Equine flu
11.12.2025 09:50:42 127
Equine influenza (equine flu) is an acute disease characterized by short-term, fluctuating fever, catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and a dry, painful cough.
Epizootological data
Horses of all ages are susceptible to the virus, but foals are particularly susceptible. Equine influenza is most often recorded in the spring, summer, and fall, due to the highest animal movement. The source of the pathogen is sick and recovering animals. Under unfavorable housing conditions (drafts, dampness, etc.), epizootic influenza outbreaks can affect up to 60% of the animal population, with significant mortality (up to 20%) of young animals.
Course and symptoms
The disease appears 1-6 days after infection; in some cases, a shorter incubation period of 18-20 hours is noted.
The clinical picture of influenza in horses is quite diverse and depends on the conditions of keeping and using the animals, their immune status, and the biological properties of the pathogen. According to the severity of influenza in horses, a distinction is made between typical, atypical forms, and a malignant course. The typical form of influenza in horses is characterized by depression, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nasal cavity, enlargement of the peripharyngeal lymph nodes, and a shallow cough. Then there is a rapid rise in body temperature to 39.5-40.0 ° C, which is maintained for 1-4 days. Simultaneously with fever, a dry painful cough appears, which intensifies with the movement of the horse. Sick animals are depressed, their appetite decreases. With an atypical form, animals have mild serous rhinitis, a rare shallow cough. Fever is either absent or not recorded. With a malignant course, the cough in horses is dry, abrupt, painful. When coughing, the animal lowers its head, mucous discharge comes out of the nasal openings. In horses, influenza usually proceeds benignly and ends in recovery in 2-4 days. In addition to the main symptoms listed above, gastrointestinal tract damage (diarrhea), swelling of the chest, hind limbs, abdominal wall, and inflammation of the vaginal mucosa are possible. The diagnosis of equine influenza is established on the basis of epizootological data, clinical signs of the disease and laboratory test results. Treatment ... Prevention and Control Measures To prevent equine influenza, incoming horses are quarantined for 30 days. Optimal conditions for keeping and feeding the animals are created. The premises are regularly cleaned and disinfected. If a flu threat arises, horses are vaccinated.
When equine influenza is diagnosed, the farm is declared unhealthy and quarantined. Sick horses are isolated and treated. The premises are thoroughly mechanically cleaned and disinfected every 10 days until the quarantine is lifted. The quarantine is lifted 15 days after the last animal has recovered and the final disinfection has been carried out.
State Institution "Mendykarinsk District Territorial Inspectorate of KVKiN Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan", Borovskoye village, Altynsarina str. 83, tel.: 2-40-64, 2-42-67.