WCVM equine herpes virus update for March 28, 2008
MARCH 28, 2008 -- As of Friday, March 28, field service veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are treating 15 horses at a Saskatoon-area riding stable for equine herpes virus type one (EHV-1) infection, says Dr. Katharina Lohmann of WCVM's Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Last week, WCVM announced the suspension of non-emergency equine clinical services at its Large Animal Clinic after admitting two local horses that proved to be suffering from the neurologic form of EHV-1. The virus, which is contagious through contact and through aerosols, can be controlled by restricting contact and with stringent decontamination. EHV-1 can not be transmitted to humans or to other animal species and is not a reportable disease in Canada.
By March 26, the two horses that were initially admitted to WCVM’s Large Animal Clinic more than 10 days earlier had improved enough to be discharged. Both horses returned to the same riding stable where WCVM field service veterinarians continue to treat 13 other horses for the viral infection. The stable’s owners have kept their facility quarantined since the beginning of the outbreak to control the potential spread of EHV-1 to other farms.
While the veterinary college’s non-emergency equine clinical services remain suspended, Lohmann says all other activities and services provided by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are operating as usual.
WCVM will resume its regular equine clinical services at the Large Animal Clinic once diagnostic testing determines that in-clinic horses pose no risk of virus shedding and once the hospital facilities have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
FFor further information about EHV-1, horse owners are urged to contact their local veterinarian, or they can contact Dr. Katharina Lohmann at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (306-966-7157 or 306-966-7178). Fact sheets about equine herpes virus type 1 as well as updates about the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s operations are also available at www.ehrf.usask.ca and www.wcvm.com/collegenews.
EQUINE HERPES VIRUS FACT SHEETS
• Information from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) with additional input from Dr. Katharina Lohmann: Equine Herpes Virus Fact Sheet.
• Special on line supplement from The Horse (five parts):
1. Herpes by the Numbers
2. Neurologic Herpesvirus
3. Herpesvirus Vaccination
4. EHV Latency
5. Herpesvirus Management Basics
• Information from the Merck Veterinary Manual.
• "Infectious disease control: recommendations for biosecurity and vaccination". By Dr. Katharina Lohmann, Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Source: American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
For more information, contact:
Dr. Katharina Lohmann, Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Tel: 306-966-7157 or 306-966-7178
Email: k.lohmann@usask.ca
Myrna MacDonald, Communications
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Tel: 306-225-4479 or cell: 306-291-9950
Email: sm.ridley@sasktel.net
