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Study: Horses Not Responsible For COVID-19 Transmission

New research shows that horses and other livestock most likely did not play a role in the transmission of COVID-19. Scientists at Colorado State University and the University of Queensland in Australia, lead by Dr. Angela Bosco-Lauth, infected alpacas, cattle, goats, one horse, rabbits and sheep with the COVID-19 virus intranasally.

None of the animals used in the study had the virus detectable in their saliva, through nasal secretions, or through their feces throughout the study period. However, one calf, two goats, and a rabbit did show viral RNA in nasal and oral swabs, which suggests they may be minimally permissive to infection.

None of the animals displayed clinical signs of infection or had a fever after being infected with COVID-19.

The study team concluded that domestic livestock are unlikely to contribute to the spread of COVID-19 and also that they are unlikely to be involved in reverse zoonosis, or the infection of animals by humans.

Study: Shared Water Sources Contribute To EHV Transmission

A study has found that equine herpesviruses are able to replicate in freshwater sources in the wild and remain infectious to spread among animals, especially during drought conditions. In the wild, many species of animal will congregate around freshwater sources to drink, potentially allowing for virus transmission between species.

Drs. Anisha Dayaram, Peter Seeber, Alexandre Courtiol, Sanatana Soilemetzidou, Kyriakos Tsangaras, Mathias Franz, Gayle McEwen, Walid Azab, Petra Kaczensky, Jörg Melzheimer, Marion East, Oyunsaikhan Ganbaatar, Christian Walzer, Nikolaus Osterrieder and Alex Greenwood sampled water holes in areas of Africa and Mongolia that had significant dry seasons. They determined that EHV can remain stable and infectious in water under these conditions.

The team reported that animals forced to congregate around water supplies become stressed. Stressed equids can shed viruses like EHV, which enter the water supply when the animal drinks. Rhinos have tested positive for EHV when they share watering holes with zebras in the wild.

The EHVs found in Africa and Mongolia are nearly identical to those found in domestic horses, suggesting EHVs have changed very little over time. The research team suggests that additional research be done to determine other viruses that may use water as a vector to spread among animals.

A Closer Look At Equine Lice

Lice infestation, also known as pediculosis, can occur in horses of all ages. Horses are affected by both sucking (Anoplura) and biting (Mallophaga) lice. These lice are host specific, meaning they only cause infestation in equids. The life cycle of a louse consists of three phases: egg (nit), larvae (nymph) and adult. All three phases of this life cycle need to occur on the horse or other equids. Adult females deposit eggs near the skin where they develop into nymphs and later adults.

Transmission occurs through direct contact between horses or indirectly though brushes, blankets, saddle pads and other grooming equipment and tack. The majority of transmission occurs quickly as lice cannot live off of the host for more than a few days. Infestations appear most commonly in the winter because lice cannot survive the warm body temperatures that occur in summer when horses are exposed to sunlight. There is some evidence of “carriers,” or animals that can remain infected throughout the summer months, that lead to re-infestation of the other members of the herd come fall. Immunocompromised, under-conditioned or sick equids are more likely to become affected.

The most common sign associated with lice infection is itching or pruritis. Depending on the severity of the infestation, hair loss and skin lesions (dry, ulcerated or crusty) may be present. Horses may cause trauma to themselves attempting to itch and loss of body condition and/or anemia (low red blood cell count) can occur with more severe infestations. Lice are often most apparent in the mane and tail, and infestations occur more commonly in horses with heavy hair coats.

Diagnosis is made by visually identifying the lice. Infestations will range in severity and the number of lice present can vary dramatically. Lice tend to migrate toward the tip of the hair shaft when the horse is warm or sweaty, so exercise can sometimes exacerbate the number of lice visible.

Individualized treatment recommendations should be made by the owner's primary veterinarian. The type of treatment can be dependent on the type of lice with multiple oral deworming products or topical insecticides (shampoos, sprays, wipes, powders) available. It is important that treatment is done at proper intervals, and more than once, as no products are effective against the egg stage.

Management strategies include continual surveillance of the herd while paying closer attention to any new or sick or immune-compromised horses. Once an infestation is identified, the affected animals, and those in contact, should be isolated and treated. Additionally, cleaning and applying an insecticide to brushes, tack and saddle pads is recommended.

For more information on lice, visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners website.

The post A Closer Look At Equine Lice appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Can I Contract Coronavirus From My Horse? A Vet Responds

Just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic became a reality for people in the United States, the equine version of the coronavirus was making its way through show facilities and racetracks across the nation. Thankfully, the equine coronavirus is not transmissible to humans and is not the cause of the worldwide pandemic.

Dr. James Williams of Novato, CA, reports that the only way a human could contract COVID-19 from a horse would be for an infected human to cough onto a horse's coat and then for another human to touch the horse (and the droplets), then touch his nose or mouth. This is the same way a non-infected human might contract COVID-19 from a countertop an infected person coughed on.

Thankfully, both scenarios seem highly unlikely: Most viruses are species specific. When horses are infected with the equine corona, they typically run a fever, have no appetite, are lethargic and have diarrhea. Rarely is their respiratory tract affected. Equine coronavirus typically lasts four to five days and recovery is generally uneventful. Supportive therapies may be used, including administering fluids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Equine coronavirus is spread between horses through the fecal-oral route: a horse must have direct contact with infected feces to contract the disease. Clinical signs typically begin between 48 and 72 hours after exposure; the horse will shed the virus in his feces three to four days after exposure. This may cause horse's feces to test negative for the disease in its early stages. The horse sheds the most amount of disease three to four days after clinic signs begin.

Infected horses generally shed the disease for about three weeks. Asymptomatic shedders can also spread the disease. How long the disease can last in the environment is not known, similar to human coronaviruses. Equine coronavirus is often seen in cold weather, though transmission in warmer months is possible.