October 10, 2008
The EP investigation is continuing and it appears that the source of the infection has been determined and the exposed animals are under state quarantine. There have been no new positive animals detected since September 17th and the remaining 5 positive horses are located on one premise.
The transmission of the organism is still believed to have resulted from management practices and not naturally via ticks. Despite extensive tick surveillance, no exotic ticks have been identified. Approximately 50 ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) that have been shown to be experimental vectors for the organism have been tested and found to be negative for EP.
Due to the apparent containment of the EP situation, Canada has now revised their import requirements for horses from Florida. Horses exporting to Canada from the State of Florida must meet the following additional requirements:
- An Import permit (for the Canadian importer);
- The horse(s) are inspected by a veterinarian within fifteen (15) days preceding the date of importation.
Certification statements on the export health certificate:
- "The horse(s) have not been on a premises where equine piroplasmosis (clinical or serology) has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation to Canada, nor has this disease occurred on any adjoining premises during the same period of time."
- "They must have tested negative using a cELISA test or, where applicable, an alternate test acceptable to CFIA for equine piroplasmosis, during the fifteen (15) days prior to the date of importation into Canada."
Canada
has also asked for additional certification for equines from other states, for all certificates issued after Sept.15, 2008:
"During the previous twenty-one (21) days, the animal(s) in this shipment has/have not been in the state of Florida."
October 1, 2008
Two additional premises have been released from quarantine as all horses have tested negative and have not been exposed to EP, within the past 60 days. Currently, 11 premises remain under quarantine with only one of those premises still having positive horses.
(Click here for PDF for a listing of positive premises data.)
Check back for this link as it will be continually updated by the State of Florida DOACS.
The State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to investigate the EP situation in Florida by tracing horses that may have been exposed to the disease and coordinating tick surveillance. The evidence at this time continues to implicate management practices in the spread of the disease as no foreign ticks or ticks carrying the EP causing organism have been found.
With the exception of the Canadian ban on Florida horses, there are no restrictions on Florida horses at this time. The State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to work with the United States Department of Agriculture in an effort to have the Canadian restrictions reduced or lifted.
Quarantine Data
Number of Quarantines Placed 25
Number of Premises Currently Under Quarantine 11
Total Number of Premises Having Horses Test Positive 7
Number of Premises Currently Having Positive Horses 1
September 24, 2008
There are currently 13 premises under state quarantine with only one farm still having positive horses on the premises. This is down from 25 quarantines and 7 farms having positive horses (See tables below). Premises are being released from quarantine only after negative testing and an extended time since exposure to the disease.
All the positive cases of EP have been directly linked to what is believed to be 2 horses that entered Florida from Mexico. The investigation has resulted in extensive tracing of animals, which led to the quarantining of the 25 premises and approximately 200 horses being tested for EP.
The evidence still indicates that transmission of the disease has been by management practices and not by a natural tick vector. Tick surveillance is ongoing but no exotic ticks have been found and all domestic ticks thought to be potential vectors for the disease have tested negative for the organism causing EP.
September 19, 2008
Quarantine Data
Number of Quarantines Placed 25
Number of Premises Currently Under Quarantine 13
Total Number of Premises Having Positive Horses 7
Number of Premises Currently Having Positive Horses 1
A total of 18 premises are currently under state quarantine due to exposure to EP. Since the investigation began 25 premises have been quarantined, with approximately 200 horses being tested for the disease. Seven of the 25 premises have been released from quarantine as a result of negative testing and an extended time since exposure to the disease. During the investigation this week no additional premises have had horses test positive, leaving the current number of positive premises at 6. Only 3 of the quarantined premises have positive horses still residing on the farm. (See the informational tables below for details.)
The investigation is continuing and animals are still being traced and tested. Tick surveillance is continuing as well. There have been no exotic ticks found and all testing on ticks collected has been negative for EP.
There are no state restrictions placed on Florida horses at this time and the only country that has placed restrictions on Florida horses is Canada, which will not accept any horse that has been in Florida within the past 21 days. The State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to work with the United States Department of Agriculture in an effort to have the Canadian restrictions reduced or lifted.
Quarantine Data
Number of Quarantines Placed 25
Number of Premises Currently Under Quarantine 18
Total Number of Premises Having Positive Horses 6
Number of Premises Currently Having Positive Horses 3
September 16, 2008
Four additional premises have been released from quarantine as all horses on those premises have tested negative for EP. There are currently 15 premises still under quarantine with 5 of those premises having at least one horse testing positive for EP.
The State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to investigate the EP situation in Florida by tracing horses that may have been exposed to the disease and coordinating tick surveillance. The evidence at this time continues to implicate management practices in the spread of the disease as no foreign ticks or ticks carrying the EP causing organism have been found.
With the exception of the Canadian ban on Florida horses, there are no restrictions on Florida horses at this time. The State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to work with the United States Department of Agriculture in an effort to have the Canadian restrictions reduced or lifted.
September 12, 2008
There are currently 19 premises under state quarantine due to the ongoing EP investigation. A total of 22 premises had been quarantined but 3 premises have been released due to negative testing on all horses. Of the 19 premises now quarantined 5 have a total of 15 horses that have tested positive for EP. This is down from 6 premises with 20 positives as one of the quarantined premises, in ManateeCounty, has surrendered 5 positive horses to state officials.
Spread of the disease is currently believed to be due to management practices and not via tick transmission. Thus far Tick surveillance has found no exotic ticks and none of the domestic ticks tested so far have been positive for the EP organism.
There are no state restrictions on Florida horses; however, Canadian officials notified the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week that they will no longer accept horses originating in Florida. The state veterinarian’s office is working with the USDA to try to have these restrictions reduced or lifted.
September 8, 2008
Over the weekend two additional premises were identified as being exposed to EP via horse movement. The premises, located in Dade and LakeCounties, were quarantined and each premises had one horse that tested positive for EP.
These cases bring the total number of quarantined premises to 19 and the number of horses testing positive to 20, on 6 of the quarantined premises. All of the horses testing positive are closely linked via movement and common premises. Because there is a close association between all 20 positive horses, the spread of the disease is believed to be due to management practices that result in the transfer of whole blood between horses.
Tick trapping and surveillance is ongoing. No foreign ticks have been found and no domestic ticks have tested positive for the organism that causes EP.
September 5, 2008
There are now 18 premises under quarantine with approximately 160 horses tested for EP. All of the positive premises have been directly linked together via movement of one or more of the positive horses. Four of the quarantined premises are expected to be released soon as exposure to EP occurred more than 60 days ago and all testing for EP has been negative.
Out of the 160 horses tested 18 have been positive on 4 of the quarantined premises. Five of the positive horses have been either humanely euthanized or sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The current evidence indicates that ticks have not played a role in the spread of the disease.
Tick surveillance is continuing with more than 60 ticks having been collected from positive or surrounding premises. Only 3 of the trapped ticks are species that have been shown experimentally to be a possible transmitter of the disease and all are domestic to the United States.
September 3, 2008
The EP investigation is continuing and includes 17 quarantined premises with over 130 animals tested. Of the 17 quarantined premises, 3 have had a total of 10 horses that have tested positive for EP. The 3 positive premises have been directly linked via movement of one or more of the positive horses.
The investigation will likely result in additional premises being placed under quarantine as horses that have had contact with a positive horse are being traced to their current location and tested. Several of the currently quarantined premises are expected to be released soon as the investigation has determined that no exposure to a positive horse had occurred, no horses have tested positive on the premises and no ticks capable of spreading the disease have been found.
Based on the current evidence there is no indication that ticks have played a role in the spread of the disease. To ensure that there are no infected ticks and no tick species likely to transmit the disease in Florida, tick surveillance is being conducted in association with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Diseases Study, who has extensive experience in environmental tick collection.
August 29, 2008
The EP investigation has revealed two additional test positive horses on a third premises located in PolkCounty. The two additional cases bring the total number of test positive horses to eight, on three separate premises. All of the positive horses have been closely linked to the initial positive premise, in ManateeCounty.
The investigation has resulted in the quarantine of twelve premises and testing of more than 100 horses. The investigation is continuing and additional quarantines and testing are likely to occur.
There has been no evidence of natural transmission of the organism by ticks. Tick surveillance is continuing in an effort to ensure that there are no infected ticks and no tick species likely to transmit the disease in Florida.
August 28, 2008
The EP investigation is continuing with additional premises quarantined and horses tested. During the investigation the State Veterinarian’s Office has quarantined 11 premises and tested over 90 horses for EP. Only 2 premises have had horses test positive for the disease. One of the premises, in ManateeCounty, where the first clinical horse originated, had 4 barn mates test positive for the disease. The only other quarantined premises, located in DesotoCounty, had one horse test positive which had a direct link to the ManateeCounty premises.
Additional premises are being investigated as information becomes available and further testing of horses will occur should there be any evidence of contact that could spread the EP organism. Because the organism causing EP is only spread via specific ticks or contaminated needles, tick trapping and surveillance is continuing as well. Currently there have been no ticks found which are thought to have the ability to spread the disease.
August 25, 2008
Several adjacent and contact premises, linked to the initial positive premises in ManateeCounty, have been investigated. Of the 30 additional horses tested late last week only one horse from a contact premises tested positive for EP. No additional ticks have been discovered on any of the horses tested.
State officials are working with the USDA to continue the investigation. Work is being carried out to identify additional horses or premises that may have been in contact with or associated with a positive horse or premises. In addition, representatives of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Diseases Study are assisting with tick surveillance on affected premises.
August 21, 2008
The Florida State Veterinarian’s Office is continuing to investigate the Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) case in ManateeCounty. While tropical storm Faye delayed investigation efforts earlier in the week additional samples and tick inspections were performed yesterday. Further horse testing and tick surveillance will continue over the weekend.
Currently the only premise with evidence of EP is the one index premise in ManateeCounty. There have been no additional clinical cases reported at this time. While no states have restricted movement of Florida horses, Canada has advised the United States Department of Agriculture they will not accept horses originating from ManateeCounty, effective immediately. This ban will stay in effect until further notice.
August 18, 2008
Further testing on samples from horses on the index premises in ManateeCounty have indicated that four additional horses on the premises are infected with the organism that causes Equine Piroplasmosis (EP). The four positive horses were stabled in the barn with the initial clinical horse. All other horses on the premises, which are managed separately from the horses in the barn, were negative on testing. In addition, 20 ticks found at the premises were identified as the GulfCoast tick (Amblyomma maculatum), which has not been shown to transmit the disease between horses. The preliminary investigation indicates that the transmission on the index premises may have been caused by use of common needles between horses and not spread naturally by a tick vector. The Department is continuing its investigation including additional horse and tick surveillance of the area. As a precaution, 3 adjacent premises and 1 contact premises have been placed under quarantine pending further sample collection and testing.
August 15, 2008
Department Press Release
08-15-2008
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
Bronson Announces Detection of Horse Disease
TALLAHASSEE
– Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that a ManateeCounty horse has been diagnosed with Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) - an animal disease that the U.S. has been considered free of since 1988. Blood and tissue testing of a seven-year-old gelding that had been euthanized after a three week illness confirmed the presence of the disease in the animal. State officials immediately quarantined the premises in which the horse resided, as well as two adjacent properties containing horses pending a determination of their status.
An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the State Veterinarian’s Office to determine the source of the disease and whether it has spread beyond the immediate area where the infected animal was housed.
EP
Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a blood-borne parasitic disease primarily transmitted to horses by ticks or contaminated needles. The disease was eradicated from Florida in the 1980s, and the tick species believed to transmit EP in other countries have not been identified in Florida in many years. This disease is not directly contagious from one horse to another but requires direct blood transfer. Human infection with equine piroplasmosis is extremely rare. Acutely affected horses can have depression, fever, anemia (decreased red blood cells) jaundiced (yellow) mucous membranes and low platelet counts. EP can also cause horses to have roughened hair coats, constipation, and colic. In its milder form, the disease causes horses to appear weak and show lack of appetite. Some horses become chronic carriers of the disease.
ADVICE TO VETS AND HORSEOWNERS
Veterinarians, horse owners, and others in the equine industry in Florida are asked to monitor their horses carefully and contact their veterinarian if they suspect this disease. Because it is a disease that the U.S. has been free of for two decades, suspected cases must be reported to the Office of the State Veterinarian by law. With the exception of the quarantined premises, there are no EP movement restrictions on horses within Florida or between Florida and other states. Horses entering Florida from other countries with Equine Piroplasmosis will continue to be tested prior to and following entry according to the current rule.
WHAT HORSEOWNERS SHOULD DO
1. Monitor your horse for the presence of ticks. Use commercially available topical products labeled for ticks if your horse is in an area where tick infestation is a problem. Most of these products are synthetic pyrethrins. Include an avermectin product in your deworming program to provide systemic treatment for ticks. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure.
2. If you find large numbers of ticks or suspect piroplasmosis, please contact your veterinarian.
3. Do not share needles between animals during the administration of any medication or vaccinations. EP and other diseases can be spread by the introduction of blood cells from an infected animal into an uninfected animal during routine administration of injectable medications.
4. Continue your normal equine activities.
Additional updates and information will be posted to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry web site at: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai/.
Newsroom Associate
Staff Writer
support@horsesinthesouth.com