Biosecurity on the Horse Farm
ANSC 420 – CRITICAL THINKING IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
MARCH 24, 2010
ERIN D. PITTMAN, MS, PAS
Oversight?
Why bother?
How do we control disease?
 Vaccinations
 Farm Management
How it Works
 Infection Control Plan
 Avoid or minimize exposure
 Optimize resistance
Vaccination
 Optimize overall health care
 Areas to consider
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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
1.
Infection Control Plan
Avoid or minimize exposure
2.
Optimize resistance
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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 disease
transmission!
Examples and Methods of Exposure
Method of Exposure
Other Horses
Environment
People and things
that move with
them
Equine events, new
arrivals, visiting
horses
Feed, water,
stabling, trailers,
insects
Horse caretakers,
veterinarians,
farriers
Things to Consider – Hygiene and Sanitation
Where would you rather your horse be?
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
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5 affect domestic horses
EHV-1 and EHV-4 are
most common and
pathogenic
 Clinical Signs:
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Fever!
Malaise
Respiratory
Abortion
Neurologic
Equine Infectious Anemia
 “Swam Fever”
 Horses = natural host
 Clinical Signs:
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Severe depression
Weakness
Sudden onset of high fever
Anemia!
 No treatment
available!
 Detection = Coggins Test
Coggins Test
Equine Viral Arteritis
 EVA
 Clinical Signs:
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Respiratory Infection
Abortion
Subfertility (stallions)
Limb and Scrotal Edema
Skin reaction
Influenza
 Clinical Signs:
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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 >
Western
 Neurological Signs
Vesicular Stomatitis
 Can be transmitted
between cattle/pigs and
horses
 Clinical Signs:
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Ulceration of mucosa and
coronary band
Crusting lesions of sheath,
abdomen
 Reportable Disease
Rabies
 ZOONOTIC DISEASE
 Raccoon strain most
common here
 Neurological symptoms
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Behavioral changes are
most common
Time to clinical signs
varies
No treatment
Streptococcus Equi
 “Strangles”
 Clinical Signs:
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High Fever
Nasal Discharge
Abscessed Lymph nodes
“Silent Carrier” status
 High morbidity, low
mortality
Salmonellosis
 ZOONOTIC DISEASE!
 Clinical Signs:
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Colitis
Diarrhea
 Highly contagious
bacterial infection
Contagious Equine Metritis
 Clinical Signs:
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Uterine infection
Failure to conceive
 Strict importation
controls
Rhodococcus Equi
 Leading cause of foal
pneumonia
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Foals under 6 months of
age most susceptible
High (28%) mortality rate
Vaccinations
 Purpose  Acquired Immunity to disease
 Initial vaccination
 Boosters for unvaccinated animals – 3-6 weeks apart (up to 3,
depending on vaccine)
 Annual or semi-annual boosters
 Routes of Administration
 Consult with vet
 Different vaccines for different “types” of horses!
 Broodmares vs. performance vs. “home-bound”
Routes of Administration
Intramuscular (IM)
Intranasal (IN)
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 methods
 Have a plan in case of outbreak
Separate Farm and Personal Vehicles
Traffic patterns
 People, animals,
vehicles
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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.)
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 Ease of cleaning
 Can it be isolated?
Optimize Health Plans for All Horses
Transport and Housing
Post Contact Information
Insect Control
Facilities
 Separated from other horses for (ideally) a minimum
of 3 weeks
 How far apart?
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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
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New arrivals
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Horses returning after an event
 Segregation by risk level
 Isolation/monitoring of new arrivals
 Monitoring 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 arrives
 Test 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 disease
 DO NOT MOVE
EXPOSED HORSES
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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