Conference noted::equitation

It's actually nearer; a friend of mine who lives in the Concord, MA, area
lost her horse to it last fall. Her vet was on vacation and the stand-in
vet didn't recognize it. It was a horrible death for the horse.

-Julie

    Is the vaccine actually on the market?  I thought it was being
    manufactured but not yet available.
    
    We've had horses in Maryland die from Potomac Fever.  It started
    in a Maryland county near the Potomac River, hence the name.  My
    friend's stallion got it last year.  Started with going off his
    feed, just standing around in his stall, not showing much interest
    in anything.  The blood tests confirmed it later.  Luckily, my friend
    listened to her intuition and had him tested before waiting for
    the diarrhea stage.
    
    merrie
    stage.  

    
    	Yes, there is a blood test kit available to your Vet - and a
    	vaccine is also available....  I am really looking into this
    	I don't want to lose either of my nags - just due to lack of
    	a vaccine.                                   
    
    	Susan

National Public Radio announced that the first confirmed case of
Potomac fever in South Carolina was diagnosed this week. It occured
in Spartanburg, SC. The program repeated the symptoms and mortality
rates (30%) discussed in other notes in this topic. NPR said that
area vets are innoculating local horses with a newly approved vaccine.
They also said that the incubation period is about 16 days which has
them worried that more horse may get infected. The sick horse was 
apparently transported to the South Carolina from Florida.

    My friend, whose stallion got Potomac Fever last summer (See .2),
    had a colt on layover that contracted the disease two weeks ago.
    Luckily, she noticed that he was off his feed.  She checked his
    gums, which had a ring of red around the gums at the tooth line.
    Seeing that prompted her to take his temp.  It was high enough for
    her to call the vet.  The colt responded to tetracycline and the
    blood test has subsequently proven that he did have Potomac Fever.
    He got sick within a week of his arrival, which sounds as though
    he may have brought it with him.
    
    My mare was there at the time, being bred AGAIN.  The vet gave her
    a shot of the new vaccine.  Has anyone heard any reasons NOT to
    give it to pregnant mares?
    
    Merrie

    
    	Hi Merrie...
    
    	Where did your friend's colt layover? (state)
    
    	Susan

    There have been three cases to date in the Maple Valley area.
    Vets are recommending horses be vaccinated and a follow-up booster
    given in 30 days.
    
    Larry.

    Dr. Suzanne Stillman of Ashby, MA is recommending that horse owners
    have their horses vaccinated whether they leave the barn or not.
    Evidently, scientists have not been able to determine exactly how
    this illness is passed from horse to horse.  Evidently there have
    been several local cases diagnosed (high temperatures and severe
    diarrhea are symptomatic).  Tetracycline is used to treat this disease,
    but should not be used unless the blood test is positive.  There
    is a problem getting the blood test done quickly as only one lab
    does the test.
    
    She has vaccinated her horses, I've done mine.  There have been
    no reported side effects from the vaccine.  For $20 odd dollars,
    it's worth the peace of mind!
    
    

    From the 11/23 Country Almanac (Woodside, CA)
                   
    Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) otherwise known as acute equine diarrheal
    syndrome, is potentially fatal.  But with proper treatment, 95%
    of the vaccinated horses never contract the virus.
    
    The bacterial disease follows a seasonal pattern.  Most cases are
    seen in the summer and fall.  Equine specialists believe it is
    transmitted by insects.
    
    The clinical signs are similar to other equine deseases.  The most
    typical cases affect horses of all ages and begin with a loss of
    appetite and depression.  Temperatures rise to 106-107 Fahrenheit,
    then drop to normal with mild treatment.
    
    A second fever may occur with symptoms such as colic, stomach
    destension, watery diarrhea, dehrdration, toxemia, increased heart
    and respirator rate, and laminitis.
    
    The treatment of this disease needs to be aggressive and constant,
    according to doctors at Peninsula Equine.  The horses infected with
    the desease need to be isolated from other horses.
    
    An indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) has been the most
    successful test to confirm the disease.  Interpretation of the tests
    requires skilled technicians in an approved laboratory.
    
    There have been several reports of PHF in California.  However,
    according to Dr. John Magidan of the University of California at
    Davis, the disease is not as widespread as was first suspected.
    
    Two cases were reported in Northern California, one in Milpitas
    and one in Woodside, but the horses did not meet all the disease
    criteria.
    
    Scientists at the University of Illinois have been investigating
    ways to immunized horses against PHF.  They found that one of their
    preparations produced an immune response.
    
    But experiments involving a vaccine for PHF have had mixed results.
    
    A commerically prepared vaccine has protected 75% to 80% of horsed
    vaccinated once a year, and 90% to 95% vaccinated twice a year.
    
    Horsed that travel to competitive events are under higher stress
    conditions and interact with horsed from different regions.  As
    a result, they are at greater risk.
    
    In an effort to provide maximum protection to the equine community,
    horse owners should contact their veterinarian to establish a
    preventive medicine program.