FIRST HORSE IN 2012 TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS

~ Horse had not been vaccinated for disease ~

                The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today announced 2012’s first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse. The horse, a nine-year-old Morgan gelding, was from Loudoun County. It had not been vaccinated for WNV for at least three years. The onset of symptoms was September 11. The horse was euthanized and necropsied at VDACS’s animal health laboratory in Warrenton on September 13.

Dr. Joe Garvin, head of VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services, urges horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV. “WNV is a mosquito-borne disease,” he said, “and we generally start seeing our first cases in August and September. The disease is preventable by vaccination, as is Eastern Equine Encephalitis, so many veterinarians recommend vaccination at least yearly, and in mosquito-prone areas, every six months.” He adds that mosquito season in Virginia can run through November.

The WNV vaccine for equines initially requires two doses administered three to six weeks apart. The vaccine takes four to six weeks from the second dose for optimal effectiveness. Horse owners should consult with their veterinarians to choose a re-vaccination schedule to protect their horses effectively. Prevention methods besides vaccination include destroying standing water breeding sites for mosquitoes, use of insect repellents and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, usually dusk to dawn.

               Mosquitoes can transmit the virus from bird to bird. Occasionally a mosquito that has bitten an infected bird will then bite a human, horse or other mammal and transmit the virus to them. Transmission between horses and humans is extremely unlikely. Continuous, effective mosquito control can minimize the risk of exposure of both horses and humans to mosquito-borne diseases.

                Currently, no drugs exist to treat WNV specifically in horses or humans. The mortality rate in equines is about 30 percent. Treatment for an infected horse consists of supportive therapy to prevent the animal from injuring itself throughout the two to three weeks of the disease. A veterinarian can prescribe treatment tailored to the particular case.

                Animal owners should consult their veterinarians if an animal exhibits any neurological symptoms such as a stumbling gait, going down, facial paralysis, drooping or disinterest in their surroundings. Currently, there are live-animal tests for WNV in horses and chickens, but none for other animals, although testing can be done on any dead animal. Animal owners should consult their veterinarians or the nearest VDACS Regional Animal Health Laboratory for advice or information should an animal exhibit symptoms of WNV. The location and phone number of each lab is available at vdacs.virginia.gov/about/directory-ais.shtml <http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about/directory-ais.shtml> .


The following websites provide more information on WNV and how to protect humans and horses:
Horses:
vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/wnv.html <http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/wnv.html>
aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/wnv/ <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine/wnv/>
Humans:
vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/factsheets/westnilevirus.htm <http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Vectorborne/factsheets/westnilevirus.htm>
 

Undergraduate engineering students work with horses during a summer research internship

The rolling pastures, lazy fences, cool shelters, and big barns make up the picturesque home for dozens of horses at the Middleburg Agriculture and Research Extension Center http://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/middleburg/index.html

While the spot is the perfect haven for students and faculty in the animal science field, it’s also become the retreat of choice for one undergraduate engineering student.

Stefanie Pagano of Oakton, Va., a senior majoring in biological systems engineering in the College of Engineering (http://www.eng.vt.edu/) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (http://www.cals.vt.edu/), is spending her summer living at the center as part of an immersive internship and summer research project through the Scieneering program (http://www.undergraduate.vt.edu/Scieneering/), which focuses on blending the fields of science, engineering, and law.

The 420-acre farm is an internationally recognized sporthorse breeding facility, with two faculty members who live on-site with graduate and undergraduate students throughout the year. It houses two stallions, dozens of mares, and the foals they produce.

Pagano is one of six undergraduates taking part in the center’s summer internship. All of the other students are animal and poultry science majors, but Pagano is still in her element, even as the only engineer. “I grew up around horses. I love horses. I want horses in my life,” said Pagano. “How can I intermix the two worlds – engineering and horses? I would love to look at how racehorses coming out of the starting gate, how that force effects their joints. I've read the force is similar to if a person put all of his weight on his middle finger. I would love to look at the biomechanics of that.”

The center’s summer internship doesn’t just give undergraduates an opportunity for research. The students stay busy with the care of the horses and the upkeep of the farm. “On a daily basis, we wake up and feed the horses. The mares get an ultrasound to see what day they are on their reproductive cycle to determine when to breed them. We also do foal handling in the afternoons,” said Pagano. “Many people think horse life is glamorous, but it is actually a lot of grunt work, too – moving manure, repairing fences, and other maintenance issues to make sure these girls can live the best life possible and produce the best babies too.”

Even as an undergraduate, Pagano and the other interns are actively involved in the medical and scientific procedures at the center – from the birth of foals to assisting in ultrasounds, muscle and uterine biopsies, and glucose testing. Pagano will use the muscle biopsy samples for her summer research project evaluating the impact of resveratrol – a plant compound found in red wine – on the horses’ microRNA. The data collection is not complete yet and will need to be analyzed. “What I hope to find is that the resveratrol either up regulates or down regulates the microRNAs that are involved in the metabolic functions of the body. I don’t expect resveratrol to reverse obesity, but potentially it could be a weight loss supplement to improve glucose tolerance, absorption of insulin, and the overall metabolism of the horse.”

Pagano credits the Scieneering program with helping her figure out what to do with her life – a tough question for many college students to answer. “The Scieneering program has been great at exposing me to a lot of different things, people, and situations. I think it has really set my future path – seeing what I can do in the horse world with biomedical engineering. I’m doing research well outside of the engineering field but one day, I’ll be able to bring them back together.”

While Pagano is getting a lot out of the program, the program is getting a lot out of her as well. “Our students should be knowledgeable and capable horsemen, of course, but ultimately we want to develop them as critical, creative thinkers able to work together to solve complex problems and make science a bigger part of their daily lives,” said Rebecca Splan, associate professor and residential faculty member at the center. Splan is also Pagano’s research mentor. “Stefanie has added a new element to our team with her engineering background but passion for horses. We are lucky to have her.”

Pagano will present her research findings on her microRNA study at the Joint SURF and Scieneering Summer Research Symposium on Aug. 3, 2012, at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skeleton Conference Center. The public is invited to attend the event. More than 100 undergraduate students will present their summer research projects.

Forum on Veterinary radiographic reports at public auction

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital will host an educational forum on July 18 at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion, Saratoga Springs, New York.  An expert veterinary panel will present radiographic images of joints and endoscopic videos of throats in sales yearlings.

The panel, moderated by Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, will discuss different types of radiographic and throat abnormalities and their impact on sale and racing with and without surgery. The panel will also review the recent changes in the conditions of sale regarding Veterinary Radiographic Reports at public auction and answer questions from the audience.

Serving as the panel of experts are Larry Bramlage DVM, Dipl. ACVS, Scott Pierce DVM and Debbie Spike-Pierce DVM.  Dr. Bramlage is an orthopedic surgeon at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Bramlage is a member of the Jockey Club and is known as an expert in Thoroughbred racing circles having served as the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ media spokesperson for the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup broadcasts for 19 years. Drs. Scott Pierce and Debbie Spike-Pierce are also based at Rood & Riddle in Lexington but are present at major Thoroughbred auctions throughout the year providing veterinary services for consignors and buyers.

"With the new changes to the conditions of sale guaranteeing accuracy of veterinary repository reports, this is the perfect time to familiarize breeders, consignors and buyers with real examples of X-ray lesions and scope findings and share with them our thoughts on their significance,” said Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, a New York based Rood & Riddle equine practitioner.

The event is sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Association, New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, Fasig-Tipton, and Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. A welcome reception with light hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6:00pm for early arrivals with the panel discussion from 7:00-8:30pm. RSVP is not required for attendance but requested to assist plans for adequate seating and refreshments. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by July 13 to rreh@roodandriddle.com or by phone to (859) 233-0371.

Rescue Partnership Gives Horses a Second Chance

With the recent economic challenges, horses have been one of the silent victims of the downturn. All across the country, horse owners are voluntarily surrendering their animals, putting a huge burden on rescue organizations. But out of this crisis, some organizations have partnered with veterinary clinics and become a safe haven for these animals.

The relationship between The Oaks Veterinary Clinic in Smithfield, Va., and the Diamonds in the Rough Rescue is one of these bright examples.

Founded in 1966 as a mixed practice, The Oaks grew over the years and in 2004 evolved into a full- service large-animal practice with a strong focus on horses. Since then, they have seen a definite increase in the number of horses being surrendered or taken due to financial difficulties.

“We saw these cases on the rise, and a longtime client of ours started doing rescues out of her existing boarding facilities and asked us to help her out, which we were happy to do,” says Dr. Cathy Lombardi, DVM, who has been with The Oaks since 2004. “In 2010, she transitioned to a non-for-profit rescue, Diamonds in the Rough, due to the sheer volume of horses that were being surrendered.”

Two years later, Diamonds in the Rough takes in as many as 20 horses a month, and Dr. Lombardi has a standing Tuesday appointment to deal with the new horses and the existing ones in the program.

“Diamonds in the Rough has a program built around the four R’s — Rescue, Restore, Retrain and Rehome — and we are pleased that we can be part of that program,” Dr. Lombardi says. “We work primarily with the Rescue and Restore portions of the program to determine the rescues’ medical needs and to get them in adoption shape.”

Southern Piedmont Equine Extravaganza “Putting Science into Practice”

Virginia Tech’s Southern Piedmont Center, Blackstone, VA
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Registration at 8 am meeting starts at 8:30 am and ends at 3:00 pm
Lunch will be catered by the Buffalo Creek Pony Club

“Featuring Scott Purdum of Advantage Horsemanship”

Topics and Speakers

Morning Session includes the following inside presentations:

 Grazing systems for small acreage horse owners, Chris Teutsch, Virginia Tech

 Building a stronger bond between you and your horse, Scott Purdum, Advantage Horsemanship

 Meeting the nutritional needs of your horses, Marty Adams, Southern States Cooperative

 Foundations of riding, Theresa McManus, Keymon Farm

Afternoon Session includes the following outside demonstrations

 Practical approaches to addressing behavioral problems, Scott Purdum, Advantage Horsemanship

 Establishing horse pastures: equipment, techniques, and species, Chris Teutsch, Virginia Tech

 Emergency and preventative medicine for your horse, Brandy Phelps, DVM, Hoofbeats Equine Services

 Equine massage demonstration, Deb Crane, Equine Sports Therapies

An advanced preregistration fee of $10 per adult is being charged to help to offset meal and speaker costs. All preregistered youth under the age of 18 years old can attend at no cost. Preregistrations must be postmarked by March 30, 2012. Registration the day of the event will be $15 for adults and $5 for youth.

All paid participants over the age of 18 will receive a coupon for a free bag of horse feed complements of Southern States Cooperative. This conference is a joint effort of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council and Virginia Cooperative Extension and is being supported by a grant from the Virginia Horse Industry Board. For more information on this conference and how to preregister please visit the VFGC’s website at www.vaforages.org or contact Margaret Kenny at makenny@vt.edu or 434-292-5331.

Equine Educational Day April 24, 2012

Charlottesville Southern States and Blue Ridge Equine Clinic are putting on another Equine Educational Seminar on April 24th, 2012.  Previous sponsors have been Kentucky Performance Products, Standlee Hay, Pfizer, Farnam, Foxden Equine, Straight Arrow, Triple Crown, and many others.  There are vendors and equine experts available before the speakers for questions and information about new feeds and products.  Speakers will present on Equine Dentistry, Virginia Bred Horse Program and general Horse Health.    This is a great opportunity to get your horse friends together and have a night out.  There will be a dinner, door prizes and one lucky person will receive 20 free bags of Legends and Southern States horse feed. Doors open at 5 pm, Dinner is Served around 6:30 and Speakers start around 7. 

This event is free to the public, but does require an RSVP.  Seating is limited. To be held at the Elk's Lodge in Charlottesville across from Darden Towe Park.  Please contact Laura at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic by April 16, 2012.  laura@blueridgeequine.com or (434)973-7947 

Tri-County Feeds, Etc. Offers New Feeds Customized for Northern Piedmont Horses

Tri-County Feeds, Etc. (TCFE), providing feed and equine and equestrian products for more 33 years, recognizes that proper nutrition is critical to horses’ well-being. TCFE worked closely with the nutritional experts at McCauley’s Equine to formulate and manufacture a complete line of feeds that addresses the specific needs of horses in the Northern Piedmont Region. Textured and pelleted customized feeds with various levels of protein, fat, and fiber are available.

TCFE Feeds for the Piedmont are:

· Produced in a drug- and medication-free, equine-only feed mill
· Made fresh to order using the highest quality ingredients available
· Highly palatable and digestible
· Fully fortified with inorganic and organic mineral sources
· Produced in consistent formulas for all ages and types of horses
· Packaged in an environmentally friendly “bag within a bag” that separates so both parts can be recycled easily
· Affordably priced

Bill Jackson, President of TCFE, said, “We saw a clear need for feeds that would meet the unique nutritional requirements of horses of all ages and disciplines located here in the Northern Piedmont.” He continued, “TCFE was pleased to work with McCauley’s Equine to develop the feeds that meet this need effectively and affordably. From babies to seniors, from healthy horses to those with special needs—TCFE Feeds for the Piedmont will deliver the nutrition required.”

The new TCFE Feeds for the Piedmont are not only good for the horses of the region—they are good for the community too. TCFE believes it is important for companies to reinvest in the communities from which they earn their livelihood—and they are doing just that with their new TCFE Feeds. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of TCFE Feeds for the Piedmont goes to the Goose Creek Association (www.goosecreekassn.org) and to the Piedmont Environmental Council (www.pecva.org and www.buylocalvirginia.org) –stewards of our environment and open space and supporters of buy local.

“Reinvesting in our region and protecting our environment have always been priorities for TCFE. Our new feeds are one more way we can support these priorities,” said Jeri Jackson, Vice President of TCFE.    

For additional information on the new TCFE Feeds for the Piedmont—please visit TCFE at 7408 John Marshall Highway, Marshall, VA 20115, on the web at www.tricountyfeeds.com, or contact Bill Jackson at 540-364-8191.

Woodside North Equine Clinic Meet and Greet July 27

Horse owners can meet and greet the Woodside North Equine Clinic Veterinarians Dr. Wolf and Dr. Hammond at Brock's Riverside Grill in Fredericksburg, VA on July 27 from 6:30 until 8:30. Join them as they share information about their services and meet the new veterinarians that will be serving the Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Southern Fauquier, Eastern Orange and Eastern Culpeper areas. They can be contacted at 540-423-3100 or go to www.woodsideequineclinic.com

Merial Launches “Outbreak Alert” Program

DULUTH, GA.– June 1, 2011– Supporting horse owners and veterinarians in their efforts to keep their horses healthy, today Merial launched its “Outbreak Alert” program, which will be used to notify horse owners about reports of equine disease throughout the country, as well as build a greater awareness of those diseases and the importance of prevention.

Disease poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of horses. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has a mortality rate estimated to be as high as 90 percent.^1,2 Every case of rabies presents a death sentence to the infected horse – and a risk of infection for other horses.³ Potomac horse fever (PHF) can lead to severe complications or death, which occur in up to 30 percent of infected horses.^4,5 One out of three horses that gets sick from West Nile virus (WNV) dies or must be euthanized.⁶ While these statistics are alarming, horse owners can help minimize the risk of disease by being armed with information.

“The primary focus of the program is to help keep horse owners, like myself, informed about the threat of disease in the area where they live or where they may be traveling,” says Beckie Peskin, Product Manager, Equine Vaccines and Dewormers, Merial. “Owners want the best for their horses, and knowing where the threat of disease exists will help them take the appropriate preventive measures to help protect their horse – whether it is in their own barn or competing halfway across the country.”

Horse owners can sign up for free alerts via the program’s website, www.outbreak-alert.com. When a disease report occurs, those who have signed up for the notification and live within a 250-mile radius of where the report occurred will receive a text and/or e-mail message to alert them of the potential disease threat. Owners who travel with their horses and want to stay abreast of disease threats in other parts of the country can enter multiple ZIP codes in the site’s search field. They will then be able to receive alerts for all areas they have selected. Owners are also encouraged to share details of the Outbreak Alert program with other horse owners through e-mail, text, Twitter and Facebook.
 

Eight Facts About Equine Deworming - How Much Do You Know?

Deworm all your horses, do it on a frequent and regular schedule, and rotate your product choice through different classes of dewormers. Right?

Wrong. Equine parasitologists now advise you to rethink the traditional rotational deworming protocol. Conventional wisdom has changed, and it’s forcing a need to relearn what we’ve assumed to be “fact” about parasite control. The following is a quick fact check for you to use before you deworm again.

FACT. Rotating dewormers is not only unnecessary, it actually may be harmful.
“Most horse owners think they have been doing the right thing to fight resistance by rotating dewormers. But using several products, some of which may not be effective for parasites infecting horses on your farm, doesn’t work,”1 says Frank Hurtig, DVM, MBA, director, Merial Large Animal Veterinary Services. “And indications are that this practice may actually contribute to resistance.”2,3,4

Rotational deworming, according to Dr. Hurtig, is an outdated practice that originated primarily because early dewormers weren’t entirely effective against all worms. 4,5 They also believed rotating product classes would help keep resistant worm populations from arising on a farm or in an area, but it does not appear to be slowing the development of resistance.2,3

Resistant worms occur by chance but they cannot be diagnosed on a farm until they make up at least 25 percent of the worm population.6 By then, it is too late to correct.7 This fact highlights the importance of deworming only the horses that need it and utilizing Fecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRTs) as part of an overall strategic deworming protocol.7,8 By using this strategy, you can regularly monitor the efficacy of your program and the products you are using, as well as help determine if resistance exists on your farm.7 It is important to remember that resistance develops to classes of drugs and not just individual products within classes.1,2,4,5

FACT. As it turns out, leaving a residual worm population on a farm not only does no harm, it’s actually necessary.
True. It’s called “refugia.” As illogical as it may sound, you should actually welcome a population of parasites on the farm that are susceptible to dewormers. By leaving that refuge population of non-resistant (susceptible) worms to interbreed with resistant parasites, you help reduce the development of resistance.1,4,9

Tuesday Talks Schedule for 2010-2011 Announced

Virginia  Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center has announced its 2010-11 Tuesday Talks schedule. www.equinemedicalcenter.net  This series of free lectures is designed to provide veterinarians, horse owners, and horse professionals with valuable insight and practical advice related to a wide array of equine health care topics.  This year, faculty from the equine medical center and the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension (MARE) Center will discuss the most recent developments in regenerative medicine, lameness, performance, and dentistry.

The 2010-11 Tuesday Talks schedule is as follows:

February 8, 2011: “Breeding to Win: The Genetics of Equine Performance” will be presented by Rebecca Splan,  Ph.D, MS, and associate professor of equine science at the MARE Center.

March 8, 2011: “Performance Horse Dentistry: New Concepts in Oral Equilibration” will be presented by Dr. James Brown, BVSc, MS, Dipl. ACT, andclinical assistant professor in equine surgery and emergency care at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center.


March 22, 2011: “The Curse of Foot Lamenesses” will be presented by Dr. Nat White, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, Jean Ellen Shehan Professor, and director of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center.