EIA(Equine Infectious Anemia)

[Medalia]

Hello everyone:

this has been worrying me a great deal. In Canada, but centralized in Alberta (where I live)there has been an outbreak of Equine Infectious Anemia, or commonly known as "Swamp fever". this is transmitted my mosquito bites, from one horse to another. I'm a little paranoid now, but I do think that I have reason to be.

They had done an artical in Horse Illustrated™ about it, but I cannot find the issue. Is it really true that if your horse contracts it, then there is no cure? Do you have to put your horse down?

~Does anyone have any ideas about how to keep mosquitoes away?

~ Can anyone refer me to a site that has EIA on it?

thank you all:
http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/1813/pictures/AAppyCanter.gif

[Moke]

I didn't know about the outbreak. There is no cure and your horse would have to be put down, they wouldn't live anyway. There is a test called the Coggins Test. Ask your vet about it. Horses usually get it by deerfly's. Deerfly's are around swamps a lot(get it-swamp fever). Deerfly's would have to bite a horse with it and then bite your horse, transferring it. My riding instructor has one horror story which she has told lots, here it is.
She worked at a barn (I think it was in Ontario, this was in like the 70's) where there were a lot of horse's coming and going.
In those days needles weren't just used on one horse, you would go from horse to horse using the same needle. She can even remember helping the vet. Well, the coggins test came out around that time and all of the horses were tested. Almost all the horses tested positive(they had it)as soon as the first test came back, they started putting down horses right then and there. Right in front of the barn, children's favorite ponies many of the horses were being put down. The man lost pretty much all his business, he was ruined I think 70 percent of his horses were gone. My instructor was layed off and found a job else where but, if this outbreak is true I would get my horse tested. Also nowadays the horse is tested twice. It can also be spread by breeding your horse to a horse with Swamp Fever.

[sallym]

This sounds horrendous. Does it ever occur in the UK. I haven't heard of it before.

Sally

[Moke]

You are right, it is horrendous. I am pretty sure it can happen anywhere. Most shows require a current Coggins test to get in. It is a fairly new disease(i think it came out in the 70's). If your horse has never gotten a coggins test I suggest one. I wouldn't really be worried if you live in a horse isolated area and if you have never heard about it or if it isn't going around i wouldn't really be worried. Still, it never hurts to ask your vet about it.

[CLAUDIA]

I've just read an article that stated several confirmed EIA cases have occurred in North Dakota.

The article is here:
http://www.thehorse.com/news/index.html

It's about halfway down the page.

[Susan B.]

Dear Medalia:
I think you are right to be gravely concerned about this awful disease. I read an article in the Edmonton Sun about an outfitter in Jasper who has just lost four or five of his experienced mountain horses. I guess he had a choice between having them put down or keeping them in isolation for the rest of their lives.As he said, he couldn't put horses used to the mountains in a barn forever. I think this disease is the equine equivalent of AIDS. Get some info from your vet.I am also from Alberta so I don't want to panic the rest of the horse world.Bye