Governmental Response to Equine Herpesvirus (EVH-1) - Dr. Robert Stout, State Veterinarian, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, from the 2016 NIAA Annual Conference: From Farm to Table - Food System Biosecurity for Animal Agriculture, April 4-7, 2016, Kansas City, MO, USA. More presentations at http://www.trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2016_niaa_farm_table_food_system_biosecurity

1. Kentucky Department of
Agriculture
Ryan Quarles, Commissioner
Office of the State
Veterinarian
Robert C. Stout, State Veterinarian

2. Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy:
“Emerging Disease
Challenge of EHM”
NIAA Conference April 6, 2016
Credits
Dr. George Allen*
Dr. Peter Timoney*
Dr. Udeni Balasuriya*
* Gluck Equine Research Center/University of Kentucky

3.  Develop a Risk Mitigation template that is
applicable and adaptable to all animal
diseases, (i.e. a process for information
collection, communication, strategic
development and operational
implementation.)
Objective

4. Stages of
Disease / Emergency Management
 Awareness
 Prevention
 Preparedness
 Response
 Recovery

5. Mitigation Template
“Disease of Concern”
I. Characteristics
 Agent
 Susceptible population
 Mode of transmission
 Distribution: Endemic vs. sporadic vs.
free vs. FAD

6. Characteristics (cont.)
 Clinical signs
 Degree of Infectivity
 Morbidity / Mortality rates
 Reportable
 Economic Impact
 Social Impact

7. “Characteristics of EHV-1”
Clinical Expression
 Endemic & Ubiquitious
 Respiratory
 Reproductive
 Neurologic
 Typically 2 – 8 Day incubation
 Subclinical infection is common
 Currently two strains recognized
• Wild
• Mutant or Neuropathogenic
• Similar range of expression
• Different virulence
• Both cause latent infection

8. Characteristics (Cont.)
Latency & Recrudescence
 40-60 % Latency in population; life long carrier
 Virus not shed during latency
 Recrudescence is commonly the initiating source of virus
in an outbreak
 Stress may activate recrudescence
 “Shingles” analogy – valid ??
EHV- 1 Latency Respiratory, Abortion, Neuro Communicable
Chicken Pox Latency Shingles Chicken Pox

14. Threshold of Infectivity
 Presence of virus does not necessarily
equate to disease
 Volume of virus shed varies with stage of
infection
 Stabling Environment: Open vs. Enclosed
 Stress Level
• Population Susceptibility
• Age
• Vaccination Status

15. Immunity
 Previous Exposure – short lived
 Passive Antibody
 Role of Vaccination:
• Prevention of disease
• Mitigation of severity
• Efficacy is variable
 Vaccines – many available
• MLV
• Killed
• None labeled for EHV-1 mutant strain
• None labeled for neurologic disease
• Schedule varies

17. II. Diagnosis
 Clinical Impression – Differentials
 Laboratory Testing
• Tests available / where
• Sample required
• Turn around time
• Cost
• Interpretation
 Confirmation Criteria
“case definition”

20. PCR - Interpretation
Nasal Swab / Whole Blood Buffy Coat
• Individual Status
• Population Status
• Baseline for outbreak
• Guides response & exit
strategy
Blood +
B +
S +
Blood –
B –
S +
B +
S –
B –
S –
Swab +
Swab –

21.  Surveillance testing: Questionable Value, esp.
Serology
 Vaccination
 Vector / Agent Elimination
 Segregation
 Education
 Bio Security
III. Prevention – the GOAL

22.  Early Detection
 Isolation / Segregation / Quarantine
1. ISOLATION: Removal of infected animal(s) to a separate, bio-secure
environment .
2. SEGREGATION: Compartmentalization of animals with like status
using risk based analysis into defined groups.
3. QUARANTINE: Placement of specific restrictions on a premises or
group of animals by the officially authorized agency.
 Biosecurity: Routine; Everybody all the time
 Vaccination: Controversial
 Movement Restriction
 Traceability: Forward & Backward
 Agent / Vector elimination
 Therapy
IV. Response to Outbreak

23.  Authority
 Who Does What?
 (ICS)
 Intervention Points
 Firewalls
 Flow charts – Outline of Protocol
V. The Process: Incident Action
Plan (IAP)

24. IAP (cont.)
 Check List
 Contingency Planning
 Fiscal Responsibility
 Resource Management
• Vets
• Trainers
• Facility Management
• Labs
• Security Staff

25. VI. Communication – Key to Success
 Begins with Awareness
• Animal Health Officials
• Stakeholders
• Veterinarians
• Hospital / Clinic
• Facility Management
 Information Clearinghouse
• Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC)
• Regulatory Authority
 Media: Public & Social
 Message Maps (eg. AAEP)

26. VII. Business Continuity
 Response vs. Reaction
 Risk vs. Benefit
 Cost vs. Science
 Cost vs. Time
 Exit Strategy and Recovery

27. VIII. SAHO “Tools”
Statute – KRS – Broad authority
Regulation – KAR – Implements the law
Protocol – Address specific situation
S.O.P. – The details

28. Summary
1. Recognize the threat / risk
2. Assess the situation
3. Develop & implement a strategy
4. Mitigate the risk
5. Restore normalcy

34. Questions / Discussion