Agricultural News
Vesicular Stomatitus Virus Confirmed by ODAFF in Oklahoma Equine on Tillman County Premise
Tue, 30 Jul 2019 14:37:43 CDT
On July 29, 2019, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry confirmed the finding of vesicular stomatitis virus, also known as VSV, at a premise in Tillman county. This horse showed erosions in its mouth.
VSV is a viral disease of horses, donkeys, mules, cattle and swine. Initial symptoms include excessive salivation and reluctance to eat or drink. Clinical signs include vesicles, erosions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, ears, teats and coronary bands of their hooves. Lameness or weight loss may follow. Body temperature may rise immediately before or at the same time lesions first appear.
In 2019, VSV has been reported in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. This is the first outbreak since 2015-2016 and the first case in Oklahoma since the 1990s.
What Livestock Owners Need to Know:
- VSV affects primarily horses and cattle.
- VSV normally has an incubation period of 2-8 days before the infected animal develops blisters that swell and burst, leaving painful sores.
- The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or by
blood-feeding insects.
- If VSV is confirmed, infected animals are quarantined for 14 days after clinical signs of lesions are observed. This short-term quarantine helps prevent the movement of animals and the spread of the disease to other premises, fairs or markets.
- Humans can also become infected with VSV, but it is a very rare event.
Recommended Actions:
There is currently no USDA-approved vaccination for VSV. Even with the best defensive measures, VSV could infect a herd.
However, these tips could help protect livestock:
- Control biting flies
- Keep equine stalled or under a roof at night to reduce exposure to flies
- Keep stalls clean
- Feed and water stock in individual buckets
- Don't visit any premise that is under quarantine
Veterinarians and livestock owners who suspect VSV in their animals should immediately contact the OK State Veterinarians office at (405) 522-6141.
Background - the following is a statement released by Rod Hall, State Veterinarian at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry:
"We have been notified of confirmation of our first case of Vesicular Stomatitis in Oklahoma since the 1990s. A veterinarian called to report lesions in a horse in Tillman County that he believed were consistent with VSV. One of our Field Veterinarians conducted an investigation the next morning and sent samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA. The Indiana Strain of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus was confirmed.
"The affected premises is quarantined. Please be aware that this disease can affect all livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, swine, and horses) although horses are affected most often. Symptoms often present as erosions or vesicles on the gums, on the tongue, inside the mouth, on the ears, around the feet, around genitalia and mammary glands, and other parts of the skin. This index case began with small sores at the corners of the lips and has now progressed to larger sores on the lips and has affected the legs. It's not uncommon for livestock to develop fevers and in severe cases the erosions in the mouth cause the animal to stop eating and drinking. There are a couple of photos below.
"So please be aware that this disease can occur in Oklahoma and notify us if you are made aware of any suspicious lesions. Thanks to the accredited veterinarian who reported this case and thanks to others who have reported cases that turned out to be negative. I appreciate you all."
Source - Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
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