COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas state veterinarian activated the Animal Health Network yesterday to better inform horse owners about the potential spread of the neurologic form of Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) disease. To support this effort, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is offering specific recommendations for diagnostic testing to horse owners who may be concerned about EHV-1.
“Early and accurate diagnosis is a key to slowing the spread of an animal disease,” TVMDL Director Dr. Tammy Beckham said. “Concerned horse owners should consult with veterinarians for a thorough examination and discuss effective EVH-1 testing.”
For horse owners who want to test for EHV-1, TVMDL strongly recommends requesting an Equine Herpesvirus type 1 PCR (EHV-1 PCR). Turnaround time for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing is no more than five working days. Acceptable samples are nasal swabs and whole blood (EDTA anticoagulant). For euthanized animals or abortion cases, TVMDL recommends fresh tissues (liver, spleen, brain), aborted fetus or placenta. In these cases, suitable tests are EHV-1 PCR and histopathology. Serology testing from a single sample has limited diagnostic value in this situation due to widespread EHV-1 exposure and vaccination in the general equine population.
Test specimens – blood in purple tops and/or nasal swabs – should be sent to TVMDL’s College Station laboratory:
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
1 Sippel Rd.
College Station, TX 77843-4471.
Specimens should be submitted by overnight courier. If clinical disease is suspected nasal swabs and whole blood (EDTA) may also be submitted for virus isolation. Results from virus isolation require a two week turnaround time.
Owners or veterinarians who have questions or concerns about diagnostic testing for EHV-1 should contact TVMDL at:
- Phone (979) 845-3414 or toll free at (888) 646-5623
- Fax (979) 845-1794
EHV-1 is a reportable disease to the TAHC. For authoritative news and information about the EHV-1 situation in Texas, TVMDL suggests the TAHC website at www.tahc.state.tx.us. For national news and information, TVMDL suggests the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) site at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/ehv/.
The Animal Health Network (AnimalHealthNetwork.org) is a communication tool that assists the state veterinarian by distributing vital animal disease alerts to non-commercial livestock and poultry owners through local feed retailers and county Extension educators.
About TVMDL: The Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory protects animal and human health through diagnostics. An agency of the Texas A&M University System, TVMDL comprises two full-service laboratories, in College Station and Amarillo, and two poultry laboratories, in Center and Gonzales. TVMDL is among 12 core laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, a group of state and regional laboratories designed to provide a nationwide surge testing, response, and recovery capacity in the event of an animal disease outbreak. TVMDL is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. Visit our website: TVMDL.tamu.edu.
