Goal: Study potential different diseases that can go through a barn, as well as learn about different vaccines to decide what vaccines should be required in a horse and what should not be.
Mandatory Vaccines For Massachusetts:
Rabies-
Horses are recommended to get this vaccine annually. While not contracted in equines often, the virus is fatal when it is contracted. It can be contracted by bites from wild animals.
Symptoms:
Tetanus-
Horses should be vaccinated yearly as they are very sensitive to Clostridium Tetani. The bacteria lives in the soil so when a horse gets a deep wound and it is open the bacteria will expose itself. Once the bacteria enters the horses system it will produce a toxin that spreads quickly through the horses bloodstream. As the disease progresses in the horse, the horse will not be able to stand up and will die from spasms in the respiratory musculature. If your horse gets a open deep wound and has not had a tetanus Vaccine in over 6 months they will need a booster immediately.
Symptoms:
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis-
EEE and WEE are spread by mosquitoes in late summer and early fall. EEE has a fatality rate of 90% and WEE is fatal by 50%. In New England, EEE is more common where as WEE is less common. EEE is found more in eastern and northern states whereas WEE is found in western and southern states. The vaccine is only effective for six months so it is recommended that horses who only get the vaccine once a year get the vaccine after mid April, horses traveling back and forth between the north and south should be getting the vaccine every six months.
Symptoms:
West Nile Virus-
West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that contract disease from infected birds and rodents and Massachusetts is considered a high risk area. West Nile Virus has a 30% fatality rate, however 40% of survivors exhibit clinical signs of the virus up to six months after they have been exposed.
Symptoms:
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Eastern and Western Encephalitis
- West Nile Virus
Rabies-
Horses are recommended to get this vaccine annually. While not contracted in equines often, the virus is fatal when it is contracted. It can be contracted by bites from wild animals.
Symptoms:
- Excessive Salvation
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Lack Of Coordination
- Aggressive Behavior
- Hyper Excitability
- Colic
- Convulsions
- Paralysis
Tetanus-
Horses should be vaccinated yearly as they are very sensitive to Clostridium Tetani. The bacteria lives in the soil so when a horse gets a deep wound and it is open the bacteria will expose itself. Once the bacteria enters the horses system it will produce a toxin that spreads quickly through the horses bloodstream. As the disease progresses in the horse, the horse will not be able to stand up and will die from spasms in the respiratory musculature. If your horse gets a open deep wound and has not had a tetanus Vaccine in over 6 months they will need a booster immediately.
Symptoms:
- Horse will make a "saw horse" stance
- Rapid Muscle Contractions
- Fever
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis-
EEE and WEE are spread by mosquitoes in late summer and early fall. EEE has a fatality rate of 90% and WEE is fatal by 50%. In New England, EEE is more common where as WEE is less common. EEE is found more in eastern and northern states whereas WEE is found in western and southern states. The vaccine is only effective for six months so it is recommended that horses who only get the vaccine once a year get the vaccine after mid April, horses traveling back and forth between the north and south should be getting the vaccine every six months.
Symptoms:
- Mild to severe fever
- Poor Appetite
- Stiffness
- The symptoms of EEE will keep progressing onto severe neurological symptoms such as:
- Head pressing
- Blindness
- Circling
- Head Tilt
- Muscle Fasciculations
- The symptoms of EEE will keep progressing onto severe neurological symptoms such as:
West Nile Virus-
West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that contract disease from infected birds and rodents and Massachusetts is considered a high risk area. West Nile Virus has a 30% fatality rate, however 40% of survivors exhibit clinical signs of the virus up to six months after they have been exposed.
Symptoms:
- Mild to moderate fever
- Poor appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Gait Abnormalities
- Neurological problems that occur suddenly and progress rapidly
- Muscle fasciculations noticeable at muzzle and eyelids
Non Mandatory Vaccines For Massachusetts:
A highly contagious virus that is spread through air. It infects the upper respiratory tracts with no pulmonary involvement. Influenza causes for horses to have to go into incubation for one to three days. Clinical symptoms continue for three to five days after a horse is exposed to the virus. There are different strains of the virus which can cause for horses to have different symptoms depending on the strain of virus they have gotten. Horses who are young, exposed to a changing herd, travel, or show are at more risk of the virus than others and should be getting vaccinated within 3 months of showing, travelling, or being exposed to a changing herd. The vaccine is short lived so will require boosters.
Symptoms:
Equine Herpes Virus Or Rhinopneumontis-
Extremely contagious by spreading through the air when a horse is in direct contact with respiratory secrations which is similar to the human flu. There are two types of the disease - EHV 1 and EHV 4. EHV 1 is the cause of abortions, neonatal death, and neurological disease aside from causing respiratory disease. EHV 4 is generally a respiratory disease mostly in horses who are young. At risk horses are horses who are young, pregnant mares, and horses exposed to a large and changing population.
Symptoms:
Potomac Horse Fever-
A bacterial infection caused by Neoricketta Risticii. It is mostly seasonal so it generally occurs during the warmer months in temperate regions. Mainly July, August, and September. The response to the vaccination is short lived, so it is reccomended that the vaccine is administered to horses close to the summer season. Horses who live close to standing water (swamps, ponds) should be vaccinated for PHF.
Symptoms:
Strangles-
A highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi. Young horses are especially at risk due to having a naive immune system but any horse can be infected. The bacteria is spread through direct contact of infected horses or indirect contact by infected water troughs, grooming equipment, stalls, pastures, or human hands. The bacteria can persist on a farm despite exposure to disinfectants and sunlight. It can serve as a place of infection for any new horses arriving on a previously infected farm. Any horse exposed to a large or changing population should be vaccinated. Any horse brought to a new barn from auction should be quarantined as a strangles suspect for at least 30 days.
Symptoms:
If this was my farm, I would require:
Rabies, Tetanus, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus.
Strangles, Influenza, Equine Herpes Virus or Rhinopneumontis.
The Potomac Horse Fever Vaccine is optional but is suggested to everyone.
- Influenza
- Equine Herpes Virus Or Rhinopneumontis
- Potomac Horse Fever
- Strangles
A highly contagious virus that is spread through air. It infects the upper respiratory tracts with no pulmonary involvement. Influenza causes for horses to have to go into incubation for one to three days. Clinical symptoms continue for three to five days after a horse is exposed to the virus. There are different strains of the virus which can cause for horses to have different symptoms depending on the strain of virus they have gotten. Horses who are young, exposed to a changing herd, travel, or show are at more risk of the virus than others and should be getting vaccinated within 3 months of showing, travelling, or being exposed to a changing herd. The vaccine is short lived so will require boosters.
Symptoms:
- Fever (103 - 105 F)
- Clear + cloudy nasal discharge
- Poor appetite
- Depression
- Dry deep cough
Equine Herpes Virus Or Rhinopneumontis-
Extremely contagious by spreading through the air when a horse is in direct contact with respiratory secrations which is similar to the human flu. There are two types of the disease - EHV 1 and EHV 4. EHV 1 is the cause of abortions, neonatal death, and neurological disease aside from causing respiratory disease. EHV 4 is generally a respiratory disease mostly in horses who are young. At risk horses are horses who are young, pregnant mares, and horses exposed to a large and changing population.
Symptoms:
- Clear nasal discharge
- Dry cough
- Fever
Potomac Horse Fever-
A bacterial infection caused by Neoricketta Risticii. It is mostly seasonal so it generally occurs during the warmer months in temperate regions. Mainly July, August, and September. The response to the vaccination is short lived, so it is reccomended that the vaccine is administered to horses close to the summer season. Horses who live close to standing water (swamps, ponds) should be vaccinated for PHF.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Mild to severe diarhea
- Decreased abdominal sounds that can be led to colic
Strangles-
A highly contagious disease caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi. Young horses are especially at risk due to having a naive immune system but any horse can be infected. The bacteria is spread through direct contact of infected horses or indirect contact by infected water troughs, grooming equipment, stalls, pastures, or human hands. The bacteria can persist on a farm despite exposure to disinfectants and sunlight. It can serve as a place of infection for any new horses arriving on a previously infected farm. Any horse exposed to a large or changing population should be vaccinated. Any horse brought to a new barn from auction should be quarantined as a strangles suspect for at least 30 days.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Poor appetite or difficulty eating
- Harsh respiratory noise
- Large lymph nodes
- Thick cloudy nasal discharge
If this was my farm, I would require:
Rabies, Tetanus, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus.
Strangles, Influenza, Equine Herpes Virus or Rhinopneumontis.
The Potomac Horse Fever Vaccine is optional but is suggested to everyone.