| Copyright (c) 2008 The Naturally Healthy | | | | Signs include fever in the first few days of |
| Introduction: African horse sickness is a potentially | | | | infection, appetite loss (anorexia), mild cough, and |
| fatal, untreatable illness of equines, and cases are | | | | conjunctivitis |
| being found further north with global warming. If a | | | | Current Western Treatments: It is fundamentally |
| case of this notifiable disease were to be found in | | | | important to seek the urgent opinion of your |
| the UK, we may find a foot and mouth-type | | | | veterinarian. No active treatment is currently |
| slaughter situation occurring among our equines. | | | | possible, and in the European Union all affected |
| Read below for more information! | | | | animals will be compulsorily slaughtered. In other |
| Aetiology: Midges carry the orbivirus pathogen of | | | | areas of the world, supportive nursing care may |
| African horse sickness. It is endemic in horses, | | | | help. A further possibility is vaccination - 9 |
| mules and donkeys of sub-Saharan Africa. Zebras | | | | subtypes have been isolated, each has its own |
| appear to be relatively unaffected. Elephants | | | | vaccine; two injections are needed & the effect is |
| appear to carry the illness subclinically, and dogs | | | | relatively short-lived. |
| can be severely affected, usually from eating | | | | Limiting Outbreaks: It is possible that the virus |
| infected meat. | | | | spends part of the year in Africa in subclinically |
| Clinical Signs: This disease has several subtypes: | | | | affected, unrecognised hosts, while the midges |
| Acute Pulmonary Type: This is characterised by | | | | are inactive. This may be the reason why, to |
| fever (temperature >40.5°C, sweating, and | | | | date, outbreaks in Spain have been short-lived. |
| severe respiratory signs - coughing, laboured | | | | Such outbreaks may have been from importing |
| breathing, yellow frothy nasal discharge. There | | | | infected zebras. |
| may also be congested mucous membranes, and | | | | Horses imported into the European Union are |
| collapse and death can occur within a few hours. | | | | routinely tested for African horse sickness. EU |
| There is a 95% mortality, but survivors have | | | | Council Directive 92/35 provides for compulsory |
| severe respiratory distress for several weeks. | | | | notification of cases, and the setting up of a |
| Subacute Cardiac Form: In this form the heart is | | | | protection zone of least 100 kilometres radius |
| more greatly affected. Signs include pericardial | | | | around any infected premises, to remain in force |
| effusion (fluid between the muscle and outer | | | | for at least 12 months. |
| covering of the heart), pleural effusion (fluid in | | | | Complementary Therapies: This is a notifiable |
| lungs, due to heart failure), endocarditis | | | | disease in the United Kingdom. Many |
| (inflammation in the inner layer of heart muscle, | | | | complementary therapies such as healing, Reiki |
| the endocardium), swelling of head, neck & chest | | | | and massage will help with supportive nursing care |
| (oedema, due to heart failure), and cyanosis (blue | | | | in cases likely to recover (and in countries where |
| colour due to lack of oxygen in the blood) of | | | | the animals will not be put down). Reiki and |
| mucous membranes. petechiae (red specks of | | | | spiritual healing can be extremely useful for both |
| blood where it is leaving the smallest blood | | | | animal and owner when the former has to be put |
| vessels) may be evident on the mouth and under | | | | down. |
| the tongue. Fever tends to be intermittent, and | | | | Conclusion: This devastating illness is too infectious |
| there is a 60% mortality, from heart failure. | | | | for affected animals to be allowed to survive. It |
| Mixed form: In this there is a cCombination of | | | | may spread North from Africa with global |
| respiratory followed by cardiac symptoms, and | | | | warming, and a few cases have been seen in |
| the incubation period is 3-7 days | | | | Spain. In the UK, if a case was to be found, the |
| Chronic febrile type: This is less severe - often | | | | management is likely to be similar to that of Foot |
| subclinical, rarely found in horses as they are so | | | | and Mouth Disease. |
| susceptible, more often in donkeys and mules. | | | | |