Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a virus, similar to human immunodeficiency virus, that spreads through biting flies and cannot be cured. Following an investigation into a Weld County horse that tested positive for EIA on August 24, Keith Roehr, Colorado state veterinarian is now actively quarantining locations in Colorado and searching for approximately 100 horses sent to 20 other states from the now quarantined facility. Specifically, he seeks horses purchased in Weld County between July 18 and August 20 of this year.
Source: The Longmont Times-Call, September 7, 2018. Link.
So far, 37 exposed horses have been found in Colorado.
The state will enforce the quarantine and hold orders until the exposed horses on those premises test negative at a 60-day retest, according to the release.
. . . the horse that first tested positive has been euthanized . . .
Also see: EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA: The Only Protection is Prevention. AAEP. Link.
EIAV is transmitted by blood or by in-utero passage from mare to foal. Blood transmission can occur via blood-sucking insects, such as horse flies, deer flies and mosquitoes. The virus is carried in the residual blood on the insect’s mouthparts as it travels from one horse to the next.
INSIGHTS: This is yet another reason to aggressively control mosquitoes and flies. Animal health pros need to share this information to help find horses not yet tested. Distributor and retail reps can share this as yet another reason to control biting insects on farms, in stables and around trailers at equine activities.