State Veterinarian
Dustin Oedekoven said Friday, May 4, that the most recent case of equine
herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy was confirmed on Monday and involved a
horse that belonged to a member of the South Dakota State University
rodeo team in Brookings.
The horse had just been at two rodeos over the weekend in Lincoln and Hastings, Neb., he said.
The
other case, also involving a rodeo horse, was reported April 10 near
Sioux Falls. Both horses were treated and able to recover.
However,
in the North Dakota case reported last month, the horse had to be
euthanized and was also tied to rodeos as it belonged to a member of a
rodeo team in the southwest part of the state. Oedekoven also said they
were previously aware of two cases in Wyoming near Gillette in recent
months.
Oedekoven and Minnesota Board of Animal Health equine
program manager Courtney Wheeler are urging horse owners to be vigilant,
especially if they are traveling to rodeo and other public exhibition
events.
In both South Dakota and Minnesota, the two said
certificates of veterinary inspection and health are required for horses
traveling out of state.
This verifies the horse has been examined by a veterinarian and is free from signs of communicable and contagious diseases.
Oedekoven
said there is a vaccine for EHM, which has a neurological and often
fatal effect to it, as well as for other forms of the disease. One of
the related diseases found in younger animals is a respiratory form of
the disease that can often be cured. Another form can affect mares and
can cause abortions. Vaccines are also available for those forms of the
disease.
EHM, however, is much more rare. For example, Oedekoven
said the last case may have been as long ago as 2014. Wheeler said the
last case in Minnesota that was reported was in 2015.
Wheeler, who
is worried about Minnesota horses since the three cases reported in the
Dakotas, said if a Minnesota horse is confirmed to be EHM positive or
has been determined to be exposed to the disease, it must be
quarantined. The board then works with herd veterinarians and horse
owners to carry out testing and observation protocols defined in the
control plan before the quarantines can be released.
Horse
owners attending events need to adhere to rigorous and routine
biosecurity practices to prevent the further spread of EHM and other
contagious diseases, Wheeler and Oedekoven said.
Source: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/other/4441382-rare-horse-disease-cases-connected-rodeos-reported-dakotas" rel="nofollow - https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/other/4441382-rare-horse-disease-cases-connected-rodeos-reported-dakotas