EIA
Equine Infectious Anemia
What is EIA?
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a disease,
caused by a virus that causes anemia,
intermittent fever, and severe weight loss.
Equidae (e.g., horses, ponies, mules,
zebras, and donkeys) are the only animals
known to be affected by the virus. Once an
animal is infected with the virus, it is infected
for life.
What is EIA
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Persistent viral disease (retrovirus) that is
closely related to HIV in humans.
Sometimes called Swamp fever or Coggins
Disease.
First reported case was in France in 1843.
In 1888 the first case was reported in North
America.
This is no cure and no vaccine for it.
What is “Swamp fever”?
This is a term given to a number of
diseases that are acquired in wet,
swampy environments; Malaria,
Leptospirosis, and EIA.
Transmission
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It only takes ONE drop of blood!
 Insect bites - blood-feeding flies such as
horseflies, stable flies, and deer flies. Note:
Mosquitos are not capable of transmitting EIA
 Mechanical means - hoof knives, needles
(tattooing or bleeding), syringes, dirty
instruments, bits, spurs etc.
 Blood transfusions
Symptoms
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Anemia
 Fever
 Weight loss
 Edema of ventral
abdomen and legs
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Depression
 Weakness
 Jaundice
 Can be stress
induced with
relapses of these
symptoms in
recovered animals.
Three clinical (forms) stages:
Acute phase: fever, anorexia, may die
 Chronic phase: weight loss, anemia,
edema
 Inapparent Carrier: no clinical signs;
these are the majority of your EIA
positive horses.
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How far can a fly, fly?
THE COGGINS TEST
The only way to accurately determine
whether a horse is infected with the EIA
virus is by a serum test.
 The most commonly used method is the
Coggins test, also known as the agar gel
immunodiffusion (AGID) test.
 Each year more than a million horses are
screened for EIA by this test.
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Coggins Testing
AGID test (agar gel immunodiffusion) or
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay) test.
 Must be performed by a USDA or
APHIS-accredited veterinarian or TAHC
(TX. Animal Health Commission)
authorized personnel.
 Only USDA or APHIS approved
laboratories are allowed to run the tests.
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Let’s Give Some Credit to:
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In 1970, Dr. Leroy Coggins of Cornell
University developed the first accurate
laboratory procedure for diagnosing the
disease.
 The Coggins test does not detect the EIA virus
itself but detects the presence of antibodies to
fight the disease in the infected animal.
 In 1973 the USDA designated the Coggins test
the official test for determining the presence of
EIA, and established said protocols of it.
Identification of positive equines
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Permanent notation of
equines: Hot iron,
chemical brand,
freezemarking, or lip
tattoo using the National
Uniform Tag code number
assigned by the USDA to
the State in which the
reactor was tested,
followed by the letter “A”.
What’s your role in this?
Blood collection of course!
 Completing submission forms
 Sending in samples for EIA testing under
the direct supervision of the attending
veterinarian.
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THE ONLY PROTECTION IS PREVENTION
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There is no effective treatment for EIA. There is no vaccine to
prevent it. There is no cure. However, good management can
reduce the potential of infection. The following guidelines will
help:
Use disposable needles and syringes, one per horse, when
administering vaccines and medications.
Sterilize dental tools and other instruments before using them on
another horse.
Test all horses for EIA at least annually.
Stable owners should request current negative Coggins
certificates before introduce? any new horses to the farm or
ranch.
New horses should be quarantined for 45 days and observed for
any signs of illness, including elevated temperatures, before
introducing them to the herd.
They should be retested if exposure to EIA is suspected
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All stable areas should be kept clean, dry, and wastefree.
Good pasture management techniques should also be
practiced. Remove manure and provide adequate
drainage to discourage breeding sites for pests.
Horses that are at greater risk, such as animals who
are in frequent intact with outside horses or who live or
travel in geographic regions known for EIA outbreaks,
should be tested frequently every 4-6 months.
Horse show and event managers should require and
verify current negative Coggins certificates for all
horses entering the premises.