Equine Influenza – What’s important to know?

What is horse flu and how is it spread? Equine influenza is highly infectious and spreads very rapidly. In non-immunized horse populations, the infection rate can be up to 100 %. Main occasion s of spreading are equestrian sports events as well as conformation shows and horse markets. The virus is mostly transmitted via aerosols. Infection via other vectors such as dust, food, other animals or contact persons is also possible but less common. The excretion of the virus takes place during the incubation time which lasts twelve hours to five days after contagion and within the first five days after the appearance of clinical symptoms. However, it can continue for up to ten days more, even if the animal appears to have recovered.

Equine influenza attacks the upper and lower respiratory tracks and causes the inflammation of the mucosal epithelium of the respiratory tracks.

It is caused by strain s of influenza A that are prevalent for horses. Type A influenza viruses are divided into subtypes depending on their antigenic characteristics. The classification is based on the two antigenic proteins on the surface of the viral envelope, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Influenza-A-viruses belong to the family of orthomyxoviruses. This RNA virus has a round or oval shape and measures up to 120 nm.

How does the disease progress? A typical symptom of equine influenza is a sudden, reappearing fever that can rise hazardously high to 42°C (the physiological body temperature of horses is 37–38.2°C). Usually about three fever attacks may be experienced. Continuous fever might indicate a secondary bacterial infection. Animals suffer from coughing and rhinorrhea due to rhinitis. Often symptoms include conjunctivitis indicated by increased epiphora , decreased appetite, lassitude , apathy, accelerate d breathing, enlarged throat lymph nodes, edemata on the limbs and general or local muscle spasms.

A possible long-term implication of an infection with equine influenza is the development of chronic lung and heart damage.

Pregnant mares might suffer from miscarriage. However, the mortality rate of equine influenza is low.

How can equine influenza be treated? As a rule, an infection in healthy animals under good husbandry conditions and without secondary infections disappears by itself after about ten days. However, the animals need to completely rest during the infection and should only move very carefully for at least six weeks afterwards. It can take three months or longer for sports horses to regain their prior performance ability. These cautionary steps are crucial for preventing heart and lung damage caused by the virus from becoming chronic.

The environment of the horse should be calm, free of dust and well ventilated. The horse should eat appetising, relatively soft food. Anti-inflammatory medication can be administered to reduce the fever.

The diagnosis can be confirmed via a hemagglutination inhibition test or more accurately, by radial hemolysis to determine the antibody titer or radial diffusion method to determine the antigen. Virus determination can be conducted via ELISA or PCR.

Are vaccines available? The only meaningful protection for horse populations is regular comprehensive vaccination. The vaccination consists of a basic immunization consisting of three vaccinations, and an annual booster shot. The influenza vaccine should be adapted to the virus type currently circulating, because influenza-A-viruses are able to circumvent immunity to other subtypes by antigenic shifts and drifts of their surface antigens. Antigenic drift means the subsequent accumulation of single base mutations on the genes encoding hemagglutinin and neuraminidase which leads to variations of the amino acid sequence. Frequent vaccinations are also necessary because the antibody titers of most vaccines are not very stable.

Equine influenza is one of the main causes of loss of performance in horses. This can cause considerably negative economic impacts. The international and German equestrian federations (FEI, FN) as well as many racing and breeding associations have introduced a six-monthly vaccine mandate for participating horses. This makes sense, as horses that take part in regular sport events are exposed to a higher infection risk. However, there is no general regulation for privately owned horses and breeding horses.

Acute prevention is achieved by isolating the infected horse as well as establishing general hygiene measures as part of stable management, such as regular disinfection of equipment as well as hand washing for all contact persons.

EXERCISE:

1. Influenza-A-viruses belong to the family of orthomyxoviruses. A) True B) False

2. Acute prevention is achieved by establishing general hygiene measures as part of stable management, such as regular disinfection of equipment as well as hand washing for all contact persons. A) True B) False

3. The physiological body temperature of horses is 36 °C. A) True B) False

You’ll find the answer below.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. www.dict.cc 2. www.msdvetmanual.com 3. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 4. www.pferde.de 5. www.vetmedica.de 6. www.webster-dictionary.org

CARMEN LOBITZ Carmen Lobitz ist freie Trainerin, Lehrerin und MTL. Sie gründete 1998 in Berlin lobitz seminare, die unter anderem Englischseminare für Health Professionals anbieten.

Kontakt: mail@lobitz-seminare.de

www.lobitz-seminare.de

###more###

Lösung für Exercise:

1. A

2. A

3. B

Equine Influenza – What’s important to know?

What is horse flu and how is it spread?

Online-Angebot der MT im Dialog

Stellen- und Rubrikenmarkt

Equine Influenza – What’s important to know?

What is horse flu and how is it spread?

Sie wollen den ganzen Text lesen?

Online-Angebot der MT im Dialog

Stellen- und Rubrikenmarkt