North Carolina’s Equine Piroplasmosis Count to 11

The following is a public service announcement for horse owners in North Carolina but it is good advice no matter where you live.

North Carolina has joined a growing list of states with cases of equine piroplasmosis, an animal disease the U.S. was free of for 20 years, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced today.

Tests of blood samples submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the presence of EP in 11 horses in four locations. North Carolina joins 19 other states that have identified cases of the disease in the past two years.

State veterinary authorities immediately quarantined the premises where the horses resided. The quarantine means that no horses can be moved from these locations.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is conducting an investigation to determine the source of the disease and whether it has spread beyond the locations where the infected animals were housed.

“Horse owners and others in the equine industry in North Carolina should monitor their horses carefully and contact their veterinarian if they suspect this disease,” Troxler said. “Because the U.S. has been free of this disease for two decades, by law suspected cases must be reported to the State Veterinarian’s Office.”

With the exception of the quarantined premises, there are no EP-related movement restrictions on horses within North Carolina or between North Carolina and other states. State Veterinarian David Marshall has implemented regulations under which horses from states known to contain EP-infected horses could be imported to North Carolina. The regulations are designed to minimize the possibility of more infected horses entering the state.About Equine PiroplasmosisEquine piroplasmosis is a blood-borne parasitic disease primarily transmitted to horses by ticks or contaminated needles. The disease was eradicated from the United States in 1988. North Carolina is not considered to have the tick species believed to transmit EP. This disease is not directly contagious from one horse to another but requires direct blood transfer.Human infection with equine piroplasmosis is extremely rare.

Horses with acute cases of EP can have depression, fever, anemia, jaundiced mucous membranes and low platelet counts. EP can also cause horses to have roughened hair coats, constipation and colic. In its milder form, the disease causes horses to appear weak and show lack of appetite. Some horses become chronic carriers of EP and show no clinical signs of the disease.

What Horse Owners Should DoMonitor your horse for the presence of ticks. Use commercially-available topical products labeled for ticks if your horse is in an area where tick infestation is a problem. Most of these products are synthetic pyrethrins. Include an Ivermectin product in your deworming program to provide systemic treatment for ticks. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.

If you find large numbers of ticks or suspect piroplasmosis, please contact your veterinarian.

Do not share needles between animals during the administration of any medication or vaccinations. EP and other diseases can be spread by the introduction of blood cells from an infected animal into an uninfected animal during routine administration of medications by injection.

Continue your normal equine activities.

by Fran Jurga | xx month 2010 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.comBe friends withFran Jurga on Facebook.comDon’t miss Discover WEG with Fran Jurga for fun at the Games!

Tweet

CATEGORIES

TAGS

SHARE THIS STORY

Related Posts

COVER EQ_EXTRA-VOL88
Do right by your retired horse
COVER EQ_EXTRA-VOL87
Tame your horse’s anxiety
COVER EQ_EXTRA-VOL86 Winter Care_fnl_Page_1
Get ready for winter!
COVER EQUUS Key 14 Equestrian Vacations_fnl_Page_1
Equestrian vacations

NEWSLETTER

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.