Collegiate Times

Because of the suspected infection of the neurological form of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) to three horses, state officials ordered quarantine on Feb. 20 at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, which is owned by Virginia Tech.

The center first realized there was a problem with a horse that was brought into the facility on Feb. 7 for an unrelated condition, said professor Nat White, director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. The horse was immediately isolated and tested and the results of the PCR test revealed that the horse was positive for the disease. These cases are not confirmed and the results can be false, but the center is still taking all precautions necessary.

All clients who have horses currently at the center were notified. As of Tuesday, there were two more horses in the hospital that had signs of the disease. All horses that could have potentially been affected are held in isolation.

“I think that the main thing that we would like people to know is that the safety and health of our patients is our major concern,” White said. “We will do everything to make sure that this problem is contained we will not accept new horses here until the disease is gone.”

Recognized symptoms of the EHV-1 virus are: fever, coughing, nasal discharge, loss of balance, urinary retention and recumbency. It is a herpes virus that affects horses not humans.

EHV-1 causes respiratory disease in horses it can also cause miscarriages, perinatal infection and some weakness and depression, said White.

It is spread by direct contact and aerosol transmission and is highly contagious, White said.

It is a virus that affects the nervous system and is difficult to treat. There are some antiviral agents that can be used. Treatment is symptomatic and the process revolves around allowing the virus to pass. The virus can be fatal in some horses, but most overcome it.

White does not know how long the quarantine will last.

“We have estimated anywhere between 14 to 28 days,” White said. “Those are just estimates. Normally the signs will diminish within 21 days.”

The center is doing the best they can to help patients and clients.

“The center has always followed strict biosafety procedures governing patient care, movement in and out of the isolation unit, and cleaning of stalls between each horse occupancy in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases," said Martin Furr, Adelaide

C. Riggs Chair in Equine Medicine at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in a statement released by the center.

"However, this quarantine, which is the first that we've had since the center was opened in 1984, has been implemented to ensure that there is no chance of spreading the virus."

The Equine Center is the third part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.