Coggins Test(SP?)

[Gracie]

Hi there!
I just wanted to know what is a coggins test excally?
My friend said something about mud fever and kinda mumbled it and I was too emabarassed to ask her to repeat it because I felt dumb (hehee) So I was wondering if someone could explain it in more detail!
Thanks Guys! :)

[Allie]

It tests for equine infectious anemia. It is a pretty simple test, the vet will just draw a bit of blood and send it to a lab for testing. I can't tell you any more in depth about the testing. The desease is highly contagious, which is why most horse shows require negative Coggins test, and in the US you are supposed to have one in order to cross a state line. If you don't have one and you get caught your horse can be impounded. Some states even require a coggins in order for a horse to be sold, simply because horses are usually transported to new locations following a sale, and this exposes the horses at the new place to the desease.

Allie

[Edited by Allie on 5th Jun 2001 at 04:35 AM]

[fionahogg]

Is this found in the UK? I've never heard of it…

[Wally]

Yep there was an outbreak here in the 1970's but not known since. It is a notifiable desease.