What Does Equine Infectious Anemia Do To Horses?

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), sometimes called ‘swamp fever’ is an infectious disease that causes acute, chronic or symptomless illness, characterized by fever, anemia, swelling and weight loss in horses, ponies, mules and donkeys.

Can equine infectious anemia Be Cured?

How is equine infectious anemia treated? There is no treatment or “cure” for EIA. If you suspect that your horse may be infected, call your veterinarian immediately, move the horse at least 200 yards away from other horses and reduce exposure to biting flies. Equine infectious anemia is a reportable disease.

Can horses live with EIA?

EIA-positive horses carry the virus for life and serve as a reservoir of infection for other horses. Under the CFIA control program, any EIA-positive horse must be humanely euthanized.

How does Coggins affect a horse?

A “Coggins” is a blood test that detects antibodies to the disease Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). This is a virus that can cause affected horses (or donkeys) to have fevers, anemia (low red blood cell count), edema (stocking up), or weight loss/muscle wasting.

What causes equine infectious Anaemia?

Equine infections anaemia is transmitted by large horseflies. The flies are only active from May to September, with a peak in July and August. The horseflies only travel short distances to feed, but the disease can be carried over long distances by infected horses or contaminated blood products.

How long does equine infectious anemia last?

Some cases become recumbent and die after the initial stage of the disease. In most however there is a period of apparent recovery, that may last for two or three weeks, but symptoms then reappear and again every few weeks for many months.

What happens to a horse with EIA?

Most infected horses are asymptomatic, showing no signs of disease. Acutely infected animals may develop a fever, go off feed, or die suddenly. A chronically infected equine may develop non-specific signs such as weight loss, weakness, anemia, and swelling of the legs, chest, and abdomen.

What is the last stage of EIA?

Decision-Making: The final decision is based on the EIA to approve or reject the project.

Can a horse recover from EIA?

At this time there is no cure for EIA, nor is there a vaccine that will prevent an animal from becoming infected. Supportive therapy may alleviate clinical signs in individual cases, but it is critical to remember that infected equines serve as a reservoir of infection for other equines.

Can horses recover from EMS?

Treatment. The good news is that EMS can be reversed. Due to the complex nature of EMS, there is likely to be weight loss resistance.

Is equine infectious anemia the same as Coggins?

‘Coggins’ is the common name for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which is a blood test used to screen horses, donkeys and mules for the potentially fatal disease Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA).

Can a horse survive Coggins?

A Coggins test is good for one year and is required to get a health certificate for your horse. Sadly, most horses that are diagnosed with EIA are eventually euthanized due to the fact that any horse that is confirmed positive must be isolated at least 200 yards away from all other horses for its lifetime.

What happens if a horse tests positive for Coggins?

Horses positive for EIA are lifelong carriers and pose a risk to any other horse they may be around. Therefore, EIA carriers must either be permanently quarantined and kept at least 200 yards away from other horses or euthanized.

What body system does equine infectious anemia affect?

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a viral disease that affects the horse’s immune system.

Is equine infectious anemia common?

Some cases are characterized by rapid death, but EIA fatalities are not commonly encountered in the U.S. horse population today.

Can you prevent EIA in horses?

Protecting your horse against Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) includes keeping up with the annual Coggins test and using diligent fly control to protect against biting flies that can transmit the disease.

Is equine infectious anemia contagious?

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a noncontagious infectious disease of equids caused by a virus of the same name. It is not known to be transmissible to humans.

What happens if anemia goes unchecked?

Undiagnosed or untreated iron-deficiency anemia may cause serious complications such as fatigue, headaches, restless legs syndrome, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays in children. Iron-deficiency anemia can also make other chronic conditions worse or cause their treatments to work poorly.

How do I know if my horse has EMS?

A blood test can determine whether a horse has EMS. When a horse becomes insulin- resistant, the body produces more insulin to try to counteract it. A blood test that shows high insulin levels can be enough to diagnose EMS.

What are 3 signs that might indicate to you that a horse might be suffering from illness?

Signs of poor health and horses

• change in appetite or drinking habits.
• change in droppings or signs of diarrhoea.
• change in demeanour or behaviour.
• change in weight (either increase or decrease)
• change in coat/foot condition.

How can I help my horse with EMS?

How is EMS treated? Because most horses with EMS are overweight, the mainstay of treatment involves management changes that promote weight loss. These include reducing overall calorie intake, dietary sugar restriction, and increased exercise.