On March 19, two Quarter Horse geldings in Stanislaus County, California, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). Twenty-five other horses on the premises have been tested for EIA and are currently quarantined awaiting results.
The suspected mode of transmission is iatrogenic, and epidemiological tracing is ongoing.
EDCC Health Watch is a program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is a nonprofit organization supported by industry donations to provide open access to infectious disease information.
About EIA
Equine infectious anemia is a viral disease that affects horses’ immune systems. The virus is typically transmitted through body fluids or blood-feeding insects like horseflies.
A Coggins test is used to screen for EIA antibodies in horses’ blood, with most states requiring a negative test for interstate travel.
Infected horses can serve as carriers for EIA, showing symptoms like body condition loss, weakness, fever, depression, and anemia. There is no vaccine or cure for EIA, leading to strict quarantine measures or euthanasia for affected horses.