More on Multiple Western States Affected by EHV-1 Outbreak [edited]

by: Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
May 16, 2011 Article # 18253

Veterinarians in several states are determining the extent of a possible equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak tied to cutting horses involved in a recent Odgen, Utah, championship show. Several animals that participated in the April 29-May 8 National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) Western National Championship were diagnosed with the neurologic form of the illness, and at least two horses were euthanized when their conditions deteriorated.

Washington State University (WSU) officials placed the school's Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) under a voluntary quarantine effective May 13 after a horse admitted May 11 for orthopedic reasons tested positive for the virus.
No other EHV-1 positive horses have been identified at the VTH.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) issued a statement late on May 13 indicating two farms in Weld County, located in north central Colorado, were placed under quarantine. One horse that displayed severe clinical signs was confirmed as EHV-1 positive and was euthanized May 11, and another horse was quarantined after veterinarians diagnosed the animal as having of EHV-1. Both horses had recently returned from the Western National Championships before falling ill.
Additionally, a horse at a cutting show in Bakersfield, Calif., hosted by the Kern Country Cutting Horse Association (KCCHA), was euthanized the morning of May 13 after displaying clinical signs consistent with the neurologic form of EHV-1. According to Peggy Biller, president of the KCCHA, the horse was taken to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, in Tulare, for necropsy.

"I have not gotten a confirmed diagnosis on it yet," Biller said.

Biller added that one additional exposed horse was taken to the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Teaching Hospital for observation; she said the horse "is still doing well." Both horses had recently returned from the NCHA competition in Utah.

The NCHA has canceled two competitions scheduled for May 14-28 in Tulsa, Okla., as a precautionary measure. A statement on the organization's website indicated that while no horses in the Tulsa area have displayed signs of EHV-1, the NCHA Board of Directors elected to cancel the show until the extent of the outbreak has been determined.

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