USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact:  Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

HORSE COMMITTEE CALLS FOR SURVEY TO DETERMINE EP PREVALENCE

	MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Oct. 17, 2006 -- The U.S. Animal Health (USAHA) 
Committee on Infectious Diseases of Horses has called for the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis (EP) in the 
United States. 

        EP is a disease of horses, donkeys, mules and zebras caused by protozoan 
parasites that invade the red blood cells, causing their destruction.  Two species of 
protozoa, Babesia equi and Babesia caballi, are present in 90 percent of the world 
inhabited by horses.  Only Canada, United States, Australia, Japan, England and 
Ireland are not considered to be endemic areas.  The disease is generally transmitted 
by ticks and other insects, although mechanical transmission is possible through 
improper disinfection of hypodermic needles or other instruments.
        
        The Committee noted that the status of EP in the United States is in question, 
primarily because the CF test -- which was commonly used prior to August 2005 -- 
would occasionally yield “false negative” results.  Unscrupulous owners, importers and 
agents compounded the problem by purposely treating EP-infected horses with 
immunosuppressive medications to give rise to false negative reactions in the CF test.  
The CF test has been replaced by an upgraded C-ELISA test that is highly unlikely to 
yield false negative results on adult horses.  
        
        The Committee felt that a national survey of slaughter horses should provide an 
estimate of the prevalence of EP infection in the United States.  The Committee further 
recommended that USDA establish a working group of representatives from equine industry 
groups, state animal health officials, researchers and veterinarians knowledgeable about EP 
to evaluate the survey results and, if indicated, develop recommendations for control of 
EP-positive horses and/or elimination of the disease from the United States.
        
        The Committee also heard a report on the National Animal Health Monitoring System 
(NAHMS) “Equine 2005 Study,” which dealt with horse population estimates, on-farm health 
management and vaccination practices, biosecurity and equine movements.  Two 
presentations covered the availability of electronic programs with respect to certification of 
animal movements, individual animal status for equine infectious anemia (EIA), and 
transmission of diagnostic laboratory reports to appropriate parties in real time.
        
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