According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), there are presumptive positive cases of vesicular stomatitis (VSV) in a new equine premises in Montezuma County, Colorado. The facility is currently under quarantine.
EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. The EDCC is an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.
About Vesicular Stomatitis
Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that affects various animals such as horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, swine, and New World camelids in the Western Hemisphere. It is characterized by vesicular lesions that appear as blisters, crusts, and ulcers on different parts of the body. The virus is transmitted by biting midges and is seasonal in nature.
Clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis include:
– Vesicle formation leading to ulcers on the lips, muzzle, nostrils, and tongue.
– Ulceration of the inner surface of the lips.
– Crusting of the muzzle, nostrils, and ears.
– Excessive salivation due to oral lesions.
– Difficulty picking up and chewing feed.
– Lameness from erosions on the coronary band.
– Lesions on the udder, sheath, and ears.
– Secondary infections leading to slow healing wounds.
– Increased risk for animals on pastures.
Diagnosis is based on recognizing the characteristic lesions, and confirmation is done through laboratory testing for antibodies and virus identification. There is no specific treatment for vesicular stomatitis, but implementing good biosecurity measures and providing supportive care as recommended by a veterinarian is crucial.
Isolating affected animals and placing the premise under quarantine until all horses have fully recovered and show no active lesions is necessary. The State Veterinarian will work with local veterinarians to determine and implement appropriate quarantine procedures.