Outbreak of an equine herpesvirus infection (EHV-1) in an university clinic

An outbreak of an EHV-1 infection in an university clinic is reported. 15 horses out of 20 horses stabled at the clinic had fever and respiratory signs of varying degrees, one horse showed nervous system symptoms with ataxia and four horses were clinically healthy. Diagnosis was based on the significant elevation of EHV-1 antibodies in paired serum samples. EHV-1 was isolated from nasal swab-samples of two horses. Only four of the animals were vaccinated regularly; one of them remained healthy, the others had signs of EHV-1 infection. The vaccination problems are discussed and the importance of a vaccination of complete stables is indicated. Treatment included antibiotics, bronchodilatators and expectorants, paramunity-inducer, corticosteroids and DMSO in the horse with neurological signs.