Equine Canada’s Health and Welfare Committee is sharing the following status update on Neurotropic Equine Herpes Virus-1 (nEHV-1) received today from Alberta and Western Canada. This information comes as a result of consultations among the Chief Provincial Veterinarian for Alberta, members of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, faculty members, University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine, local Albertan equine practitioners, in addition to veterinarians from British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
To date the reported positive cases of nEHV-1 in Alberta are as follows:
• One neurological case (now recovered) first found positive at the start of May
• Three cases positive with mild respiratory signs/fever are all now recovered
• Four PCR positive horses, showing no clinical signs
• One new neurological case ,responding well to treatment, that attended cutting events in Alberta
• One of the previously ‘suspect’ neurological cases in Northern Alberta that was at the cutting competition in Lloydminster (reported in last update).
To date suspect cases of nEHV-1 in Alberta are as follows:
• One previously reported neurologic case. The mild neurological signs are almost resolved and the horse remains under quarantine. To date testing has been negative.
• The second suspect with mild neurological signs in Northern Alberta that was at the cutting competition in Lloydminster (reported in last update) still remains in the suspect list.
• New neurological suspect case from Central Alberta was euthanized due in part to complications with previous significant medical conditions. Testing is pending.
• New neurological suspect case with mild fever from Central Alberta. Testing is pending.