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Equine Herpes Virus
 Equine herpes virus (EHV) is a common virus that occurs in equine populations around the world – including right here at home. In March 2008, veterinarians diagnosed the neurologic form of equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) in more than a dozen horses living in the Saskatoon area.
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SASKATCHEWAN HORSE COMMUNITY LEARNS ABOUT EHV-1
Horse owners, riders, coaches, stable managers and others involved in the horse industry crowded into the Diefenbaker Room at the Ramada Hotel in Saskatoon on April 10 for a public seminar on equine herpes virus, EHV-1, organized by the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan (FACS) and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
More than 300 horse enthusiasts, including people from Alberta and B.C., came to hear Dr. Hugh Townsend, WCVM infectious disease specialist, deliver an informative and detailed presentation, which was followed by questions from the audience.
Participants came away both enlightened and educated about EHV-1, one of the most common strains of equine herpes virus, and the precautions they can take on their farms and in their stables to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading the virus.
“I feel much better having listened to Dr. Townsend. There was a lot of confusion about the virus. I now know what needs to be done to protect my horses,” said one of the participants.
The meeting room was filled to capacity, with many people standing and others sitting on the floor to listen to the two-hour presentation; which included a brief history of the virus, clinical signs of infection and common sense bio-safety measures.
Dr. Townsend reported that as of April 10th, it had been 13 days since the last reported case of EHV-1, and cautiously suggested that the outbreak is contained. He credited the Saskatchewan horse community for this positive development, noting how well everyone has worked together.
“They are smart people,” he said, adding that the cooperation by persons at the two affected farms in the Saskatoon area has resulted in “heightened awareness” about EHV-1.
FACS Executive Director Adele Buettner said the seminar has served to facilitate a better understanding about EHV-1, in keeping with FACS’s responsibility to educate the industry in advancing responsible animal care.
“FACS is pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with the College and Dr. Townsend to ensure that as many people as possible in the horse industry are aware of the signs relating to this virus and what can be done to contain it,” Mrs. Buettner said.
Dr. Townsend made a similar presentation in Regina on April 22, which was attended by approximately 75 persons. “There was a great exchange of information at the meeting, with lots of questions. FACS is very pleased to have facilitated this so that horse owners and others involved with horses in the Regina area can be pro-active about EHV-1.”
Further information about EHV-1 is available on the FACS website at www.facs/sk.ca and the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s operations at www.wcvm.com/collegenews or www.ehrf.usask.c
Brought to you by the FACS in partnership with the WCVM.
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Fact Sheets - useful information on EHV-1 and it's implications to horse owners:
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Fact Sheet Original source: American Association of Equine Practitioners (www.aaep.org), with additional information provided by Dr. Katharina Lohmann, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine (www.wcvm.com). Download entire article click here
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Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy This article describes the sequence of events associated with an outbreak of disease caused by a neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1 at a large equestrian riding facility in January 2003. Download Entire Article (PDF 136 KB)
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Epidemic disease caused by Equine herpesvirus-1: Satellite Article from the Department of Veterinary Science, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0099, USA.outlining recommendations for prevention and control of EHV-1. Download entire article (PDF 71 KB)
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