Published Date: 2000-06-24 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> Equine infectious anemia - USA (Montana) (02)
Archive Number: 20000624.1040
EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA - USA (MONTANA) (02)
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See Also
Equine infectious anemia - USA (Montana) 2000.22671999
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Equine infectious anemia - USA (Utah) 19991127002740
1998
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Equine infectious anemia - USA (Utah) 980427080722
Equine infectious anemia - USA (Utah) (08) 980723224348
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 22:32:41 PDT
From: M. Cosgriff <mcosgriff@hotmail.com>
Source: Helenair and Associated Press, 22 Jun 2000 [edited
The swamp fever ravaging the Tehinnah Ranch horse herd almost certainly
originated in an infected horse they bought somewhere in southwestern
Montana, the ranch owner's daughter says.
This suggests many other horses in the state may be infected with the
incurable disease. Eight horses from the Divide-area Tehinnah Ranch have
tested positive for the disease this year.
"I believe it came from these parts of Montana because all of my horses
were bought in Montana came from the western part of the state," one of the
owners said. "Any horse we ever bought out of state had a Coggins (test)
and a health test before crossing the Montana state line."
She speculated the disease has been in her herd for several years. "The
same thing could be happening in other horse herds across the state, not
being discovered for years," she said. "I strongly suggest horse owners get
a Coggins test to prevent its spreading."
Tests for "Equine Infectious Anemia, or EIA" (sometimes known as swamp
fever) are required only if a horse is to be sold across a state line. The
testing is how the Tehinnah Ranch discovered their problem.
The Ranch owners and ranch a resident, expect to lose as many as 8 of their
more than 20 horses to the blood-borne disease. Even though testing is
expensive, the tab for initial testing of the Tehinnah herd is approaching
$1000, and the animals must be tested a second time before they are
declared disease-free, the ranch owner plans to test every horse she buys,
sells or raises in the future.
They have already euthanized 2 horses, and 6 others, 2 of which are
pregnant, have tested positive and are quarantined on the Tehinnah
Messianic Fellowship property.
The animals are pastured in a canyon about a half-mile from the ranch and
held in with electric fence. Department of Livestock regulations require
horses with the disease to be kept at least 200 yards from other horses and
public roads.
Livestock department personnel approved the area where the Tehinnah animals
are quarantined. . The Department of Livestock does not require
EIA-positive horses to be killed, but they must be quarantined for life.
But Danny, Spotted Lady, Bearpaw, Zuni, Babe and Aurora, all displayed no
EIA-related symptoms but will likely all be euthanized.
The Ranch owner, who cares for Tehinnah livestock, wants to wait for the
mares to deliver, which could be any day now, before euthanizing them. The
foals might be free of the disease.
Those who tends to the animals, don't know how to deal with killing the
other horses, some of which have been with the family more than a decade.
"They tested my best horses positive. My best horse, my friend," the ranch
owner said. "I'm not going to put him down."
--
ProMED-mail
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[2
Date: 23 Jun 2000
From: David Warhurst <David.Warhurst@lshtm.ac.uk>
Swamp fever has certainly been used to describe malaria, For instance
"paludisme" French, "paludismo" Spanish etc. However, horses do not get
malaria.
--
David C.Warhurst,
LSHTM,
London WC1E 7HT
Malaria Reference Laboratory Public
<David.Warhurst@lshtm.ac.uk>
[The foals may be born positive, if the mother is positive. However, after
maternal antibodies have diminished, usually the foals test negative. -
Mod.TG
................................tg/es
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