Deadly horse search in Bavaria

Deadly horse search in Bavaria: Sperrbezirk in Ostallgäu furnished.

State of emergency in Bavaria, horse owners fear for the welfare of their animals. The so-called Equine Infectious Anemia or also „anemia“, a deadly and particularly dreaded horse disease, has occurred both in Seestall in the district of Landsberg and in Ostallgäu, in the municipality Stöttwang.

„anemia“ one of the most dreaded horse diseases
The „Infectious anemia of the equidae“ or Equine Infectious Anemia (E.I.A.) is one of the most dreaded equine diseases, but was considered extinct in Germany until about 20 years ago. In 1988, however, the first cases of compulsorily notifiable disease were reported in Bavaria. Presumably, the deadly virus was illegally imported from Romania back to Germany. Since there is no vaccine protection and no promising treatment options, the affected animals are usually killed on official veterinary instructions. A restricted area is then placed around the respective farms and farms for 60 days, which prohibits the removal and import of any solitary animals such as donkeys, mules, zebras or mules or permits them only with the approval of the veterinary office. Appropriate precautions are necessary because E.I.A. not only transmitted by bloodsucking insects but also in contact between the horses through saliva, urine, sperm and milk.

Affected animals are euthanized
The harmless human E.I.A. is not without reason too „anemia“, because the virus causes a gradual dissolution of platelets and red blood cells in the body of horses. In the acute case, this leads directly to the death of the animal otherwise the E.I.A. also take a prolonged course of the disease, which weakens the immune system of the horse sustainably and makes more susceptible to other infections. E.I.A. symptoms range from unsafe and lightheaded behaviors, reddened eyes, vaginal discharge, fluid retention with swelling, refusal of feed and greatly reduced performance, to severe fever episodes with very high temperatures in the acute stage of the disease. Typical sequelae include small to minute punctate haemorrhages in several parts of the body. After two to five days, the acute stage of the disease is mostly over and the E.I.A: goes into a chronic state. The affected horses are then a source of infection for a long period of time and never become fully healthy again:

Sperrbezirk of one kilometer
Also in the present case in Ostallgäu was determined by the Office of Veterinary Officer immediately a restricted area of ​​about one kilometer radius around the affected farm in the community Stöttwang in the district Gennachhausen after finding the E.I.A. In addition, all solipeds within a radius of one kilometer around the affected stables on E.I.A. examined, so the district office Ostallgäu. However, further cases of illness were not discovered. Even trailers on which potentially endangered animals were transported had to be cleaned and disinfected according to official instructions. In Bavaria, since the autumn of last year, 13 cases of fatal E.I.A. on. (fp, 20.10.2010)

Picture credits: Waltraud Seitz