BRONSON ANNOUNCES DETECTION OF
HORSE
DISEASE
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services
Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that a Manatee
County horse has been diagnosed with Equine Piroplasmosis (EP), an
animal disease that the United States has been considered free of
since 1988. Blood and tissue testing of a 7-year-old gelding
that had been euthanized after a three-week illness confirmed the
presence of the disease in the animal.
State officials immediately quarantined the premises in which the
horse resided, as well as two adjacent properties containing
horses pending a determination of
their status. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the
State Veterinarian's Office to determine the source of the disease
and whether it has
spread beyond the immediate area where the infected animal was
housed.
EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS (EP)
Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a blood-borne parasitic disease primarily transmitted
to horses by ticks or contaminated needles. The disease was
eradicated from Florida in the 1980s, and the tick species believed
to transmit EP in other countries have not been identified in
Florida in many years. This disease is not directly contagious from
one horse to another but requires direct blood transfer. Human
infection with equine piroplasmosis is extremely rare.
Acutely affected horses can have depression, fever, anemia
(decreased red blood cells) jaundiced (yellow) mucous membranes and
low platelet
counts. EP can also
cause horses to have roughened hair coats, constipation, and colic.
In its milder form, the disease causes horses to appear weak and
show lack of appetite.
Some horses become chronic carriers of the disease.
ADVICE TO VETS AND HORSE OWNERS
Veterinarians, horse owners, and others in the equine industry in
Florida are
asked to monitor their horses carefully and contact their
veterinarian if they suspect this disease. Because it is a disease
that the United States has been free of for two decades, suspected
cases must be reported to the Office of the State Veterinarian by
law.
With the exception of the quarantined premises, there are no EP
movement restrictions on horses within Florida or between Florida
and other states. Horses entering Florida from other
countries with Equine Piroplasmosis will continue to be tested
prior to and following entry according to the current rule.
WHAT HORSE OWNERS SHOULD DO
-- Monitor your horse for the presence of ticks. Use commercially
available topical products labeled for ticks if your horse is in an
area where tick infestation is a problem. Most of these products
are synthetic pyrethrins. Include an avermectin product in
your deworming program to provide systemic treatment for ticks. Ask
your veterinarian if you are unsure.
-- If you find large numbers of ticks or suspect piroplasmosis,
please contact your veterinarian.
-- Do not share needles between animals during the administration
of any medication or vaccinations. EP and other diseases can be
spread by the introduction of blood cells from an infected animal
into an uninfected animal during routine administration of
injectable medications.
-- Continue your normal equine activities.
Additional updates and information will be posted to the
Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal
Industry, web site at
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai.
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