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EIA
Equine Infectious Anemia
What is EIA?
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a disease,
caused by a virus that causes anemia,
intermittent fever, and severe weight loss.
Equidae (e.g., horses, ponies, mules,
zebras, and donkeys) are the only animals
known to be affected by the virus. Once an
animal is infected with the virus, it is infected
for life.
What is EIA
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Persistent viral disease (lentivirus of the
Retroviridae family) that is closely related to
HIV in humans.
Sometimes called Swamp fever or Coggins
Disease.
First reported case was in France in 1843.
In 1888 the first case was reported in North
America.
This is no cure and no vaccine for it.
Reportable disease
What is “Swamp fever”?
This is a term given to a number of
diseases that are acquired in wet,
swampy environments; Malaria,
Leptospirosis, and EIA.
Transmission
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It only takes ONE drop of blood!
 Insect bites - blood-feeding flies such as
horseflies, stable flies, and deer flies. Note:
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USE FLY CONTROL!
Symptoms
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Anemia
 Fever
 Weight loss
 Edema of ventral
abdomen and legs
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Depression
 Weakness
 Jaundice
 Can be stress
induced with
relapses of these
symptoms in
recovered animals.
Three clinical (forms) stages:
Acute phase: fever, anorexia, extreme
thirst, extreme weakness, depression
may die
 Sub Acute: weight loss, anemia, edema,
stumbles, unsteady gait. Diphasic fever
at irregular intervals
 Chronic: no clinical signs; these are the
majority of your EIA positive horses.
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How far can a fly, fly?
A positive Test
It is recommended that a positive animal
be euthanized
 If an owner elects not to do so, the
animal must be quarantined from all
other horses and is not allowed to travel
(no less then 200 yards seperation and
under the supervision of a State or
Federal animal health official)
- Must be branded to identify this horse
- Recommend supportive therapy
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THE COGGINS TEST
The only way to accurately determine
whether a horse is infected with the EIA
virus is by a serum test.
 The most commonly used method is the
Coggins test, also known as the agar gel
immunodiffusion (AGID) test.
 Each year more than a million horses are
screened for EIA by this test.
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Coggins Testing
AGID test (agar gel immunodiffusion) or
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay) test.
 Must be performed by a USDA or
APHIS-accredited veterinarian or TAHC
(TX. Animal Health Commission)
authorized personnel.
 Only USDA or APHIS approved
laboratories are allowed to run the tests.
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Let’s Give Some Credit to:
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In 1970, Dr. Leroy Coggins of Cornell
University developed the first accurate
laboratory procedure for diagnosing the
disease.
 The Coggins test does not detect the EIA virus
itself but detects the presence of antibodies to
fight the disease in the infected animal.
 In 1973 the USDA designated the Coggins test
the official test for determining the presence of
EIA, and established said protocols of it.
Identification of positive equines
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Permanent notation of
equines: Hot iron,
chemical brand,
freezemarking, or lip
tattoo using the National
Uniform Tag code number
assigned by the USDA to
the State in which the
reactor was tested,
followed by the letter “A”.
Outbreaks
In Saskatchewan and other regions of
western Canada in 2012 has had an
outbreak of EIA with 70 horses and 22
properties.
 According to statistics 1% of horses in
the area are voluntarily tested for EIA
 Estimated 75-80% of horses in the
United States are not currently tested!!
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What’s your role in this?
Blood collection of course!
 Completing submission forms
 Sending in samples for EIA testing under
the direct supervision of the attending
veterinarian.
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THE ONLY PROTECTION IS PREVENTION
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There is no effective treatment for EIA. There is no vaccine to
prevent it. There is no cure. However, good management can
reduce the potential of infection. The following guidelines will
help:
Use disposable needles and syringes, one per horse, when
administering vaccines and medications.
Sterilize dental tools and other instruments before using them on
another horse.
Test all horses for EIA at least annually.
Stable owners should request current negative Coggins
certificates before introduce? any new horses to the farm or
ranch.
New horses should be quarantined for 45 days and observed for
any signs of illness, including elevated temperatures, before
introducing them to the herd.
They should be retested if exposure to EIA is suspected
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All stable areas should be kept clean, dry, and wastefree.
Good pasture management techniques should also be
practiced. Remove manure and provide adequate
drainage to discourage breeding sites for pests.
Horses that are at greater risk, such as animals who
are in frequent intact with outside horses or who live or
travel in geographic regions known for EIA outbreaks,
should be tested frequently every 4-6 months.
Horse show and event managers should require and
verify current negative Coggins certificates for all
horses entering the premises.
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The Merck Veterinary Manual, 1998. National
Publishing, Inc. Philadelphia, PA
www.usda.org