Vaccinations for Horses

What is the goal of the AAEP in reference to vaccinations?

To improve health and welfare of the horse……

List core vx for equines.

• Tetanus

• Encephalomyelitis (Western & Eastern)

• West Nile Virus

• Rabies

List the non-core vx for equines.

• Influenza***

• Rhinopneumonitis***

• Strangles

• Potomac Horse Fever (Equine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis)

• Leptospirosis

• Equine Viral Arteritis

• Rotavirus Diarrhea

• Botulism

• Anthrax

• Snake Bite

What two non-core vx are more prevalent?

• Influenza

• Rhinopneumonitis

What bacteria is tetanus caused by?

Clostridium tetani

Where is Clostridium normally found?

• Intestinal tract of animals

• soil

How does Clostridium tetani enter the body?

Spores enter the body through:

• wounds

• lacerations

• umbilicus of newborn foals

• reproductive tract of postpartum mares

When should you booster for tetani?

If a horse develops a wound 6 months after last vx.

What are the clinical signs of Tetanus?

• muscle rigid and stiff (from head to tail)

• flared nostrils

• hypersensitivity

• prolapsed third eyelid

• progresses to stiff jaw (no eating or drinking)

What is the nickname for Tetanus?

lock jaw

What is the scientific name for sleeping sickness?

Encephalomyelitis

How is sleeping sickness transmitted?

What are the 3 types of Sleeping Sickness? Briefly describe each.

What is the most common sleeping sickness outbreak?

Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis

What circumstances should sleeping sickness be given?

What is FAD?

• fever

• anorexia

• depressed

What are the clinical signs of sleeping sickness?

What is West Nile Virus caused by?

What bodily system does West Nile Virus effect the most?

How long does protection for West Nile Virus vx last?

How many cases have been reported in the US for WNV in horses?

more than 25,000 cases

For the horses that survive that acute illness of WNV, how long can residual side effects last?

What ages of horses seem more susceptible to WNV?

What is the West Nile Virus life cycle?

List the clinical signs of West Nile Virus.

• fever

• depression & loss of appetite

• muscle tremors

• hypersensitivity of skin

• decreased coordination and staggering

• down horse/paralysis

How does a horse become exposed to rabies?

Does rabies need a booster?

What are the clinical signs of rabies?

What is the most common infectious respiratory disease in the horse?

What is the scientific name for equine influenza?

How is influenza spread?

What age of horses are more susceptible to influenza?

How long does the influenza vx provide protection for?

What route of administration can influenza vx be given as?

Does IM or IN vx for influenza have longer-lasting protection? Which one should NOT be given to pregnant mares?

What is the death rate for influenza?

What are the clinical signs of influenza?

• fever

• depression & loss of appetite

• cough

• nasal discharge (usually watery)

What are the two strains of Rhinopneumonitis?

1. EHV-1: causes respiratory dx, reproductive dx, & neurological dx

2. EHV-4: causes respiratory dx

What does Rhino virus cause that has no treatment, only supportive therapy?

Herpes virus

What is the route of transmission with Rhino virus?

• aerosolized secretions

• fomites

• infected aborted fetal material

Which groups of horses are primarily affected by Rhino virus?

• under 4yrs

• breeding farms

• contact w/ bred mares

• “high traffic” horses - rodeo/show

How often does Rhino virus need a booster?

6 months

List the clinical signs of Rhino virus (respiratory dx).

• fever

• depression/loss of appetite

• nasal discharge (starts watery → progresses to think & yellow)

Almost identical to flu

What is the leading cause of abortions in mares?

Herpes → Rhino virus (reproductive dx)

List the clinical signs of Rhino virus (Reproductive dx).

• no clinical signs → all genders can be carriers

What version of Rhino virus does the vx not provide good protection for?

neurological version

List the clinical signs of Rhino virus (Neurologic dx).

• typically begins as respiratory dx for 1-2 wks

• hind end weakness

• incoordination & staggering

• toe-dragging

• unable to pass urine or feces

What bacteria is Strangles caused by?

What is strangles also known as?

What is the route of transmission for Strangles?

What group of horses is primary susceptible?

What is the primary source of recurrent infections of Strangles?

What can Strangles lead to?

What are the two forms of available Strangle vx?

1. Intranasal: modified live, rx only, requires careful handling

2. Intramuscular: can only decrease severity of dx, inj site rxn almost obsolete

List the clinical signs of Strangles.

• fever

• depression/loss of appetite

• difficulty eating

• perlite discharge from nose

• cough

• swollen lymph nodes (submandibular)

List the 5 vx recommendations of Strangles.

What is the scientific name for Potomac Horse Fever?

What bacteria causes Potomac Horse Fever?

What is the route of transmission for Potomac Fever?

Why is protection from Potomac Horse Fever debatable?

List the clinical signs of Potomac Horse Fever.

What is Leptospirosis?

What type of Leptospirosis is commonly found in dx horses in the usa?

How is Leptospirosis causes?

What are other ways that Lepto can be transmitted by?

Since Herpes virus is very common, what does Rhino Virus do?

Decreases the shedding → does not prevent herpes

What is the duration of immune protection of a Lepto vx?

unknown

Why is Leptospirosis a sporadic dx?

List the clinical signs of Leptospirosis.

Why is it hard to ID for carries of Strangles?

Must draw blood when actively shedding, however that is sporadic.

What is the scientific name for Botulism?

What is the route of transmission for Botulism?

What are the four forms of Botulism?

How many lymph nodes to horses have?

over 8,000

How does bastard strangles develop?

Strangles that have taken over any lymph nodes.

What is anthrax?

What is the route of transmission for anthrax?

Is there an anthrax vx for equines?

Why should anthrax be proceeded with caution?

What vx can be used for snake bites?

List the clinical signs of a snake bite.

How is Lyme’s dx transmitted?

What can induce Lyme’s dx?

List the often subtle clinical signs of Lyme’s dx.

What is the tx and diagnosis of Lyme’s dx?

Is there a Lyme’s dx vx for equines?

What does a general vx program look like for adult horses?

List the core-vxs.

What are the highly recommended non-core vxs for horses that travel/in contact with horses?

What is a vx protocol for a horse that has an unknown vx hx?