Pathogen test  This RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Equine Influenza Virus Type A. Equine Influenza is a disease listed in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and countries are obligated to report the occurrence of the disease according to the OIE Code.   Sample 1 nasopharyngeal swab ( see AAEP guidelines)  5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Equine Influenza? Equine Influenza (EI) is a highly contagious though rarely fatal respiratory disease of horses, donkeys and mules and other equidae. The disease has been recorded throughout history, and when horses were the main draft animals, outbreaks of EI crippled the economy. Nowadays outbreaks still have a severe impact on the horse industry. EI is caused by two subtypes of influenza A viruses: H7N7 and H3N8, of the family Orthomyxoviridae. They are related to but distinct from the viruses that cause human and avian influenza. Once introduced into an area with a susceptible population, the disease, with an incubation period of only one to three days, spreads quickly and is capable of causing explosive outbreaks. Crowding and transportation are factors that favour the spread of EI. Clinical signs In fully susceptible animals, clinical signs include fever and a harsh dry cough followed by a nasal discharge. Depression, loss of appetite, muscle pain and weakness are frequently observed. The clinical signs generally abate within a few days, but complications due to secondary infections are common. While most animals recover in two weeks, the cough may continue longer and it may take as much as six months for some horses to regain their full ability. If animals are not rested adequately, the clinical course is prolonged. Transmission Highly contagious, EI is spread by contact with infected animals, which in coughing excrete the virus. Animals can begin to excrete the virus as they develop a fever before showing clinical signs. It can also be spread by mechanical transmission of the virus on clothing, equipment, brushes etc carried by people working with horses. Prevention Vaccination is practiced in most countries. However, due to the variability of the strains of virus in circulation, and the difficulty in matching the vaccine strain to the strains of virus in circulation. Vaccination does not always prevent infection although it can reduce the severity of the disease and speed recovery times. Act immediately if you see flulike signs in your horse, especially if you have multiple animals housed together. Being proactive can help halt disease spread and save money and time. Call your veterinarian and have him or her take nasal swab samples first to determine what pathogen you are dealing with (several diseases can cause similar signs in infected horses) and treat accordingly. Immediately place the horse in question in a quarantine area and thoroughly clean and disinfect any areas or equipment he has been in contact with. Because horses with influenza do not show signs right away, quarantine other horses that have been housed close to the sick one, as they are most likely already infected. Flu’s incubation period, or time that a horse is infectious before showing signs of illness, is about three days. Management techniques can also help reduce disease spread, including designating one person to handle/treat the sick horse, treating the horse at the end of the day/shift (when the handler won’t be coming into contact with other horses), and setting up foot baths with disinfectant solution for handlers to dip their shoes in as they enter and exit the premises. Disinfecting equipment such as buckets and hoses as well as tack can also prevent disease spread. Regardless of your disinfection protocol, be sure to dedicate a separate water bucket and hose for the sick horse.    

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Pathogen test  The PCR test detects the genome (DNA) of the Rhodococcus equi, the pathogen responsible for Pneumonia. Sample 1 nasopharyngeal swab - dry swab  Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Pneumonia? Rhodococcus equi, a Gram‐positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is one of the most common causes of pneumonia in foals. Rhodococcus equi is a very well recognized pathogen in horses – it is a common cause of pneumonia in foalsbetween the ages of 1-6 months, and infection is also sometimes associated with other problems such as diarrheas, swollen joints and abscesses in other parts of the body. The infection can be very difficult to treat because the bacteria are able to live inside white blood cells, which helps protect them from the body’s immune system, and because they often cause abscesses to form, which are difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. Rhodococcus equi infection in foals has been studied extensively, but there’s still a lot we don’t know how the body defends itself against this organism.  Clinical signs The most common clinical manifestation of R. equi infections in foals is bronchopneumonia. Early clinical signs may only include a slight increase in respiratory rate and a mild fever. These subtle clinical signs are often either missed or ignored, allowing the condition to progress. As the disease progresses, clinical signs might include: • Decreased appetite • Lethargy • Fever • Tachypnea • Increased effort of breathing characterised by nostril flaring and increased abdominal effort Cough and bilateral nasal discharge are inconsistent finding. Because ultrasonographic screening for early detection has become routine practice at some farms endemic for pneumonia caused by R. equi (see below), the most frequently recognised form of R. equi infection at those farms is a subclinical form in which foals develop sonographic evidence of peripheral pulmonary consolidation or abscessation without necessarily manifesting clinical signs. Extrapulmonary manifestations of rhodococcal infections are common. Extrapulmonary disorders might occur concurrent with or independent of pneumonia. Abdominal lesions (see necropsy below) are present in approximately 50% of foals that die from infections caused by R. equi. However, the majority of foals with abdominal lesions do not show clinical signs of abdominal disease. Polysynovitis is present in approximately 25–30% of cases with clinical R. equi infections. In some foals, lameness might be the result of septic arthritis or, more commonly, osteomyelitis caused by R. equi. Uveitis is not uncommon and might result in blepharospasm, ocular discharge, and blindness in severely affected foals. Occasionally, R. equi can cause infections of a variety of other extrapulmonary tissues or organs. Although rare, clinical signs resulting from abdominal infection with R. equi might include fever, diarrhoea, weight loss or failure to thrive, and colic. Transmission Inhalation of virulent R. equi is the major route of pulmonary infection in foals. Ingestion of the organism is an important route of exposure, and likely of immunisation, but rarely leads to hematogenously acquired pneumonia unless a foal has multiple exposures to extremely large numbers of bacteria. Prevention In the absence of an effective vaccine, control and prevention of the disease at farms endemic for infections caused by R. equi have relied on passive immunisation and screening to promote earlier recognition of the disease. There are no isolation requirements for foals with this disease. Foals with pneumonia caused by R. equi shed higher numbers of R. equi in their feces than healthy foals or foals with subclinical lesions. Therefore, pneumonic foals might be an important source of contamination of the environment with virulent R. equi but there is no evidence that R. equi infection is contagious among foals and exposure to virulent R. equi is widespread in the environment of foals. Thus, currently no environmental management practice or biosecurity measure has sufficient evidence on which to base recommendations for controlling and preventing R. equi pneumonia. Zoonotic Potential R. equi can occasionally cause severe pulmonary or systemic infections in immunosuppressed people. Infections with R. equi are extremely rare and typically less severe in immunocompetent individuals.

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 Pathogen test  The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) virus. Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis? Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus is a mosquito borne viral pathogen that causes Venezuelan equine encephalitis or encephalomyelitis (VEE). VEE can affect all equine species, such as horses, donkeys and zebras.  After infection, equines may suddenly die or show progressive central nervous system disorders. Humans also can contract this disease.  Clinical signs WEE viruses affect the nervous system, so affected animals will have fever, depression and changes in behaviour. Signs of infection may also include impaired vision, muscle twitches, circling or head pressing behaviours, the inability to swallow, paralysis and convulsions. For VEE, death rates are variable but can be as high as 90%. Transmission The virus is transmitted to people and horses by bites from infected mosquitoes and birds during wet, summer months. Prevention Vaccines for EEE are available for horses. Measures to control mosquito populations and minimize mosquito exposure will decrease chances of infection.

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 Pathogen test  The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of West Nile Virus (WNV). Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is West Nile Virus? West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted viral disease that cause can cause encephalitis or meningitis, infection of the brain and the spinal cord or their protective covering. Most horses bitten by carrier mosquitoes do not develop disease. Of those that do, approximately one-third develop severe disease and die or are so affected that euthanasia is required. The time between the bite of an infected mosquito and when clinical signs appear, ranges from three to 14 days. Clinical signs In horses that do become clinically ill, the virus infects the central nervous system and causes symptoms of encephalitis.  Clinical signs of encephalitis in horses include loss of appetite and depression, in addition to any combination of the following signs: fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, muscle fasciculations or muzzle twitching, impaired vision, ataxia (incoordination), head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, inability to swallow, circling, hyper-excitability, or coma. It is important to note that not all horses with clinical signs of encephalitis have West Nile encephalitis. Other diseases, including rabies, botulism, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), and other mosquito-borne viral encephalitic diseases of horses caused by Eastern,Western, and Venezuelan encephalitis viruses, can cause a horse to have symptoms similar to WNV. Only laboratory tests can confirm the diagnosis of West Nile encephalitis. Transmission WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Horses cannot spread the disease to humans, but humans are susceptible to the disease if bitten by a carrier mosquito. There is no evidence that horses can transmit WNV to other horses, birds, or people. WNV may cross the placenta from mother to gestating foal. No transfusion related horse illnesses have been reported. However, human to human transmission via blood transfusions have been confirmed, so this method of transmission is possible in horses. Prevention There is no specific treatment for West Nile encephalitis in horses, supportive veterinary care is recommended. Currently, there are some vaccines available against West Nile Virus. It is imperative that horses are vaccinated according to the label on the vaccine. Horses vaccinated against Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are not protected against West Nile Virus. There are some easy steps you can take to prevent mosquitoes from affecting your horses: House horses indoors during peak periods of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn). Avoid turning on lights inside the stable during the evening and overnight (mosquitoes are attracted to lights). Place incandescent bulbs around the perimeter of the stable to attract mosquitoes away from the horses. Remove all birds, including chickens, that are in or close to the stable. Look around the property periodically for dead birds, such as crows. Any dead birds should be reported to the local health department. Use rubber gloves to handle dead birds or use an implement, such as a shovel. Eliminate areas of standing water on your property. Shallow standing water, used tires, manure storage pits, and drainage areas with stagnant water are ideal mosquito breeding places. Topical preparations containing mosquito repellents are available for horses. Read the product label before using and follow all instructions. Use fans on the horses while in the stable to help deter mosquitoes. Fog stable premises with a pesticide in the evening to reduce mosquitoes. Read directions carefully before using.

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 Pathogen test  The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) virus. Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Western Equine Encephalitis? Western equine encephalitis (WEE) is a viral disease carried by mosquitoes. WEE occurs in the western parts of the United States, including Iowa and Canada. WEE causes “sleeping sickness” in horses. Clinical signs WEE viruses affect the nervous system, so affected animals will have fever, depression and changes in behaviour. Signs of infection may also include impaired vision, muscle twitches, circling or head pressing behaviours, the inability to swallow, paralysis and convulsions. Survival rates of horses infected with WEE is 70-80%.  Transmission The virus is transmitted to people and horses by bites from infected mosquitoes and birds during wet, summer months Prevention Vaccines for WEE are available for horses. Measures to control mosquito populations and minimize mosquito exposure will decrease chances of infection.

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Pathogen test  The ELISA test detects antibodies to the West Nile Virus (WNV). Sample 5 mL - blood - serum tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is West Nile Virus? West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic mosquito-transmitted viral disease that cause can cause encephalitis or meningitis, infection of the brain and the spinal cord or their protective covering. Most horses bitten by carrier mosquitoes do not develop disease. Of those that do, approximately one-third develop severe disease and die or are so affected that euthanasia is required. The time between the bite of an infected mosquito and when clinical signs appear, ranges from three to 14 days. Clinical signs In horses that do become clinically ill, the virus infects the central nervous system and causes symptoms of encephalitis.  Clinical signs of encephalitis in horses include loss of appetite and depression, in addition to any combination of the following signs: fever, weakness or paralysis of hind limbs, muscle fasciculations or muzzle twitching, impaired vision, ataxia (incoordination), head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions, inability to swallow, circling, hyper-excitability, or coma. It is important to note that not all horses with clinical signs of encephalitis have West Nile encephalitis. Other diseases, including rabies, botulism, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), and other mosquito-borne viral encephalitic diseases of horses caused by Eastern,Western, and Venezuelan encephalitis viruses, can cause a horse to have symptoms similar to WNV. Only laboratory tests can confirm the diagnosis of West Nile encephalitis. Transmission WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Horses cannot spread the disease to humans, but humans are susceptible to the disease if bitten by a carrier mosquito. There is no evidence that horses can transmit WNV to other horses, birds, or people. WNV may cross the placenta from mother to gestating foal. No transfusion related horse illnesses have been reported. However, human to human transmission via blood transfusions have been confirmed, so this method of transmission is possible in horses. Prevention There is no specific treatment for West Nile encephalitis in horses, supportive veterinary care is recommended. Currently, there are some vaccines available against West Nile Virus. It is imperative that horses are vaccinated according to the label on the vaccine. Horses vaccinated against Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis are not protected against West Nile Virus. There are some easy steps you can take to prevent mosquitoes from affecting your horses: House horses indoors during peak periods of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn). Avoid turning on lights inside the stable during the evening and overnight (mosquitoes are attracted to lights). Place incandescent bulbs around the perimeter of the stable to attract mosquitoes away from the horses. Remove all birds, including chickens, that are in or close to the stable. Look around the property periodically for dead birds, such as crows. Any dead birds should be reported to the local health department. Use rubber gloves to handle dead birds or use an implement, such as a shovel. Eliminate areas of standing water on your property. Shallow standing water, used tires, manure storage pits, and drainage areas with stagnant water are ideal mosquito breeding places. Topical preparations containing mosquito repellents are available for horses. Read the product label before using and follow all instructions. Use fans on the horses while in the stable to help deter mosquitoes. Fog stable premises with a pesticide in the evening to reduce mosquitoes. Read directions carefully before using.

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Pathogen test  The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV). Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Japanese Encephalitis Virus? Japanese encephalitis occurs throughout most of Asia, including India, China and Japan. In temperate areas, infection usually occurs in late summer and autumn, when mosquitoes are more active. Infection builds up in water birds and then spreads by mosquitoes to pigs during late spring and early summer and finally to humans and horses. Cases in humans and horses tend to be sporadic or occur in small clusters, but serious outbreaks could occur in a large, susceptible population exposed to infected mosquitoes. Infected horses are dead-end hosts as there is not enough of the virus in their blood to infect mosquitoes. Clinical signs These include: vary from a passing fever through to violent neurological signs and death mild cases: off feed, sluggish and reddened or jaundiced (yellow) mucous membranes (gums) more serious cases: lethargic with a fluctuating fever, difficulty swallowing, jaundice (yellow), pinpoint haemorrhages in mucous membranes (gums) nervous signs such as lack of coordination, staggering, falling, aimless wandering and unpredictable behaviour may occur in serious cases severe cases: blindness with profuse sweating and muscle trembling before collapsing and dying. Transmission Japanese encephalitis is caused by a virus related to West Nile virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. The virus cycles naturally between water birds (herons and egrets) and mosquitoes. Pigs can also be infected and spread disease causing abortions in pregnant sows and neurological signs in piglets. Humans and horses may suffer severe disease from the virus, but they do not spread the disease. Infections without recognisable signs occur in other livestock and animals. The disease has an incubation period of 8–10 days. Prevention Sanitary prophylaxis Housing animals in-doors in screened stabling can provide protection from mosquitoes o Especially during active JE outbreaks and during peak vector activity (usually dawn to dusk) o Insecticides, repellents and fans also provide protection. Vector control reduces transmission. Vaccine is available for horses .  Vaccine protects horses from clinical disease and possible sequelae.

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Pathogen test  The RT-cPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Hendra virus. Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube and/or 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Hendra virus? Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a rare emerging zoonosis that causes severe and often fatal disease in both infected horses and humans. The natural host of the virus has been identified as being fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. Clinical signs The clinical signs in horses can include:  frothy nasal mucus high temperature rapid heart rate sweating muscle spasms and twitching muscle weakness balance difficulties rapid deterioration. Transmission Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying fox to horse, horse to horse and horse to human. The exact route of transmission is not known, but it is thought that horses become infected via contact or droplet transmission of the virus.This may occur by ingesting material contaminated by infected flying fox body fluids and excretions. While Hendra virus is present in flying fox populations periodically, the likelihood of horses becoming infected is low. Hendra virus can spread from horse to horse through direct contact with infectious body fluids, or through indirect contact via equipment contaminated with infectious body fluids. The few cases of Hendra virus infection in people occurred following high-level exposure to respiratory secretions (e.g. mucus) and/or blood and other body fluids from an infected horse. Other people have reported having some contact with infected horses but have remained well, and their blood tests have shown no evidence of Hendra virus infection. There is no evidence of Hendra virus spreading from person to person or from flying foxes to humans. The scientific information available on the disease is not complete. Research continues so that we can learn more about Hendra virus—particularly about how it is transmitted from flying foxes to horses. Prevention How to reduce the risk of horses becoming infected: A Hendra virus vaccine is available for horses. Vaccination is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of Hendra virus infection in horses. Discuss the option of vaccination with your veterinarian. See Vaccination in this brochure for more information. Remove horse feed and water containers from under trees. If possible, place feed and water containers under a shelter. Remove your horses from paddocks where flowering/fruiting trees may be attracting flying foxes. Return the horses only after the trees have stopped flowering/fruiting and the flying foxes have gone. If the horses cannot be removed from the paddock, consider fencing (temporary or permanent) to restrict access to flowering/fruiting trees. Clean up any fruit debris underneath the trees before returning the horses. If it is not possible to remove your horses from paddocks for long periods, try to temporarily remove your horses during times of peak flying fox activity (usually at dusk and during the night). Clean and disinfect gear exposed to any body fluids from horses before using it on another horse. This includes items like halters, lead ropes and twitches. Talk to your veterinarian about which cleaning agents and disinfectants to use. When cleaning contaminated equipment, wear gloves, cover any cuts or grazes and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. If your horse becomes sick, isolate it from other horses, other animals and people until a veterinarian’s opinion is obtained.  

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 Pathogen test  The qPCR test detects the genome (DNA) of Sarcocystis neurona, the pathogen responsible for Equine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis. Sample 2- 5 mL - liquor (CSF)  - in EDTA tube. feces - sterile container  postmortem tissues.  Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Equine Protozoa Myeloencephalitis? EPM is progressive, degenerative neurological disease of the central nervous system.  The disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed neurological disorders of horses in the United States. The protozoa does not occur in horse manure, so EPM is not spread between horses. So the horses is considered a dead end host. Clinical signs Since EPM is a disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and it can affect multiple locations within the brain and spinal cord, the signs and severity of this disease can vary dramatically. Though EPM can affect both the brain and spinal cord, it is more common for the signs of disease to be associated with damage to the spinal cord, but we can and do see insult to the brain.  We typically refer to the 3 “A”s of this disease: Asymmetry, Ataxia and Atrophy.  Asymmetry is a term we use to describe a symptom that is worse on one side of the body than on the opposite side. In other words, with EPM, the signs are generally worse on the left side than on the right or visa versa.  Ataxia is a term we use to describe incoordination or the inability of the horse to know exactly where its legs are, resulting in inability to move its legs and trunk normally. Atrophy describes a condition where the muscles shrink from their normal size. With EPM, this results from damage to the nerves that normally control or “innervate” these muscles. Muscle atrophy is not seen in all cases of EPM, so it is not as consistent a sign of disease as is the asymmetrical ataxia.  Transmission Life Cycle of Sarcocystis neurona  S. neurona has a complex, two-host life cycle.  The opossum has been identified as a definitive host of S. neurona. The opossum ingests sarcocysts in muscle tissues of scavenged carcasses of intermediate hosts. The parasite undergoes a form of sexual reproduction within the opossum which produces the sporocyst Sporocysts are shed in the feces of the opossum. Sporocysts can survive in the environment for several months. The horse is an aberrant, intermediate host. The horse is exposed by ingesting feed or water contaminated with opossum feces that contain sporocysts. The parasite undergoes a form of asexual reproduction in the horse and eventually gains access to the brain and spinal cord  Prevention Horse owners can take advantage of some basic husbandry practices and good common sense to help reduce the risk factors that can contribute to disease incidence. One thing that all of us can do is to keep our feed storage areas neat and clean. Untidy areas with spilled feed invites unwanted guests such as opossums.  Keep your feed in sealed or closed containers. Cover your hay storage area if possible. Keep rodents under control on your property. Discourage visits by opossums. Check with local authorities with respect to trapping and relocating opossums or eliminating them. Properly dispose of any animal carcasses that you may see on or near your property. Clean your equine water sources on a regular basis. Do not feed on the ground. When transporting horses, make them as comfortable as possible. Transportation stress can be a contributing factor for EPM.  

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Pathogen test  The qPCR test detects the genome (DNA) of Rabies virus. Sample 1 swab - saliva - dry swab 5mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Rabies?  Rabies is a virus that causes a neurological disease that can affect all mammals. When an animal is bitten, the virus migrates to the brain where it causes inflammation, known as encephalitis. It is rapidly progressive and invariably fatal. The incubation period – the time between the virus’ entry into the body and the onset of clinical signs – averages 2 to 9 weeks, but may be as long as 15 months. Clinical signs Clinical signs can be subtle and could include: Sudden change in behaviour (depression to manic); Lameness or being unable to rise; Head-pressing and circling; Pain or difficulty urinating; Muscle tremors or convulsions; Persistent and painful erection in absence of sexual interest; Loss of appetite; Appearance of choke; Neurologic signs such as incoordination and paralysis; and Sudden death can also be seen on occasion. Transmission We see an increased incidence of rabies infections in horses and other livestock in the late summer and fall when wildlife populations peak. Horses contract rabies through the bite of an infected (rabid) animal, such as a raccoon, fox, skunk or bat. A horse’s curiosity can get the best of him, with bites typically occurring on the horse’s face and muzzle or lower limbs. Most exposures aren’t noticed and most bite wounds aren’t found. Since wildlife may enter barns (especially at night), both horses in stalls and those on pasture are at risk of exposure. Due to the serious threat for human exposure when handling a horse with rabies, any suspected case of equine rabies should be handled as if it were positive until proven otherwise. You may become infected with the rabies virus through contact with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from a rabid animal. Individuals who have been in contact with a horse since the onset of clinical signs should immediately consult with their physician regarding medical treatment. Prevention Horse owners can take advantage of some basic husbandry practices and good common sense to help reduce the risk factors that can contribute to disease incidence. One thing that all of us can do is to keep our feed storage areas neat and clean. Untidy areas with spilled feed invites unwanted guests such as opossums.  Keep your feed in sealed or closed containers. Cover your hay storage area if possible. Keep rodents under control on your property. Discourage visits by opossums. Check with local authorities with respect to trapping and relocating opossums or eliminating them. Properly dispose of any animal carcasses that you may see on or near your property. Clean your equine water sources on a regular basis. Do not feed on the ground. When transporting horses, make them as comfortable as possible.   

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Pathogen test  The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Equine Encephalosis virus (EEV). Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube 5mL - liquor (CSF) - sterile tube Turnaround time 2 to 5 working days   What is Equine Encephalosis Virus? Equine Encephalosis (EE) is an arthropod borne febrile non contagious disease of equines. The causative virus, Equine encephalosis virus (EEV), has several serotypes (EEV1-EEV7) and the virus has been reported from southern Africa including Kenya, Botswana and South Africa. Clinical signs The name equine encephalosis is misleading as the disease is not primarily a neurological disorder. Although the majority of infections result only in mild clinical signs, in more severe cases clinical signs include a short period (typically two to five days) of fluctuating fever, accompanied by varying degrees of inappetence.  Elevated heart and respiratory rates are also common, and occasionally as a result of nasal congestion, a red-brown discolouration of the mucous membranes may be observed.   Although rare, more severe clinical signs may occur including facial swelling (lips and eyelids), respiratory distress, and petechial haemorrhages of the conjunctivae. Pregnant mares may also abort during their first 5 months of gestation. Neurological signs are atypical, but in certain cases hindquarter ataxia, convulsions, hyper-excitability, and depression have been reported. The mortality rate is normally low, accounting for only 5% of infected animals. Transmission EEV is transmitted by Culicoides spp. All Equidae may be infected, but only horses exhibit symptoms. Serological evidences in endemic countries indicate that zebras and donkeys might maintain EEV circulation; however, their true role in the transmission is still unknown Prevention In the vast majority of cases (c. 90%) the animal will recover without further complications, and a course of anti-inflammatories or appetite stimulants may be administered. Occasionally, antibiotics are prescribed in order to prevent the appearance of secondary infections. Some equids show no clinical signs at all but are biliary carriers. Although in this instance the animal is not in immediate danger, it must be treated in order to prevent the reemergence of the virus were the immune system to be challenged by another disease simultaneously. Due to the absence of an effective vaccine, vector control remains one of the primary methods of prevention. Control of the midges is usually only instigated for domesticated stabled horses, and includes precautionary measures such as the limited use of lights at night, as well as the use of fly repellents and fans.

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Description: Evaluates genetic predispositions to common equine diseases, ideal for pedigree horses. Includes: Genetic testing for breed-specific conditions Ancestry assessment Preventative care recommendations based on genetics

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