbreak of nervous illness among working horses across the country.
On Monday, the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) released its latest update on the outbreak of Equine Herpespathology, or EHM. At least 29 cases of EHM have been identified in seven countries so far. The outbreak appears to have originated at a rodeo and race event held in Texas earlier this month.
A serious virus
EHM is caused by infection with Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
EHV-1 is a highly virulent and virulent virus. Most horses catch it at some point in their lives, usually through direct contact with other horses, short-distance breathing, and indirect contact with dirty surfaces or people’s clothing. Most of the time, EHV-1 only causes severe respiratory illness, after which it is silent and dormant in the body (a common characteristic of many herpesviruses). But sometimes, the virus can travel to the brain and spinal cord, dump blood debris and produce dangerous blood, which results in, um.
EHM is most often caused by strains of EHV-1 that can produce a neurological form of infection, but the respiratory form of EHV-1 rarely causes EHM. The virus can also regenerate from the host and spread to the nervous system, causing EHM.
The outbreak, according to the EDCC, began sometime during the World Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Association (WPRA) World Association (WPRA) ACROPEL AND 9 race event. Last week, officials chose to cancel the rest of the Barrel Future of America (BFA) World Championship scheduled to be held in Oklahoma after the state recently visited AHM.
At this time, the potential impact of this outbreak is unclear, although it could be significant. One of the largest known outbreaks of EHM / EHV-1 began in 2011 at a racehorse event in Ogden, Utah, which exposed the virus to nearly 2,000 horses in 19 divisions, killing 13.
“The magnitude of this EHV-1 outbreak is not yet fully known. The introduction of EHV-1 in these horses has been the severity of suspected horses,” said the Texas Animal Health Review Commission last week.
A known threat
As concerned as this outbreak is, most cases of EHM are not fatal, especially with prompt detection and supportive management. There is an EHV-1 vaccine, which is used to prevent the respiratory form of the infection and the risk of miscarriage in pregnant horses. Although the vaccine does not directly prevent EHM, it can help stop the spread of the outbreak by reducing the potential viral load of infected horses.
In the meantime, officials are including WPRA event sponsors, horse owners who have attended WPRA events, and veterinarians to collect and stop the spread of the outbreak. Vets who believe they have encountered a potential case are advised to submit a report to the EDCC.
