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Common Equine Diseases

Equine Encephalomyelitis (VEE, EEE, WEE)
The disease, also known as “Sleeping Sickness,” has three common types: Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western. It is transmitted by mosquitoes that have acquired the virus from birds and rodents. Symptoms include nervousness, drowsiness, drooping ears, abnormal gait and circling, and recumbency. Paralysis and death occur in the final stages. An approved vaccine is available.
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
This disease is transmitted in the blood from infected animals by biting flies and mosquitoes and from infected or dirty needles and equipment. There is no vaccine or treatment available. A Coggins Test detects the disease.
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Opossums, which ingest the organism (Sarcosysta neuroma), are the definitive host. They shed the parasite (sporocyst) in their feces. Horses consume the sporocyst from eating infected grass, hay, or grain. EPM affects the central nervous system and causes incoordination and weakness. No vaccine is available. Preventing opossums from accessing food supplies is critical.
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)
This infectious viral disease causes abortions and severe outbreaks of respiratory disease. The virus affects the respiratory and reproductive systems with flu-like symptoms such as fever, depression, loss of apetite, diarrhea, excessive tearing, nasal discharge, and coughing.
Eqine Viral Rhinopneumonitis (Rhino)
Rarely fatal, this herpesvirus can cause long-time illness. This disease causes respiratory tract problems, abortion, foal death, and neurological disease. EHV-1 and EHV-4 are two common types.
Influenza
Influenza is caused by Myxoviruses. While usually not fatal, it is highly contagious and one of the most common respiratory diseases of horses. Symptoms include high fever, depressed appetite, watery nasal discharge, and hard, dry cough.
Leptospirosis
This disease is spread through urine and water contamination by infected animals. It causes “moon blindness,” kidney disease, hemolytic anemia, and abortion. No approved vaccine for horses is available, but the disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Potomac Horse Fever
The Neorickettsia organism, found in flukes in water snails, causes this disease. When the flukes “hatch” into the water, they invade caddis and mayfly larvae. Adult caddis and mayflies are attracted to lights at night. The adults may die, falling into and contaminating the horse’s feed supply. Symptoms include mild depression, decreased appetite, fever, decreased or absent gut sounds, and watery diarrhea within 24 to 48 hours. Death results in about a third of affected horses.
Rabies
Rabies is most commonly carried by wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, possums, foxes, etc. It can be transmitted to any mammal through blood or saliva. It usually is not a problem unless the area has known rabies outbreaks. Although rare, rabies is always fatal in horses. Vaccines are available.
Rotavirus A
This viral diarrhea is found only in foals. Symptoms include depression, anorexia, and watery, smelly diarrhea. It is usually seen in foals less than 2 months of age.