Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com • Page 18 E Q U I N E I N F E C T I O U S A N E M I A R I S K P O S E D B Y L E G A L L Y I M P O R T E D E Q U I D S Many veterinarians in equine practice test hundreds of horses each year for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). Thankfully it's rare these days to find a positive horse, at least one that is confirmed positive on AGID. TAHC works with horse owners, veterinarians, and event organizers to ensure all horses have a current negative EIA test before congregating with other horses, as preventing exposure is the only way to protect against this incurable disease. Over the past year we've become aware of a risk, albeit small but arguably significant, of EIA being introduced into the US by horses imported legally through southern border ports. There are two cases in recent years where this likely happened, with one positive horse disclosed in California and one in Utah. Under the current USDA import protocol, horses are held in open pens at southern border ports while EIA, EP, Dourine and Glanders tests are completed. If a horse is EIA positive, that animal and others in the consignment are not allowed to enter the US at that time. However, horses standing in the next pen and any others in the facility at the time are allowed entry with no requirement for post-exposure testing. These horses could be incubating EIA following exposure before being presented for export or while at the export pens. Through personal communication with federal port personnel, I've learned that it is likely that tabanids (vectors) are present at southern border ports year-round. Per a report given by USDA at the USAHA Committee on Equine meeting on October17, 2017, a total of 8,695 horses were tested for import through southern border ports in 2014–2016. Of these, 46 were EIA positive (0.53%). It is possible that at least some horses are screened before being presented for export, as there is no rule prohibiting this action. The obvious implication is the true prevalence in this population is likely greater than 0.53%. As an aside, 248 (2.85%) of these same horses were EP positive. In 2016, at least 1,279,579 horses were EIA tested in the USA, with 52 EIA positive horses identified (.004% test prevalence). In an effort to mitigate the risk of importing EIA through southern border ports, the Committee on Equine proposed and USAHA adopted a resolution urging the USDA to change entry requirements and protocol. Key points of the resolution, "USAHA 2017 Resolution 5: Equine Infectious Anemia Testing for Horses Imported Through Southern Border Ports", are: 1. Implement a 45-90 day pre-import negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) test requirement for all equidae entering through a southern border port. Test must be performed by a Laboratory Approved by the National Government Animal Health Authority. 2. Require a statement on the importing health certificate which states "Between the time of EIA test and export, the equid has not been on an EIA infected premises or exposed to an EIA positive equid." 3. The positive equid and all exposed equidae in the lot with the EIA reactor animal shall be requested to be microchipped and the identification information be recorded in a searchable database. This database shall be developed to have the ability to identify and recognize these equidae and prevent the exposed equidae from being allowed entry for 45 days. We wouldn't knowingly allow EIA exposed horses to be moved within the state or across state lines, and it doesn't seem appropriate that they should be allowed to enter our country. TAHC and the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials will monitor USDA's response to the resolution. TAHC UPDATE:

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