1) Prior to mating or AI, mare owners or their veterinary surgeons should satisfy themselves about the disease status of the stallion and stallion owners should require current negative swab certificates for all visiting mares. This is in response to the CEM outbreak in 2002. 2) Following several atypical cases in 2003, the 2004 code for EHV recommends that, where this disease is the suspected cause of abortion, the placenta should be submitted for laboratory diagnosis as well as the fetus.3) The period of isolation and movement restriction on EHV affected premises has been 28 days for many years. The code now recommends it may be possible to move non-pregnant mares off the premises before 28 days after the last case if:
a) they have been isolated from pregnant mares and handled by separate staff
b) testing of blood samples taken immediately and again after 14 days indicates they are not infected;
c) there is no other evidence of spread of infection.
4) The period within which horses for import should be blood tested for EVA prior to leaving their country of origin has been clarified as 28 days.Libby Archer, the scientific liaison of the Levy Board, emphasized the codes of practice are minimum recommendations and all mare owners should contact the managers of stud farms before sending mares, either to board or ship in for mating, to clarify any additional requirements.She pointed out the EVA vaccine, Artervac, has now returned to the British market, following an interruption in supply that left the breeding industry without the vaccine at the start of the 2003 breeding season. Supply resumed in the UK and Ireland in April following the transfer of production to the United States.The 46-page codes of practice is available through the Levy Board's Web site at www.hblb.org.uk by clicking on Veterinary Science And Education and then Codes Of Practice.