Seminar to Address New Horse Ailments
Two new horse diseases, threatening Britain as a consequence of climate change, have prompted the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and The Horse Trust to set up a not-to-be-missed seminar.
Emerging Equine Diseases takes place on Monday 23 June 2008 at Tattersalls, Park Paddocks, Newmarket, Suffolk. The seminar starts at 9.30am and is expected to close at 4.30pm. Tickets cost £30 to include coffee on arrival; a buffet lunch and afternoon tea. A pay bar will be open at lunchtime. To reserve a place go to www.thetba.co.uk or telephone the TBA on 01638 661321.
The focus of the day will be on African Horse Sickness (AHS) and West Nile Virus (WNV).
AHS is the most devastating horse disease on the planet. Up to 90% of infected horses die – sometimes within 48 hours of infection. It has been known since horses were introduced to southern Africa in the 17th century and large sporadic outbreaks have occurred since then.
Related to the bluetongue virus of sheep and cattle, AHS virus is carried and transmitted to horses by certain members of the Culicoides family of midges (C. imicola, and the northern forms C. obsoletus and C. pulicaris which flourish in the UK). Culicoides are common biting midges, occur throughout Britain and are more usually infamous for causing sweet itch. They travel on the wind like aerial plankton and, in laboratory conditions, have been known to fly for 10 hours at a time.
So far AHS has not been seen in Britain – but because sheep and cattle have been infected with bluetongue it is now believed that, contrary to previous thinking, AHS could also spread if it arrived in the UK.
At present, there is no vaccine available to control AHS and, were a case to be confirmed in the UK, current control regulations would mean a total shut-down of the £4 billion equestrian industry – hitting everyone from TBA members to the whole racing industry, eventing, show-jumping, pony club and leisure riders.
The other emerging threat to the equine community is West Nile Virus, an encephalitis disease of horses spread by mosquitoes. This has already proved a scourge in North America – and has the added risk that infection can cross the species barrier into humans where it can be fatal.
Nearly one in three horses (up to 62.5%) affected by the disease either die or have to be put down – although those which survive the disease usually make a complete recovery. Progression from first signs to severe disease requiring euthanasia has been reported to take as little as 24 hours in one case following experimental infection but in outbreaks several days of clinical illness have been reported.
