Horse Search Virus suspected in 2000 horses

Examination for virus disease in 2000 horses

23/09/2012

More than 2,000 horses are due to a possible infection with the „Contagious anemia“ (Infectious anemia in solipeds) in the coming weeks. The reason for the blood tests is the contact with an infected blood donation horse between September 2009 and June 212 in a veterinarian clinic near Bonn. The majority of the affected horses come from North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, reports the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia.

The life-threatening viral disease for horses was detected in the blood donation horse of the veterinary clinic in Wachtberg near Bonn in August. This was followed by a check-up on 600 horses in direct contact with the infected horse. There were no other diseases with the „Infectious anemia in solipeds“ detected. Now the competent authorities have decided to also check the 2,039 horses that may have had contact with the blood donation horse in the years 2009 to 2012, according to the announcement of the State Environmental Agency of North Rhine-Westphalia.

More than 2,000 horses in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate are being investigated
Affected by a possible infection with the „Contagious anemia“ According to the State Environment Agency, horses are mainly from North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate due to the clinic horse. However, some potentially infected animals also live in other federal states, in other EU Member States such as Belgium and the Netherlands or in third countries such as Switzerland, Russia, the USA, Saudi Arabia or Quatar. In Germany, the „locally „competent veterinarians in districts and cities have received lists of affected horse owners“, reports the State Environmental Agency North Rhine-Westphalia. In the coming weeks, the horse owners are to be contacted, „to take the blood sample with the horse“, so the communication of the authority. The „Horse owners are asked for support and understanding of the investigation - only in this way can the entire stock of horses be protected“, declared the state environment office in Recklinghausen on Friday. The effort was important to determine the one hand, the source of infection for the clinic horse and on the other „to rule out that a horse has become infected in the clinic“, so the official message.

Infectious anemia often remains unrecognized for years
Although infectious anemia often causes death in horses, the disease sometimes breaks out only years after the actual infection. In the initial stage, the infectious anemia usually runs „at first creeping without externally visible signs“, why horses can carry the infection for several years without this being noticed. As soon as the animal is under special stress such as other diseases, housing or change of ownership, a virus multiplication begins and first signs such as tiredness, apathy, loss of appetite and incipient anemia become noticeable in the animals. In the advanced stage of the disease, severe fever, marked anemia and accumulation of water on the abdomen and legs of the horses are typical signs of the disease „Contagious anemia“. The disease is transmitted mostly through the blood, with horse and other bloodsucking insects are considered the main carriers. For humans, the pathogens are not dangerous. (Fp)

Also read:
Horse Search "Anemia" in NRW
Deadly horse search in Bavaria

Picture credits: Waltraud Seitz