Zoonotic Diseases

Diseases discussed here have a history of use as an agent for biological warfare, either in the U.S. or abroad. Its use may have been experimental or actual, and any detrimental consequences upon humans, animals or the environment may have been intentional or not, depending on the circumstances, the point in time, and the nature of the disease.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

MORE EQUINE HERPESVIRUS, EQUINE - NORTH AMERICA (14): (TENNESSEE

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A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: 19 Sep 2011

Source: The Horse.com Article 18847 [edited]







The University of Tennessee (UT) Veterinary Medical Center is in the

midst of a 7-day quarantine ordered by the Tennessee State

Veterinarian after a horse brought to the hospital with clinical signs

of the disease was euthanized. Test results confirmed the horse was

positive for the neurologic strain of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).



"On 15 Sep 2011, a down (recumbent) horse was brought to the Equine

Hospital at the UT Veterinary Medical Center at 2:00 p.m.," a

statement from the hospital read. "The horse was kept in a separate

area of the equine hospital. Within hours, the horse's condition

deteriorated, and the animal was euthanized."



"Our laboratory and an outside independent laboratory have both

confirmed that the index horse that was euthanized within hours of

being admitted was positive for the neurotrophic (neurologic) form of

EHV-1," said Sandra Harbison, media relations director for UT College

of Veterinary Medicine. Harbison noted the hospital implemented its

own 14-day quarantine period, effective the morning of 16 Sep 2011,

and the statement indicated the hospital "expects to maintain

voluntary isolation for an additional period of time as clinicians

investigate a neurologic case" of the virus.



"It is important to note there is not currently an active case of

EHV-1 in the hospital, and we are taking every precaution to prevent

the spread of disease," the statement said. Harbison added that no new

cases had been confirmed since the index horse was admitted.



"Appointments at the UT College of Veterinary Message Equine Hospital

have been relocated to an off-site facility," the statement read. "In

some instances, our ambulatory field service can provide medical care

on-site for local owners."



Although it's not transmissible to humans, EHV-1 is highly contagious

among horses and camelids, and it is generally passed from horse to

horse via aerosol transmission (when affected animals sneeze/cough)

and contact with nasal secretions. The disease can cause a variety of

ailments in equines, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease

usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and

myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurologic form).



Myeloencephalopathy is characterized by fever, ataxia

(incoordination), weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs, and

incontinence. Should a horse with potential EHV-1 exposure display any

of the aforementioned clinical signs, a veterinarian should be called

to obtain samples and test for the disease.



Individuals with questions on the UT quarantine are asked to call 865

974-8387.



[Byline: Erica Larson]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts





[The University teaching hospital is taking every precaution to insure

this disease does not spread through its hospital. We sincerely hope

they are successful.



Equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) infection in horses can cause respiratory

and neurological disease, abortion in mares, and neonatal foal death.

The neurological form of the disease is known as equine herpes

myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and has the potential to cause high

morbidity and mortality.



EHV-1 is easily spread and typically has an incubation period between

2-10 days. Respiratory shedding of the virus generally occurs for 7-10

days but may persist longer in infected horses. For this reason, the

isolation period recommendation for confirmed positive EHM cases is 21

days. Clinical signs of EHM in horses may include nasal discharge,

incoordination, hindquarter weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine

dribbling and diminished tail tone. The prognosis for EHM positive

horses depends on the severity of signs and the period of recumbency.

Employing supportive treatment with intravenous fluids,

anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-viral drugs and other supportive

measures may be beneficial, since there is no specific treatment for

EHM. Currently, no EHV-1 equine vaccine has a label claim for

protection against the neurological strain of the virus.



Portions of this comment have been extracted from:

.

- Mod.TG]



[see also:

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (13): (CA) 20110915.2810

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (12): (MI) 20110911.2761

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (11): (USA) 20110830.2663

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (10): (USA) 20110826.2598

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (09): (USA) 20110625.1944

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (08) 20110618.1859

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (07) 20110609.1750

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (06) 20110604.1705

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (05) 20110528.1639

Equine herpesvirus, equine - North America (04) 20110528.1632

Equine herpesvirus - North America (03): (USA) 20110526.1607

Equine herpesvirus - North America (02): (Canada, USA) 20110524.1573

Equine herpesvirus - North America: (USA, Canada) 20110519.1516

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (06): (NJ) 20110419.1220

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (05): (NY) quarantine lifted

20110417.1201

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (04): (NY) Cornell U 20110407.1083

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (03): (NY) Cornell U 20110405.1057

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA (02): (NY) Cornell U, RFI

20110403.1038

Equine herpesvirus, equine - USA: (NY) Cornell University

20110402.1021]

.................................................sb/tg/msp/dk

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