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Post by ponydreamersmum on Jun 19, 2006 7:51:36 GMT -1
before I let myself get carried away with hysteria. The YO who has the other half of our yard is going to bring a horse with EHV onto the yard. It wont be kept within touching distance of our ponies and is unlikely to be brought into the stables but I am panicking like mad. Our ponies have never really mixed with other horses since we got them and were within a wild herd before we got them. I know that they say around 75% of horses have been exposed to the virus at some time but I doubt mine have. Whilst Gypsy is not a brood mare and Breeze was an accident it is likely that in the future Sami would want another foal from Gypsy with a bigger stallion, so that she will get something she will be able to ride as an adult. Ive read a lot about the virus from the internet over the weekend but dont really understand the full implications - should I be panicking or not? If it is likely to be a real risk I will either speak to our YO to see if he can prevent this horse being brought onto the yard - not sure if he will - or start looking for another piece of land to keep them on. I am also worried with Breeze being a yearling as I understand they are very susceptible to respiritory disease caused by the virus.
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Post by alisonduke on Jun 19, 2006 9:16:23 GMT -1
If the horse has EHV I would be surprised it is allowed to move anywhere as I am sure it can be passed on.
I would have a word with your vet to find out what they think, they may be interested to know what they are doing or they may put your mind at rest about it.
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Post by jacquidales on Jun 20, 2006 7:25:34 GMT -1
I'd certainly contact your vet because if he/she thinks the risk is too great (and I for one would be very unhappy) I suspect they may be able to take action to stop the horse being travelled to the yard.
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Post by ponydreamersmum on Jun 21, 2006 8:33:16 GMT -1
This is the reply I got from the SVS at Defra:
Thank you for your e-mail enquiry below. As you rightly state, EHV is not a notifiable disease, and so its control does not fall within the remit of this Office. We have no powers to prevent movements of infected horses, and control is a matter between owners and their private veterinary surgeons. EHV is usually a disease of young horses and ponies, and is usually mild or inapparent.It is very common and widespread. It is generally assumed that horses over three years old will have been infected if they are stabled in a yard with regular mixing of horses. In a few cases, however, it can be more serious. Vaccines are available, which may not prevent the infection, but can reduce the likelihood of the more serious complications. There are also management factors which play a part in control, such as separating age groups, reducing mixing, blood testing, etc. (Blood testing often reveals that an animal has had the disease without the owner ever having noticed it).
Control measures could be discussed with your private vet and with other owner(s) at the same site.
I hope that this is helpful, and I am sorry that we cannot become involved further.
Best regards,
Roger Nelson, MRCVS
Veterinary Officer.
I have spoken to my yard owner and they are mortified and will do what they can but are not sure of what they can do, my own vet has to look up the disease to investigate any implications to the ponies and will be in touch later today. Im still not sure whether to be panicking or not!
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Post by dalesvic on Jun 21, 2006 9:29:31 GMT -1
Sorry to hear of the worrying situation you are in. It sounds as though you have read a lot about it but just thought I'd say the little bit about it I know- but I'm no expert.
As you say most horses have been infected by the virus and serological prevalence is nearly 100% (for EHV4). Also in most horses it just causes an upper respiratory tract infection with a fever and cough. This in itself is not a huge threat to the horse, although EHV1 can spread to the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia, but I guess the major problem lies with breeding mares and foals. A more generalised infection can occur in foals if there are underlying problems such as stress. Also if is it is an infection by EHV1 (as opposed to EHV4) then if a pregant mare is infected then it can lead to abortion. I think this is probably the major concern, and I know would be the most important issue to me, and the fact that foals are susceptible to infection once maternal antibodies wane (which is when you would want to start vaccinating).
EHV1 is less common than EHV4 so your horses are less likely to have encountered it. However it is amazing how these viruses can spread and as you are on a yard with other horses even if they came from a wild herd beforehand which was seronegative I would be surprised if they were anymore.
This horse being introduced to the yard is going to cause the biggest problem if the other horses on the yard are naive animals and if it is infected with EHV1 and there are youngsters/pregnant mares around. Whether you can find out if your horses are seropositive to the virus I'm not sure, or how expensive it would be, but it would put your mind at rest I imagine. If you're really worried then perhaps you should have them vaccinated to prevent any severe disease if they are naive.
Not sure if that is any help to you but I guess what I'm trying to say is it depends on whether your ponies has been exposed to the virus before and which virus it is as to whether you should been panicking or not. It is likely they will come into contact with the virus at some point when the horse has recovered anyway unless it is kept in total isolation, as they shed the virus when stressed due to a persistent subclinical infection.
Hope you manage to sort something out.
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