Texas Animal Health Commission
“Serving Texas Animal Agriculture Since 1893”
Andy Schwartz, DVM Executive Director
P.O. Box l2966 Austin, Texas 78711 (800) 550-8242 www.tahc.texas.gov
For more information contact the Public Information Dept. at 512-719-0750 or at public_info@tahc.texas.gov
AUSTIN, TX – Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was confirmed in one horse on an El Paso County premises. This confirmation marks the third case of VSV in Texas this year.
The horse was tested after the owner observed lesions and contacted their veterinary practitioner. The horse has been isolated on the premises and is being monitored. The El Paso site will remain under state quarantine until 14 days from the onset of lesions in the last affected animal on the premises.
“VSV is spread by direct contact with infected animals or spread by insect vectors like black flies, sand flies, and biting midges,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director. “An epidemiological investigation is underway on the VSV-positive premises to identify the means for disease transmission.”
It is important to note, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the VSV virus as the Indiana serotype. This is a different strain from the Starr County confirmation; however, it is the same strain of VSV that has been confirmed in horses in nearby Las Cruses, New Mexico. Since the VSV infected horse has not recently traveled, this could indicate that VSV-infected insects are the likely source of infection on this premises.
Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. VSV can cause blisters and sores in the mouth and on the tongue, muzzle, teats or hooves of susceptible animals. Additional signs of infection include fever, drooling or frothing at the mouth, reluctance to eat, lameness or laminitis if lesions develop around the coronary band. Lesions usually will heal in two or three weeks, and most animals recover with supportive care by a veterinarian.
Prevention
Even with the best defensive measures, VSV could infect a herd. However, these tips may help protect livestock:
Control biting flies (fly spray, fly traps, maintaining clean pens, etc.).
Keep equine animals stalled or under a roof to reduce exposure to flies.
Feed and water stock from their individual buckets.
Don’t visit a ranch that’s under quarantine for VSV. Wait until the animals have healed.
Restrict nose-to-nose contact between horses from other premises.
Clean and disinfect tack and equipment between uses.
If You Suspect Infection
Call your private veterinarian immediately.
Separate affected horse(s) from all healthy horses on the property.
Handle all healthy animals before sick animals. After handling sick animals make sure to wash and disinfect your hands and boots, if possible, change and wash your clothes as well.
Some states and other countries may restrict movement of, or impose additional requirements for equine or other susceptible animals coming from states having known cases of VSV. Before moving livestock, contact the state of destination for their requirements. For international export information, contact the USDA, Veterinary Services Austin office at (301) 851-3300 option 2.
The TAHC will send out updates upon receiving new VSV confirmations. Click here to sign up for the equine email list to receive the VSV updates to your inbox. All cases will be reported to the Equine Disease Communication Center. For VSV history and past TAHC updates click here. To view the USDA 2020 VSV situation reports click here.
The United States 2020 VSV outbreak began on April 13, 2020, when NVSL confirmed the first VSV-positive premises in New Mexico. Arizona and Texas subsequently broke with VSV cases.
Veterinary Guidance
If you suspect a client’s animal is infected with VSV, contact your TAHC Region Office for procedures, required paperwork, and important sample submission information.
For more information about VSV and preventative measures, visit the links below:
TAHC Fact Sheet: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCFactsheet_VesicularStomatitis.pdf
Equine Biosecurity Guidance: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_BiosecurityEquine.pdf
USDA VSV Webpage: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/equine/vsv/vesicular-stomatitis
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The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) was established in 1893 as the Livestock Sanitary Commission and charged with protecting the state’s domestic animals “from all contagious or infectious diseases of a malignant character.” TAHC remains true to this charge while evolving with the times to protect the health and marketability of all Texas livestock and poultry. Learn more about the TAHC visit www.tahc.texas.gov.
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