biosecurity on the horse farm

ANSC 420 – CRITICAL THINKING IN ANIMAL SCIENCEMARCH 24 , 2010

ERIN D. PITTMAN, MS, PAS

Biosecurity on the Horse Farm

Oversight?

Why bother?

How do we control disease?

VaccinationsFarm Management

How it Works

Infection Control Plan Avoid or minimize exposure Optimize resistance

Vaccination Optimize overall health care Areas to consider

Nutrition and training/exercise schedule Ventilation and airflow in stabling area Insect control

Other Example: “normal” gastrointestinal flora

Horse Lifestyles – Pasture Potatoes!

Breeding

Breeding

Showing, trail-riding and lessons

Transport

Risk of Disease

Varies by type of horse population!Some horses predisposed to disease if

exposed: Foals, old horses Problems with digestive function Drug treatments

Situations can increase risk of exposure Commingling with other horses Exposure to insects

Before we talk “control…” Do you recognize a

sick vs. a healthy horse?

Vital Signs – Adult Horses

Controlling Infectious Diseases

Infection Control Plan1. Avoid or minimize exposure

2. Optimize resistance• Vaccination• Optimize overall health care• Other

Avoiding/Minimizing Exposure

How are diseases transmitted? Aerosol Oral Direct Contact Fomites Vector Zoonotic

Limiting exposure must address all methods of diseasetransmission!

Examples and Methods of Exposure

Where would you rather your horse be?

Things to Consider – Hygiene and Sanitation

Hygiene and Sanitation - Facilities

Hygiene and Sanitation - Personal

Hygiene and Sanitation - Horse

Transmission - Aerosol

Transmission – Oral

Transmission – Direct Contact

Transmission - Fomites

Transmission - Vector

Transmission - Zoonotic

Equine Diseases

Equine Herpes Virus

“Rhino”9 documented strains

5 affect domestic horses

EHV-1 and EHV-4 are most common and pathogenic

Clinical Signs: Fever! Malaise Respiratory Abortion Neurologic

Equine Infectious Anemia

“Swam Fever”Horses = natural hostClinical Signs:

Severe depression Weakness Sudden onset of high

fever Anemia!

No treatment available!

Detection = Coggins Test

Coggins Test

Equine Viral Arteritis

EVAClinical Signs:

Respiratory Infection Abortion Subfertility (stallions) Limb and Scrotal

Edema Skin reaction

Influenza

Clinical Signs: Harsh, dry cough Loss of appetite Depression Watery nasal discharge

Can lead to pneumonia

Eastern, Western, Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyeltis

ZOONOTIC DISEASES!

High fatality rates Eastern > Venezuelan

> WesternNeurological Signs

Vesicular Stomatitis

Can be transmitted between cattle/pigs and horses

Clinical Signs: Ulceration of mucosa

and coronary band Crusting lesions of

sheath, abdomenReportable Disease

Rabies

ZOONOTIC DISEASERaccoon strain most

common hereNeurological

symptoms Behavioral changes

are most common Time to clinical signs

varies No treatment

Streptococcus Equi

“Strangles”Clinical Signs:

High Fever Nasal Discharge Abscessed Lymph

nodes “Silent Carrier” status

High morbidity, low mortality

Salmonellosis

ZOONOTIC DISEASE!

Clinical Signs: Colitis Diarrhea

Highly contagious bacterial infection

Contagious Equine Metritis

Clinical Signs: Uterine infection Failure to conceive

Strict importation controls

Rhodococcus Equi

Leading cause of foal pneumonia Foals under 6 months

of age most susceptible

High (28%) mortality rate

Vaccinations

Purpose Acquired Immunity to diseaseInitial vaccination

Boosters for unvaccinated animals – 3-6 weeks apart (up to 3, depending on vaccine)

Annual or semi-annual boostersRoutes of AdministrationConsult with vetDifferent vaccines for different “types” of

horses! Broodmares vs. performance vs. “home-bound”

Intramuscular (IM) Intranasal (IN)

Routes of Administration

What are your options?

Establish a Biosecurity Plan Not as easy as vaccination Risk aversion of the operation or horse owner?

All will come at some cost!

Communication with staff, owners and visitors!

Make sure they know the rules!

Language barriers?

Signage

Visitors and employees?

Ask! Especially if there is a current disease outbreak in the area

Use good hygiene methodsHave a plan in case of outbreak

Separate Farm and Personal Vehicles

Traffic patterns

People, animals, vehicles Farm personnel Veterinarians Farriers Visitors Horse owners (boarders)

Wheel barrows, trucks, trailers, tractors, 4-wheelers, etc.

Facility Design

Think about infection control before you build Alleyways High traffic areas Treatment areas

(stocks, wash stall, etc.)

Ease of cleaningCan it be isolated?

Optimize Health Plans for All HorsesTransport and Housing

Post Contact Information

Insect Control

Facilities

Separated from other horses for (ideally) a minimum of 3 weeks

How far apart? Distances diseases travel not established “35 feet” rule for neurological herpes virus?

Management Separate equipment Do new horses last

Where does the drain go?

What if facilities or schedules don’t allow isolation?

Group horses according to use/exposure potential

Commingled horses are of equal status – exposure WILL happen between them

Keep number of horses per group as small as possible

Minimize contact between groups

Spread of disease can happen easily!

Consider all means of disease transmission

Route of exposure? Can you control it?

Insects, rodents, other animals!

Install Wash Stations

Clean and Disinfect Regularly

Recommendations for New Horses

Options for managing risk posed by horse contact

Establish health requirements Visiting horses New arrivals Horses returning after an event

Segregation by risk levelIsolation/monitoring of new arrivalsMonitoring for illness + plan of action

Quarantine

Examples of Health Requirements

Certificate of veterinary inspection (health certificate) Timing of exam vs. arrival of horse?

Ask about past medical history Illness in this horse or others it has been around

Examine horse when it arrivesTest for infection

Coggins test Others (i.e., screening for strangles)

Example of Testing for Infection

Endoscopy for Strangles

Isolation of New Arrivals

Adequate facilities?

Adequate equipment?

Enough personnel?

All must be present to ensure good infection control!

Early detection is key

Determine cause of disease Allows you to develop a control plan

Isolate ill horse(s) at first sign of diseaseDO NOT MOVE

EXPOSED HORSES Until you have determined

they don’t pose a risk to unexposed horses

Monitor exposed horses for illness

Recommendations for Show Horses

Maintain Herd Health Program

Avoid Contact with Other Horses and Equipment

House Traveling Horses Together

Quarantine Upon Return

Discuss Sanitation with Shipper

Recommendations for Racetracks

Coggins Test & CVI

Install Wash Stations

Limit Barn Access to Authorized Personnel Only

Recommendations for Hired Professionals

Decontamination Procedures

Decontamination

Disinfectants

Footbaths

Dispose of Waste

Risk Assessment