By Khang Nguyen

Emergence of fatal horse disease cause for concern in P.A.

Aug 8, 2015 | 9:16 AM

Around 40 concerned horse owners gathered inside the Red River Roping and Riding (RRRR) barn for an informational presentation this week.

Thursday night’s presentation, put on by Prince Albert District veterinarian Jewel Parry, informed the attendees of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), also commonly referred to as swamp fever.

RRRR arena manager Grant Winterholt knows all too well about the fatal disease.

“Unfortunately [EIA] has costed me one of my best horses … I just want to make sure that it’s out there and show that it’s important to look after our horses and do what we can to protect them,” Winterholt said.

Winterholt organized the informational presentation after his 10-year-old horse, Pedro, died from the disease.

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“I found him on a Tuesday night, he had a temperature. On Wednesday morning I took him to Saskatoon. On Thursday at 2 p.m. I put him to sleep.”

Winterholt admitted he was not fully informed of the deadly disease before the death of Pedro. Because the disease is contagious, He has informed all horse owners whose horses may have been in contact with Pedro.

“He was one my main horses. It was a sad decision that I had to do to put him down, but it’s the best for my herd and best for everybody’s horses,” Winterholt said.

He is currently waiting for the test results of his herd of 45 horses.

So far, there have been five known cases of EIA in the district of Prince Albert this year.

It is business as usual at RRRR despite the presence of the disease in the area, said Winterholt. A RRRR board meeting will potentially change certain rules at the arena including mandatory testing for the disease.

About Equine Infectious Anemia

EIA is a potentially fatal disease that affects horses and other members of the equine family, such as donkeys and mules.

The disease, similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is transmitted by blood. The EIA virus is most commonly transmitted by blood-sucking horse flies, deer flies, stable flies, mosquitoes and possibly midges. Other ways of transmission includes needles, syringes, surgical instruments, or through the semen of an infected stallion.

Carriers of EIA are infected for life, putting other animals at risk. The disease currently has no cure or vaccine. It poses no risks to humans.

EIA is known to affect animals in different ways. Horses may show symptoms immediately, while others may not show signs for a long period of time, and animals may also go through symptoms in a yo-yo like fashion.

Infected animals may show some of the following signs: anorexia, depression, general weakness, fever up to 41 C, jaundice, bleeding under the tongue and eyes, swelling of the extremities, weight loss and loss of coordination.

According to Parry, animals infected by EIA will endure worse symptoms when under stress.

A precautionary quarantine may be placed on animals suspected of being infected with EIA.

EIA is a “federally reportable disease.” Producers or veterinarians must notify the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of all suspected or confirmed cases.

Owners of animals destroyed during EIA response situations may be compensated up to $2,000.

For more information on EIA please visit CFIA’s website. 

knguyen@jpbg.ca

Follow on Twitter: @khangvnguyen