Ohio Department of Agriculture Receives Patent for EHV Test

The following is an announcement contained within a longer press release issued this week by the Ohio Department of Agriculture:

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (April 4, 2008) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently received its first-ever U.S. patent for discovering a method to identify a potentially fatal strain of Equine Herpes Virus. The patent acknowledges the department’s pioneering work in identifying the strain and gives way to future research on developing vaccines.

Scientists from the department’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) worked quickly to isolate and characterize the Equine Herpes Virus strand that caused the notable equine disease outbreak at the University of Findlay in 2003. The outbreak, which was a rare case of the virus that led to neurological disorder, was fatal for 13 horses and caused neurological disease in 100 more.

The virus, which is common in horses, only typically causes respiratory and reproduction problems. Currently, vaccinations are available to prevent these troubles but are not available to prevent neurological problems that certain strands of the virus can cause. In the University of Findlay instance, the horses had been vaccinated but still fell ill to the neurological disease.

The discovery of the identification method by ADDL virologist Dr.Yan Zhang lead to the invention and patent of a test to identify the Equine Herpes Virus strand that causes the rare neurological symptoms.

In addition, Zhang has laid the groundwork and has even suggested a method for producing the first vaccine to protect horses from neurological effects of the virus.

The federal patent was issued to the Ohio Department of Agriculture on Jan. 29, 2008, by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a division of the United State Department of Commerce.

Post University to Host Forum on EHV February 9 with Connecticut State Veterinarian

The Equine Resources Committee at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut has convened a panel of experts, including state veterinarian Dr. Mary Jane Lis, to discuss the recent outbreak of the Equine Herpes Virus-One in an information session at 7:15 p.m. Friday, February 9, in room 201 of the Drubner Center.

The panel will give the latest overview on EHV-1, including how it develops, the symptoms and treatments as well as preventative measures.There will be information on the status of quarantines in the state and how to control the spread of this disease.The panel will also discuss issues connected with the overall handling of horses to prevent the spread of any communicable disease now and in the future.

This is critical information, as anyone handling horses must be careful that they do not inadvertently spread disease not only from one horse to another, but from one barn to another. The expert panel will include the state veterinarian and other experts and veterinarians from the area, and will be followed by a question and answer period.

The virus has already caused many cancellations of shows and made many horses sick. One horse was treated for the disease at Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, near Waterbury; across the state, the horse farm at the University of Connecticut has been quarantined, with more than a dozen cases.

Tickets will be available for a price of $10 at the door. Those seeking additional information may call 203-596-4631 or e-mail CBaker@post.edu.

Post University has a very active equine studies and management program, as well as therapeutic riding, intercollegiate horse show teams, and student boarders.