Medical Alerts

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) Outbreak in New Mexico

On Monday June 26, 2006 the O.I.E. Reference Laboratory for Equine Viral Arteritis at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center confirmed an outbreak of EVA involving fetal losses among mares on a Quarter Horse breeding farm in the state of New Mexico.  The viral infection was diagnosed based on high serological antibody levels to the virus in both mares and stallions plus virus isolation in the semen from two stallions.  On the same day, the outbreak was reported to the New Mexico Livestock Board in Albuquerque, New Mexico which is now investigating the potential spread of the disease. 

The Livestock Board has information regarding this outbreak on their website which can be accessed at http://www.newmexicolivestockboard.com under Critical Events.  

Information about EVA is available on the United States Department of Agriculture website:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/equine/eva/. Detailed information about EVA from the United States Department of Agriculture including history, transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control is available at:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahequineva.html.  

An article entitled Equine Viral Arteritis: Is the Disease a Cause for Industry Concern? by Dr. Peter Timoney, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center is available in pdf format. This article was written for the Spring and Summer 2005 issues of Impulsion, the official newsletter of The American Holsteiner Horse Association, Inc. and is reproduced with their permission.

Individuals may also seek information by contacting the Gluck Center at (859) 257-4757. 

The EVA Reference Laboratory is particularly keen to receive samples from suspected clinical cases of EVA.  Veterinarians are requested to contact the Gluck Center before submitting samples.