Large Animal Clinical Services

EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-1 (EHV-1) NEUROLOGIC DISEASE

CURRENT STATUS AS OF 12-31-06

A 3-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse stabled at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, CA was referred to the VMTH on the afternoon of Thursday, December 28th for investigation of neurologic signs that had developed acutely earlier that day. Based on information provided by the referring veterinarian regarding the specific signs the horse was showing (incoordination and weakness involving both hind legs, weak tail and anal tone, dribbling of urine, and fever several days previously) the VMTH veterinarian who received the case strongly suspected that the horse was infected with the neurologic form of EHV-1. Consequently, the horse was transported directly to the VMTH's Large Animal Isolation facility, where it was unloaded at around 5:00 PM. No other horses have been been housed in the Isolation facility during the past week. Samples collected from the horse before it was unloaded into the Isolation Unit were submitted to the Lucy Whittier Molecular Diagnostic Facility for testing, and a diagnosis of EHV-1 infection was confirmed by 7:30 AM on the morning of 12/29/06.

The affected horse has not entered any other area of the hospital or horse loading/unloading area and has not come into direct or indirect contact with any other horses at the VMTH. The Large Animal Isolation unit is a separate building located distant from the remainder of the hospital and is staffed by a separate crew of nurses and doctors who follow extremely stringent protocols to prevent spread of disease within and beyond the Isolation Unit. Personnel entering and leaving the facility must change their clothing and footwear and wash their hands. The 6 stalls in the Isolation unit are completely separated from each other and each has dedicated equipment and supplies. Staff must wash hands and disinfect boots between horses and must wear disposable gloves and labcoats dedicated to each individual horse.

The swift action taken by our staff to immediately place this horse in the Isolation Unit, coupled with the intensive biosecurity protocols we have in place at the VMTH, means that horses housed elsewhere in the VMTH have not been placed at risk for acquiring EHV-1 infection. We want to reassure owners of horses that have visited the VMTH recently that they have no reason to be concerned. Owners who have questions are encouraged to contact the VMTH veterinarian supervising care of their horse.


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