The International Collating Centre, Newmarket, England, and other sources reported the following disease outbreaks.
Contagious equine metritis (CEM) was recorded in France, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, and the USA. France confirmed three cases on one premises and one case on another premises. Switzerland reported Taylorella asinigenitalis from a Poitou-donkey jack. An isolated case of infection with T. equigenitalis was confirmed in a mare in the UK; this had no connection with a previously reported stallion. A nonbreeding Thoroughbred stallion tested positive for T. equigenitalis on pre-export testing in the UAE. As of September 3, the USA confirmed 22 stallions and five mares positive for T. equigenitalis. The carrier stallions were located in the following states: Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1, a gelding), Kentucky (4), Texas (1), Wisconsin (9). The carrier mares were in California (2), Illinois (2), and Wisconsin (1).
Chile reported an outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) abortion on one premises during August/September involving seven mares. Herpesvirus abortion occurred in South Africa involving 30 broodmares on five premises. Neurologic disease attributable to EHV-1 was diagnosed in seven horses in France. The USA reported an outbreak of EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy in Pennsylvania; six horses on one premises were euthanized. Isolated cases of respiratory disease, mainly caused by EH V-4, were diagnosed in France, Japan, and the UK.
Outbreaks of equine influenza were reported from France, the UK, and the USA. In France, multiple cases were diagnosed on two premises and an isolated case on a third premises. Influenza was confirmed on two premises in the UK. H3N8 equine influenza virus isolates were reported from five states in the USA.
Strangles was reported from Australia, Ireland, South Africa, and the USA. Four outbreaks occurred in Queensland, Australia. Ireland reported 13 outbreaks involving 18 cases on premises in three provinces. An estimated 40 horses on at least five premises were diagnosed in South Africa. The USA reported outbreaks similar in number to those of previous years.
Ireland, Switzerland, and the USA reported outbreaks of piroplasmosis. Ireland recorded three clinical cases. Three cases on separate premises in Switzerland were confirmed with B. caballi and/or T. equi infection. Seven horses were diagnosed with T. equi on a premises in Missouri, USA.
The USA reported a significant increase in the number of cases of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (249) compared to 2008 (185). The greatest number of cases were in Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi.
Outbreaks of West Nile encephalitis were reported from Italy and the USA. In Italy, infection was confirmed in 45 horses, of which 28 were clinically affected and seven died. Two additional cases were diagnosed in separate areas of Tuscany. The USA reported 164 cases, of which the majority (64) occurred in Washington State.
Reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (O.I.E.) in August/September confirmed the occurrence of sporadic equine cases of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in three districts in Belize and on two premises in Costa Rica, Central America.
Sweden reported limited outbreaks of salmonellosis on three premises. An isolated case was diagnosed in Switzerland. Switzerland also confirmed single cases of anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophila) and borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) on separate premises.
This is an excerpt from Equine Disease Quarterly, funded by underwriters at Lloyd's, London, brokers, and their Kentucky agents.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.
