KY Filly Succumbs to Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy

The Kentucky state veterinarian's office reports a total of six horses have tested positive for EHV-1, the neuropathogenic strain, at Blackwood Stables' training facility near Versailles, Ky.

A 3-year-old filly suffering from equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, after a period of stability, rapidly deteriorated in health and was euthanized. The filly was the initial horse to show symptoms and was taken to an equine hospital March 9. Her illness and positive EHV-1 test prompted the testing of 27 other horses at the training center.

After collecting results of PCR testing of those samples collected March 11, the Kentucky state veterinarian identified five more horses as positive.

Two of the five horses to test positive previously had been moved to a separate isolation barn, and they were joined by the additional three positive horses last night. The state vet said that with the five additional positive horses, the population of potentially exposed horses grew. Additional samples are being collected and submitted from each of those 25 horses later this afternoon with results expected to be available over the weekend.

The state vet's office complimented the training center, farm, and others involved in containing the outbreak.

"We appreciate the commitment, effort, and resources Blackwood's management, horse owners, horsemen, and attending veterinarians have provided," the office said in a statement. "Biosecurity and health monitoring protocols that include temping horses multiple times daily will continue to be practiced by horsemen at Blackwood.  

"These same procedures and protocols have been adopted and are routinely practiced by other training venues as well. State animal health officials and attending veterinary practitioners are working together and following up with testing of any horse suggesting evidence of an infectious condition. These combined efforts have helped us identify affected horses, thus better enabling us to mitigate further transmission and aid our ability to ensure we have safe and healthy environments for our horses and horsemen to continue normal operations within the commonwealth."

The state vet's office advised all farm owners to make sure that proper protocols are followed when horses are welcomed.

"Clearly with the multiple ongoing EHV-1 events involving multiple breeds, disciplines, and venues: farms accepting new arrivals are to be reminded the importance of knowing the environment and status of where the horse arriving at their farm originated from and implementing needed husbandry practices that should include isolation, observation, and assessment of the horse to ensure healthy horses are introduced to your herd."

The state vet's office previously announced that precautionary measures have been implemented at Turfway Park with all horses shipping in to race required to stable in the receiving barn—unless a trainer has permanently assigned stalls at Turfway. In addition to the adjustment of stabling, biosecurity protocols have been elevated.