June 2020 Issue

Page 10 June 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN has them all Old for the golden years Tall for the extra tall Small for the wee ones Big for the big ones +1.208.278.5283 www.hoo ack.com The Infectious Disease Committee of the American As- sociation of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has issued revised guidelines for the administration of selected core and risk-based vaccines to horses. The recommendations are based on the age of the horse and its previous vaccination history and are meant to serve as a refer- ence for veterinarians. Reviewed guidelines include the core vacci- nations Eastern Equine Encepha- lomyelitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE), and Rabies; and the risk-based vaccinations Anthrax, Botulism, Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Equine Influenza, Leptospirosis, Potomac Horse Fever Rotaviral Diarrhea, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE). Among important modifica- tions to the Vaccination Guide- lines for Horses: • The Adult Horse Vaccina- tion and Foal Vaccination charts have been updated to match changes made in various vacci- nation guidelines and vaccine manufacturer label recommenda- tions. Changes to the foal chart also include updates to the Rabies vaccination recommendations for vaccinated vs. unvaccinat- ed mares. Changes to the adult horse chart include updates to the broodmare section to recom- mend vaccinating those mares pre-partum with a “respiratory EHV” product in addition to the abortion product. • The Anthrax guidelines indicate that the disease can be contracted in an endemic area via vector-borne transmission. Further recommendations have been added for horses during an outbreak (e.g., vaccinate afe- brile horses not showing clinical signs). • The EEE and WEE guide- lines encourage veterinarians to consult with vaccine manufac- turers for their geographic region and to consider the region's case frequency for the current year and in recent years. • The Equine Influenza guidelines include recommen- dations for horses that have recovered from natural infection. It also notes that some facilities and competitions may require vaccination within the previous 6 months to enter. • The EVA guidelines indi- cate that the occasional stallion may shed very low concentrations of vaccine virus in its semen for several days following first-time EVA vaccination and the recom- mendation to confirm negative status prior to vaccination. • The Leptospirosis guidelines incorporate recom- mendations for foals as young as 3 months of age and emphasize that the licensed vaccine is safe for pregnant mares at all stages of parturition. • The Rabies guidelines provide guidance for how to approach a horse that has been exposed to a confirmed rabid animal. The Infectious Disease Com- mittee stresses that veterinarians, through an appropriate veterinar- ian-client-patient relationship, should use the recommendations, coupled with available products, to determine the best professional care for their patients. Horse own- ers should consult with a licensed veterinarian before initiating a vaccination program. "The goal of the guidelines is to provide current information that will enable veterinarians and clients to make thoughtful and educated decisions on vaccinating horses in their care," explained Infectious Disease Committee Chair Dr. Katie Flynn. "The impact of infectious disease has been felt across the equine indus- try in recent years, and the com- mittee hopes that these guidelines will be a useful tool in preventing or mitigating the effects of equine infectious disease." The committee also empha- sizes that routine vaccinations are considered essential during this COVID-19 pandemic, and overdue vaccinations should be completed to help prevent disease in horses. Duration of immunity for some vaccines might be limited to 6 months; therefore, maintaining a routine vaccination schedule is critical for horses at high risk of developing these diseases, and vaccinations should be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible to ensure the health and welfare of the horse. In all cases, veterinarians should consider local conditions and current state-imposed regu- lations to determine when vacci- nations can be completed safely during this unprecedented time. The committee, comprised of researchers, vaccine manufacturers, regulatory veterinarians and private practitioners, regularly reviews these guidelines and provides up- dates online, with in-depth reviews occurring every three years. The complete guidelines, along with easy reference charts, are available at aaep.org. AAEP Updates Essential Vaccination Guidelines The news East Coast horse owners need to know Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian!