ANSC 420 – CRITICAL THINKING IN ANIMAL SCIENCE MARCH 24, 2010 E RIN D. P ITTMAN, MS, PAS Biosecurity on the Horse Farm

Oversight?

Why bother?

How do we control disease? Vaccinations Farm Management

How it Works Infection Control Plan  Avoid or minimize exposure  Optimize resistance  Vaccination  Optimize overall health care  Areas to consider Nutrition and training/exercise schedule Ventilation and airflow in stabling area Insect control  Other Example: “normal” gastrointestinal flora

Horse Lifestyles – Pasture Potatoes!

Breeding

Showing, trail-riding and lessons

Transport

Risk of Disease Varies by type of horse population! Some horses predisposed to disease if exposed:  Foals, old horses  Problems with digestive function  Drug treatments Situations can increase risk of exposure  Commingling with other horses  Exposure to insects

Before we talk “control…” Do you recognize a sick vs. a healthy horse?

Vital Signs – Adult Horses

Controlling Infectious Diseases Infection Control Plan 1. Avoid or minimize exposure 2. Optimize resistance Vaccination Optimize overall health care Other

Avoiding/Minimizing Exposure How are diseases transmitted?  Aerosol  Oral  Direct Contact  Fomites  Vector  Zoonotic Limiting exposure must address all methods of disease transmission!

Examples and Methods of Exposure Method of Exposure Other Horses Equine events, new arrivals, visiting horses Environment Feed, water, stabling, trailers, insects People and things that move with them Horse caretakers, veterinarians, farriers

Where would you rather your horse be? Things to Consider – Hygiene and Sanitation

Hygiene and Sanitation - Facilities

Hygiene and Sanitation - Personal

Hygiene and Sanitation - Horse

Transmission - Aerosol

Transmission – Oral

Transmission – Direct Contact

Transmission - Fomites

Transmission - Vector

Transmission - Zoonotic

Equine Diseases

Equine Herpes Virus “Rhino” 9 documented strains  5 affect domestic horses  EHV-1 and EHV-4 are most common and pathogenic Clinical Signs:  Fever!  Malaise  Respiratory  Abortion  Neurologic

Equine Infectious Anemia “Swam Fever” Horses = natural host Clinical Signs:  Severe depression  Weakness  Sudden onset of high fever  Anemia! No treatment available! Detection = Coggins Test

Coggins Test

Equine Viral Arteritis EVA Clinical Signs:  Respiratory Infection  Abortion  Subfertility (stallions)  Limb and Scrotal Edema  Skin reaction

Influenza Clinical Signs:  Harsh, dry cough  Loss of appetite  Depression  Watery nasal discharge Can lead to pneumonia

Eastern, Western, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyeltis ZOONOTIC DISEASES! High fatality rates  Eastern > Venezuelan > Western Neurological Signs

Vesicular Stomatitis Can be transmitted between cattle/pigs and horses Clinical Signs:  Ulceration of mucosa and coronary band  Crusting lesions of sheath, abdomen Reportable Disease

Rabies ZOONOTIC DISEASE Raccoon strain most common here Neurological symptoms  Behavioral changes are most common  Time to clinical signs varies  No treatment

Streptococcus Equi “Strangles” Clinical Signs:  High Fever  Nasal Discharge  Abscessed Lymph nodes  “Silent Carrier” status High morbidity, low mortality

Salmonellosis ZOONOTIC DISEASE! Clinical Signs:  Colitis  Diarrhea Highly contagious bacterial infection

Contagious Equine Metritis Clinical Signs:  Uterine infection  Failure to conceive Strict importation controls

Rhodococcus Equi Leading cause of foal pneumonia  Foals under 6 months of age most susceptible  High (28%) mortality rate

Vaccinations Purpose  Acquired Immunity to disease Initial vaccination  Boosters for unvaccinated animals – 3-6 weeks apart (up to 3, depending on vaccine) Annual or semi-annual boosters Routes of Administration Consult with vet Different vaccines for different “types” of horses!  Broodmares vs. performance vs. “home-bound”

Intramuscular (IM) Intranasal (IN) Routes of Administration

What are your options? Establish a Biosecurity Plan  Not as easy as vaccination  Risk aversion of the operation or horse owner? All will come at some cost!

Communication with staff, owners and visitors! Make sure they know the rules! Language barriers? Signage

Visitors and employees? Ask! Especially if there is a current disease outbreak in the area Use good hygiene methods Have a plan in case of outbreak

Separate Farm and Personal Vehicles

Traffic patterns People, animals, vehicles  Farm personnel  Veterinarians  Farriers  Visitors  Horse owners (boarders) Wheel barrows, trucks, trailers, tractors, 4-wheelers, etc.

Facility Design Think about infection control before you build  Alleyways  High traffic areas  Treatment areas (stocks, wash stall, etc.) Ease of cleaning Can it be isolated?

Optimize Health Plans for All Horses Transport and Housing

Post Contact Information

Insect Control

Facilities Separated from other horses for (ideally) a minimum of 3 weeks How far apart?  Distances diseases travel not established  “35 feet” rule for neurological herpes virus? Management  Separate equipment  Do new horses last

Where does the drain go?

What if facilities or schedules don’t allow isolation? Group horses according to use/exposure potential Commingled horses are of equal status – exposure WILL happen between them

Keep number of horses per group as small as possible

Minimize contact between groups

Spread of disease can happen easily!

Consider all means of disease transmission Route of exposure? Can you control it?

Insects, rodents, other animals!

Install Wash Stations

Clean and Disinfect Regularly

Recommendations for New Horses

Options for managing risk posed by horse contact Establish health requirements  Visiting horses  New arrivals  Horses returning after an event Segregation by risk level Isolation/monitoring of new arrivals Monitoring for illness + plan of action

Quarantine

Examples of Health Requirements Certificate of veterinary inspection (health certificate)  Timing of exam vs. arrival of horse? Ask about past medical history  Illness in this horse or others it has been around Examine horse when it arrives Test for infection  Coggins test  Others (i.e., screening for strangles)

Example of Testing for Infection

Endoscopy for Strangles

Isolation of New Arrivals Adequate facilities? Adequate equipment? Enough personnel? All must be present to ensure good infection control!

Early detection is key Determine cause of disease  Allows you to develop a control plan Isolate ill horse(s) at first sign of disease DO NOT MOVE EXPOSED HORSES  Until you have determined they don’t pose a risk to unexposed horses  Monitor exposed horses for illness

Recommendations for Show Horses

Maintain Herd Health Program

Avoid Contact with Other Horses and Equipment

House Traveling Horses Together

Quarantine Upon Return

Discuss Sanitation with Shipper

Recommendations for Racetracks

Coggins Test & CVI

Install Wash Stations

Limit Barn Access to Authorized Personnel Only

Recommendations for Hired Professionals

Decontamination Procedures

Decontamination

Disinfectants

Footbaths

Dispose of Waste

Risk Assessment