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For the first time in its history, the Virginia Horse Center combated an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) this past week.
Two horses, owned by the same exhibitor, were affected by the virus. One of the horses showed neurological symptoms caused by EHV-1, leaving the owner no choice but to euthanize the ill horse. The second horse had been showing signs of recovery, but died early Monday morning, VHC Chief Executive Officer Glenn Petty told The News-Gazette in an interview this week.
The EHV-1 was detected on Tuesday of last week in the early hours of the Shenandoah Classic Horse Show – a large competition, filling about 550 horse stalls at the VHC. After the symptoms were recognized, the horses were promptly transported to Rood and Riddle veterinary clinic in Lexington, Ky. Fast action proved crucial in ensuring that no other horses could contract the virus, Petty said. The Virginia Horse Center immediately began following protocols outlined by its BioSecurity Plan.
Equine Herpes Virus is transmitted between horses by “inhaling infected droplets or ingesting materials contaminated by nasal discharges or aborted fetuses,” according to the website of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, depression, and stumbling or weakness in the hind legs.
Petty said that horses can also experience neurological issues, lethargy, or a fever of 101.5 degrees or more, which is usually the first indication that the animal may be infected. He noted that death is typically the result of the ravaging virus.
However, Petty explained to The News-Gazette, EHV-1 in horses is similar to meningitis in humans in that 90 percent of horses already carry the virus, but it remains dormant. Symptoms of EHV-1 appear seven days after its incubation period, which means that the two horses arrived to the VHC already infected by the virus, Petty said.
After the two horses were removed from the VHC grounds, the 80 horses that shared their barn were quarantined. “Luckily, we were able to isolate it to one barn,” Petty commented.
According to a Virginia Horse Center Foundation press release issued Saturday, “At 10 a.m. Thursday morning, an on-site meeting was held with state veterinary officials and management. This was followed by a meeting of trainers in the affected barn. They were informed all 80 horses in that barn were under quarantine. These horses have now been allowed to ship out with the approval of their destination state veterinarian.”
Next, a meeting was held with the trainers of all of the horses not quarantined, attended by about 120 people and led by Dr. Abby Sage of Virginia Office of Veterinary Services. Dr. Sage stated that the show could continue. “After some mixed discussion, it was eventually determined by management to continue the show for those not under quarantine,” according to the press release.
Throughout the remainder of last week’s show, trainers monitored all of the horses – both quarantined and nonquarantined – by checking their temperatures twice a day, Petty told The News-Gazette. No other horses have exhibited any symptoms of EHV-1. To ensure that this stays true, all horses that attended the show will be monitored for about 14 to 21 days after their departure.
As a final precaution, a special team from the Virginia Office of Veterinary Services arrived at the VHC on Monday to disinfect the entire grounds.
According to the Saturday VHCF press release, that team was to disinfect every stall and grounds equipment such as Bobcats, tractors, muck buckets, rakes, etc. “Dr. Abby Sage has stated that after Monday the Virginia Horse Center will have the ‘safest stalls in the country,’” read the release.
Petty believes that having the state come to clean the grounds is the “ultimate” precaution they can take to guarantee that last week’s EHV-1 outbreak is behind them. He said, “[We’ve] done just about everything we can do.”
The chief executive officer feels confident in how trainers, exhibitors, and VHC staff responded to such unexpected circumstances.
He commented in the press release, “The Virginia Horse Center cannot state enough how appreciative we are for the professional and common sense leadership of Dr. Abby Sage and Dr. Tabitha Moore, state veterinarian’s office; Dr. Ginger Reagan, show veterinarian; Dr. Hugh Behling, Kalarama Farm veterinarian; Dr. Katie Flynn, USEF BioSecurity veterinarian; and R.H. Bennett, show manager.”
He continued, “We had a great team and thoughtful management of the situation worked. Also, the trainers and exhibitors could not have been more supportive and cooperative. A t t he e nd of t he l arge trainer meeting, the team was given a round of applause for the handling of this situation.”
While the House Mountain Hunter Jumper show scheduled for this week has been moved to July 18 and July 19, the Virginia Horse Center will still be hosting the Arabian Horse Association Region 15 and 16 Championship and the Vaulting Region IX Championship next week, in which Petty “feels very comfortable for them to be here.” Horses will begin arriving on the grounds this Thursday with the show commencing on Monday, July 3.
He noted that initially some of next week’s exhibitors were weary of the recent EHV-1 outbreak, but following the state veterinary office’s disinfection efforts, all of those trepidations have subsided. He is looking forward to a good turnout.
