Multi-State EIA Outbreak in Quarter Horse Racehorses
Image: EDCC
From the EDCC:
On September 20th and 24th, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed equine infectious anemia (EIA)-positive results in 4 Quarter Horse racehorses that were part of a group recently moved from racing in New Mexico to Los Alamitos in California.
Several of the EIA-positive horses were showing clinical signs of EIA upon arrival to California. Testing of in-contact horses in California and epidemiologically-linked horses in Texas and New Mexico yielded an additional 12 EIA-positive horses. All 16 EIA-positive horses (7 in CA, 1 in NM, 8 in TX) were racing under the same trainer and attending the same series of sanctioned races in New Mexico in August and September.
Additional exposed horses have been identified and are in the process of being tested in multiple states. The current epidemiological investigation indicates that spread of EIA among these horses occurred by iatrogenic transmission.
Updates to the current situation will be posted as more information becomes available.
In our latest issue, EC writer Megan Arszman tackles the topic of EIA, the disease the Coggins Test is known for detecting:
https://bt.e-ditionsbyfry.com/publication/?i=830816&p=484&view=issueViewer
