EHM | Horse Racing Free Tips

Grayson-Jockey Club Approves Funding for EHV-1 and EHM Vaccine Research

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation recently issued a special call for research proposals to address vaccines for Equid Alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) and after a thorough review process by the foundation's veterinarian advisory committee, two research proposals were selected for funding.

The projects, led by Gisela Soboll Hussey of Michigan State University and Bettina Wagner of Cornell University, aim to develop novel nucleic acid vaccines to protect horses from EHV-1/EHM and EHV-4.

Soboll Hussey's project is titled, “Use of nucleic acid vaccines to protect from EHV-1/EHM,” and it will last three years. Her objective is to develop a novel mRNA-based EHV vaccine that protects horses from EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy, a method that will likely cross-protect horses against other types of equine herpesviruses. Wagner's project, titled, “A novel DNA vaccine platform to control EHV-1 and EHV-4,” will span two years and aims to develop an effective DNA vaccine for EHV-1 to protect horses against infection and disease, working to prevent catastrophic EHV outbreaks in the future.

The EHV-1 and EHM viruses affect horses of every breed and discipline, and they continue to cause significant economic losses through closures of racetracks and sales barns, delays in training schedules, and severe disease and death of horses. Total funding for the projects of $1,885,436 was provided by special donor Dr. John Ballantyne and Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation.

“The work of our research advisory committee is timely and essential,” Dell Hancock, chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, said. “We look forward to working with these institutions to develop these vaccines and protect the equine industry from the devastating effects of EHV-1 and EHM.”

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Kentucky Issues Restrictions On Horses Shipping From Saratoga In Light Of EHV-1

On July 28, Kentucky state animal health officials issued guidance on the movement of racehorses from Saratoga, where a horse fell ill and tested positive for EHV earlier this month. The following bulletin was published via the Equine Disease Communication Center:

“Due to Kentucky's inability to adequately isolate new arrivals on the grounds of Kentucky tracks and training facilities and out of an abundance of caution, additional requirements will be placed on horses from Saratoga Race Course requesting entry to Kentucky tracks and associated training centers after July 31.

Horses which have recently (since July 31) been on the grounds at Saratoga can qualify for approval to enter a Kentucky track or sanctioned training center, if they have documentation demonstrating they were off the grounds prior to July 31 or have been tested by PCR after July 31 and reported negative for EHV-1 on both nasal swab and whole blood – EDTA samples.

A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the horse(s) from the point where the sample was collected needs to be issued for movement to the Kentucky racing or training facility and must document the EHV-1 testing and current health assessment in addition to meeting the normal entry requirements that includes EHV-1 vaccination and EIA test certificate.

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New Shipping Precautions At Turfway As Thoroughbred Tests Positive For EHV-1 Near Lexington

E.S. “Rusty” Ford, equine operations consultant for the Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian, released the following note to media on Thursday:

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) has been confirmed in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly in Woodford County, Ky.

The filly reportedly had a fever on Saturday, and was referred to a veterinary hospital in Lexington Tuesday evening after becoming unstable and ataxic.

The Kentucky State Veterinarians Office was alerted of the suspected EHV case on Tuesday night and the training facility was placed under restriction pending completion of diagnostic testing.

PCR Testing conducted at Equine Diagnostic Solutions in Lexington, Ky., reported the neuropathogenic strain of EHV1 was detected from the nasal swab.

Animal health officials have been present at the facility, previously imposed restrictions remain in place, and 27 exposed horses had samples (nasal swabs and whole blood) collected earlier today and submitted for PCR testing.

The horse was reported last night as showing signs of improvement.

There is no connection to any other EHV-1 incidents.

In addition to the affected premises, precautionary measures have been implemented at Turfway Park, with all horses shipping in to race being required to stable in the receiving barn unless trainer has permanently assigned stalls at Turfway. In addition to adjustment of stabling, biosecurity protocols have been elevated. The State Veterinarian's office has personnel onsite examining health documents and coordinating efforts with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's staff.

Updates will be provided as information is learned.

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Horse In PA Diagnosed With EHM

A 22-year-old Trakehner gelding that lived in Allegheny County, PA, was diagnosed with the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) on June 17 and euthanized, reported the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. A veterinarian was called after the horse showed signs of incoordination, abnormal urination and lying down without being able to rise. It is unclear if he had been vaccinated for the disease. An additional 39 horses boarded with the affected horse have been placed under official quarantine, reports The Horse.

EHV is highly contagious; it can cause respiratory issues and abortion in pregnant mares; it can also develop into the neurologic form of the disease, called equine herpesvirus myeloencephalitis (EHM). A horse that has the virus may have a fever, nasal discharge or cough; he may be uninterested in food or be depressed. Pregnant mares may show no symptoms of the virus before they abort, typically later in their pregnancies.

EHV-1 is spread through direct horse-to-horse contact as well as through contact with objects that have been contaminated by the virus, which includes human hands, equipment, tack, buckets, trailers and other such surfaces. The virus can be viable for between seven and 30 days in the environment.

Biosecurity measures such as limiting shared equipment and disinfection of tools and equipment that encounter an infected horse can prevent the spread of EHV. There is an EHV-1 vaccine that may reduce viral shedding of the disease, but it is not protective against the neurologic form.