REMINDER: POTOMAC HORSE FEVER MID SUMMER BOOSTER This time of year is when Potomac Horse Fever is most common. Last year our area had an abnormally high number of cases of this disease and as a result. The infectious disease doctors at Virginia Tech came into our area to investigate. At that time they recommended that horse’s in our area have a booster Potomac Horse Fever vaccine in mid-summer. If you have not already done so schedule an appointment for your horse’s booster. What is Potomac Horse Fever (PHF)? PHF is a very serious disease that affects horses in late spring through early fall but usually peaks in July, August and September. It was first seen in the US along the Potomac River in Maryland in 1979, but is now found in many states throughout the US. We typically see several cases throughout the summer in our area. What are the clinical signs of PHF? FEVER AND DIARRHEA, Horses with PHF can have a variety of clinical signs but most commonly will have a high fever, low white blood cell count, colic, lethargy and depression. Some horses will also develop other signs such as severe diarrhea (colitis) and laminitis which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly and appropriately. Pregnant mares can also abort if infected at the right stage of gestation. How can my horse get PHF? The disease is caused by a bacterium called neorickettsia risticii. Horses become infected with the bacteria when they ingest aquatic insects, most commonly may flies and caddis flies, which have ingested trematodes (flukes) encysted with the bacteria. There is also new evidence that suggests birds and bats that ingest trematodes and insects containing the neorickettsia may infect horses through their feces. The disease is more common in areas around bodies of water but can also be found in horses that do not live around water. The disease cannot be transmitted from one horse to another. What is the treatment for PHF? The treatment to kill the organism is IV Oxytetracycline for 5 days and supportive care for the specific clinical symptoms are required. If a horse develops severe diarrhea he or she will require extensive supportive care including IV fluids, medications to mediate endotoxemia (toxic bacteria that resides in the intestines), plasma transfusions and laminitis prevention measures. Can I prevent my horse from getting PHF? Vaccination is recommended however, vaccinated horses can still become affected by PHF. There are many strains of neorickettsia that cause the clinical disease and the vaccine is not effective against all strains. It is thought that vaccinated horses will experience a less severe form of the disease and thus have a higher rate of survival if they are effected with the disease.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:20:48 +0000
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