Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

EHV-1 Update

Monda,y May 7, 2007

The EHV-1 outbreak which occurred several weeks ago at trainer Nelson Willis’ barn on the Balmoral Park backstretch is isolated and under control, according to Illinois Racing Board State Veterinarian David Fitzpatrick. Twenty of Willis’ horses have been moved to a private, off-site facility for quarantine purposes, while 22 remain on the Balmoral Park backstretch.

“We tested those 22 horses of Willis’ that are still at Balmoral last Thursday,” Fitzpatrick said. “Of those 22, two are positive, and they’ve been removed to another private farm (where no horses are currently stabled), because they’re still in the shedding phase. As well, those two positives showed none of the clinical signs of EHV-1.”

Clinical signs of EHV-1 include elevated temperatures and nasal discharge and in extreme cases, neurological effects. Saturday, May 5, was the first day Willis was able to get his Balmoral-based horses on the track since the outbreak three weeks ago. He is allowed to jog and train his horses, after 2 pm each day, when no other horses are allowed on the Crete, Il., one-miler.

“We’ll retest all of Willis’ Balmoral Park horses on the 15th of May,” Fitzpatrick noted. “Since April 15th, none of his horses have showed a high temperature and we’ve had no other outbreaks at Balmoral.”

Any horse that has raced at Balmoral in the last 30 days cannot be shipped out of the country, including to Canada, Fitzpatrick said, according to USDA restrictions. That 30 day incubation period is a rolling date that begins new each day.

“EHV-1 is not a reportable disease in Illinois, the way it is in some states,” Fitzpatrick said. “However, it is recommended that people report it if they have a case. In a situation like this, however, it’s better for all horsemen to immediately vaccinate their horses. On average, if you have 100 horses who’ve been exposed and possibly infected by EHV-1, you’ll have ten who will show the neurological signs.”

Horses can carry EHV-1 but not necessarily show the signs of the disease, Fitzpatrick said. Shedding—which occurs when horses are in their most contagious stages—is often brought on by stress and a downed immune system, something not uncommon in racehorses.

Testing for EHV-1 is not a simple process either. Samples are taken via nasal swabs and whole blood samples of horses. These samples are then shipped overnight via Federal Express, and delivered to the University of Kentucky, where they are put through a rigorous testing procedure that takes a few hours. The results are then reported to the attending veterinarian within one to two days.