Equine Spring Vaccination: Protecting Your Horse from Deadly Diseases

1. Dr Melanie Wowk Manager Veterinary Services- Cattle/Equine/Small ruminant • Equine Spring Vaccination

2. Why vaccinate? • Competition horses need to compete! • It really does help reduce the chance of your horse getting sick • Many of these diseases can result in long lasting complications and death • It ends up saving in treatment costs • All animals are exposed to disease daily • It Typhoid Mary effect • It is safe

3. AAEP EQUINE DISEASE CLASSIFICATIONS • Core Diseases: Endemic diseases that pose serious threat to horses and/or public. • Risk-based Diseases: Diseases for which exposure is dependent on geographic region or use of horse. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines Accessed April 30, 2018

4. EXPOSURE CANNOT BE PREVENTED All horses can be exposed and all CORE DISEASES have high mortality rates Mortality rates: EEE, 90% WEE, 50% Tetanus, 75% West Nile, 33% Rabies, 100% Annual vaccination is the only way to protect horses from these deadly diseases. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines. Accessed March 1, 2018. MacKay R. Tetanus. In: Sellon DC, Long M, eds. Equine Infectious Diseases, 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier 2007:368-372.

5. TRANSMISSION: Infected mosquitoes. CLINICAL SIGNS: Lethargy, weakness, fever, depression, loss of appetite, tremors, muscle fasciculation, ataxia, difficulty walking, head pressing, blindness, circling and seizures. PREVENTION: Annual vaccination prior to mosquito season. EASTERN AND WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS AND WEST NILE VIRUS

6. As of September 27, we have had a total of 75 cases reported. The big jump in cases this year should serve as a reminder of the importance to vaccinate horses for this disease. While vaccinations should be considered in June to mid-July before mosquito activity peaks, you should speak with your veterinarian to optimize timing of vaccines • 4Alberta Agriculture and Forestry letter to all equine owners registered to PID, Oct 2, 2018

7. Tetanus A soil borne organism- infects through openings in the skin ie. cuts, foaling injury Horses are very susceptible to it The vaccine is highly efficacious Very difficult to treat once clinical signs appear so prevention is key Anti-toxin is not available

8. Tetanus

9. Rabies Not commonly vaccinated against in Western Canada although positive cases in various species (including humans) occur Horse owners especially susceptible to transfer due to constant close contact with their equine partner- it enters through any break in the skin. Does not have to be a bite. It can be difficult to diagnose. Horses exhibit the widest range of clinical signs of any species Once clinical disease develops there is no cure It must be administered by a veterinarian- it’s the law

11. ADR

12. Which virus causes this neurological issue?

13. Are You positive?

14. INCIDENCE RATE OF RABIES IN HORSES IS NEARLY 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN IN DOGS Nationwide vaccination efforts have been key to reducing canine cases. The vast majority of horses are unprotected against rabies The higher incidence rate reflects the danger of rabies in horses. https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.252.8.945. Accessed April 30, 2018.

15. RABIES SURVEILLANCE REPORT 64% increase in equine rabies cases compared to the previous year. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; April 15, 2018 https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.252.8.945. Accessed April 30, 2018. Equine rabies cases from 2015 and 2016, included horses and donkeys

16. IT IS A STANDARD OF PRACTICE TO ANNUALLYVACCINATE AGAINST THE CORE EQUINE DISEASES AAEP: EEE, WEE, Tetanus, West Nile and Rabies are core equine diseases for which every horse should be annually vaccinated.  This endorsement establishes annual core disease vaccination as a “standard of practice”. AAEP Sunrise Session, 2018, Denise Farris, Farris Law Firm

18. CORE EQ INNOVATOR THE FIRST AND ONLY vaccine containing all equine core disease antigens, in a single injection EEE, WEE, Tetanus, West Nile and Rabies • Built to match AAEP core disease guidelines • Every Horse, Every Spring • Must be administered by a veterinarian because of rabies component COMPLETE CORE EQUINE DISEASE PROTECTION

19. EVERY HORSE, EVERY SPRING • DEMONSTRATED SAFETY CORE EQ INNOVATOR was evaluated in over 1,000 horses representing a range of breeds, ages and management practices across the U.S. 99.7% REACTION-FREE

20. AAEP CORE VACCINATION GUIDELINES Every Horse, Every Spring Adult Horses EEE WEE Tetanus West Nile Rabies Annual vaccination(Spring, prior to vector season) Foals Primary dose (4-6 months of age) Booster dose (4 weeks after primary dose) Annual re-vaccination (Spring, following year) https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/core-vaccination-guidelines Foals and weanlings born to vaccinated mares Accessed April 30, 2018

21. RISK BASED DISEASES These are diseases that are transmitted from horse to horse either through direct contact or by transfer on fomites such as shared brushes and tack, waterers, feed buckets, handlers, etc. Consider exposure at competitions, stables, trail rides, parades, 4H shows, gymkhanas They are equine influenza, equine rhinopneumonitis, and strangles Yearly to bi-yearly vaccination for flu and rhino depending on risk of exposure

22. RISK BASED DISEASES Shedders for these three diseases exist in the population They can appear normal but be harboring infection and spreading it to other horses typically during times of stress

23. Equine Influenza Virus Damages the lining of the lungs and disrupts first layer of defense against other diseases Bacteria Healthy Damaged Images courtesy of Dr. Issel and Gluck Center

24. Equine influenza virus • Long road to recovery • Minimum 3 weeks rest and supportive care required for recovery in uncomplicated cases1 • Longer if fever persists more than 2-3 days • Large potential impact on short-term and long-term performance • Horses that suffer severe infections may be unfit for competition for 50-100 days2 • Recovery can be further complicated by secondary disease • Equine Infectious Diseases, 1st edition. Page 127. Saunders. 2007 • Equine Internal Medicine, 3rd edition. Page 313. Saunders. 2010.

25. StranglesStreptococcus equi equi

26. StranglesStreptococcus equi equi

27. Vaccination is NOT • 100% guaranteed to prevent disease • Variables in population • Reduced ability to mount immune response -poor diet – nutrient deficiencies, energy -chronic disease ie. Cushing’s, EMS -already exposed and harboring infection

28. Vaccination Expectations Decrease shedding Decrease length of time Decrease severity

29. Herd Immunity DOES EVERY ANIMAL RESPOND THE SAME? Not all animals respond to a vaccine – that is why it is important to vaccinate all animals. Immune Response

30. Vaccination Risks • Immune Response -Muscle soreness -Mild fever -Decline in appetite • Monitor • Anti-inflammatories • Anaphylaxis

31. BE SAFE Morwint.deviantart.com

36. Immune support guarantee

37. QUESTIONS?