[Sandra-A1]

See Link: Emergency Notice Vesicular Stomatitis!!

Also additional information:


Vesicular Stomatitis.....What Is The Threat?
by Mark A. Crisman, D.V.M.

Article donated by the mane points horse resource center.

Several states are requiring a new blood test in hopes of restricting the spread of an equine disease. In late May, the first strain of vesicular stomatitis from a horse in New Mexico was isolated by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

As of mid-July, 120 horses were confirmed positive for vesicular stomatitis. These reports have been primarily in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. The disease appears to be spreading, however, and several states have restricted import-transport of horses from several Western states.

In addition, horses that arrive in Kentucky must have a blood test to identify animals that may have been exposed to the virus. Other states are placing restrictions on out-of-state horses as well.

So far vesicular stomatitis has been limited to the western hemisphere. It primarily affects cattle, horses and swine.

Vesicular stomatitis is zoonotic, meaning that humans are susceptible to the virus as well.

The disease typically occurs in the United States from late spring through early fall. Outbreaks of vesicular stomatitis generally occur at about 10-year intervals, although favorable climatic conditions can bring on more outbreaks. Previous outbreaks in horses occurred in 1982, 1983, and 1985, primarily in the West and Midwest United States.

How vesicular stomatitis spreads is not completely known. Insect vectors, mechanical transmission and movement of animals may play a role.

Once the disease is in a herd, it moves from animal to animal by contact and exposure to saliva. If humans are exposed to the virus, symptoms are flu-like, with fever, muscle and headaches.

Vesicular stomatitis has an incubation period of five - eight days, during which time the horse may have a moderated fever and be slightly depressed.

There is no specific treatment or vaccination for vesicular stomatitis. Treatment strategies may include mild antiseptic mouthwashes and good sanitation.

What does this mean to horse owners in this part of the U.S.?

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis in the region.

However, if your horse demonstrates any of the clinical signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. When a definite diagnosis is made on a farm by blood tests, your veterinarian may recommend the following procedures:

Isolate from healthy animals.
Do not move horses from the premises fro at least 30 days after the last lesion has healed.
Implement insect control programs on the farm.
Use protective gloves (latex) and exercise proper precautionary measures when handling affected animals to avoid human exposure to this disease.
If your horse has mouth ulcers...

Don't assume vesicular stomatitis. Other causes of oral ulceration in horses include:

Phenylbutazone toxicity.
Oral foreign bodies (plant thorns, wood splinters, etc.)
Chemical stomatitis.
Periodontal disease.
Blister beetle toxicosis.
Obviously, careful examination by a veterinarian is a must to identify and differentiate among these problems.

What is vesicular stomatitis?

Vesicular stomatitis (literally, blisters in the mouth) is a virus which

causes excessive salivation and slow eating.
Close examination of an infected mouth will reveal multiple small raised vesicles or ulcers generally on the upper surface of the tongue. If the condition is severe, the ulcers progress to erosions that affect the lips, cheeks and, occasionally, the coronary band.
Vesicular stomatitis does not generally cause horses to die, but infected animals often stop eating and drinking. Severe weight loss usually follows.
If there are no complications, such as secondary infections, the affected animals recover in about two weeks.

For more information, contact the USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services, Emergency Programs, Unite 41, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231. Phone: (302) 734-8073.

[Blistering Winds]

Wow. I hadn't heard anything like that around here. I'll have to check into that. Cause that will kill racing for this year if so.

[Sandra-A1]

I just found out about this myself Blister!

Its going to hurt the Arabians too...the Egyptian Event is in KY and this year's National Championship Show is too...no one knows how long this ban will be in effect so they are concerned that it might affect one if not both of these BIG Arabian Events.
So far I have seen 60-90 days...but those are just guesses.... nothing for sure.

The Egyptian Event - June 7th-12th, 2004
AHA National Championships - October 7- 16

Right now the Egyptian Event is the show that this could hurt...it is thought that this should be cleared up and the ban lifted by October.

[DesertBred]

Wow, this is scary for me! I am going to the National Championships! I hope!

[Idrivetrotter]

I will be shipping to Lexington Ky at the end of July for racing, so hopfully this will be taken care of by them. Although I am in Florida, I am sure knowing KY and its butt backward horse policies, but I am sure they will find a way of messing it all up. They don't put any policies in effect to help the horse industry, but they make sure that the medal stuff is all fouled up
Nothing like that down here in the swamps, but our track has a quarratine and ship in barn so we keep strange horses away from the main population.

[Sandra-A1]

Vesicular Stomatitis, United States, May 21, 2004 Impact Worksheet


NOTICE TO VETERINARIANS IN ARIZONA CONCERNING THE CONFIRMATION OF VESICULAR STOMATITIS IN TEXAS.

[Sandra-A1]

Fortunately, late this afternoon I received a call saying that the Kentucky state veterinarian has altered the ban or made some new restrictions which will allow at least some Texas Arabian horses to attend the Egyptain Event!

[Sandra-A1]

Supplemental Requirements for Livestock (including Horses) Entering Kentucky from Tex

DATE: May 27, 2004

The requirements are in addition to 302 KAR 20:040 and 302 KAR 115.

1. Entry from the area of Texas south of Route 70 and west of Route 83 is prohibited.

2. A negative C-ELISA test for vesicular Stomatitis within ten (10) days.

3. Permit for entry must be obtained by the attending veterinarian from the Office of the State Veterinarian,
Kentucky Department of Agriculture - 502/564-3956 (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET). The following information must be
provided:
(a) Veterinarian of record, including accreditation number;
(b) Owner/trainer;
(c) Transporter;
(d) Animal identification;
(e) Origin;
(f) Destination; and
(g) Date of departure.

4. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection within ten (10) days containing the following statement:
"Animals represented on this certificate of veterinary inspection have not originated
from a premise or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis or a premise on which
vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from the area of
Texas restricted from entry into Kentucky, specifically south of Route 70 and west of
Route 83. I have examined the animals and have found no signs of vesicular stomatitis."

5. There will be a state line inspection to include:
(a) Validation of C.V.I., Negative EIA test, and negative vesicular stomatitis test (ELISA); and
(b) Physical examination.

[BettyBootsy]

KY must not be enforcing it because we ship back and forth for breeding and foaling purposes and just shipped out a few weeks ago and shipping more out next week. Haven't had a problem and it hasn't been mentioned. This is the first I heard of the sort. Edited to add we live in TX.

[freedom32]

BettyBootsy this thread is almost 3 years old