b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY EQUINE CORONAVIRUSthe magazine O n February 14,Beta Coronavirus Positive Equines by Month and Year2020, a veterinarian reported to the StateTestedVeterinarians Office that a domestic Mike Barna horse located in Maricopa County was diagnosed with Publisher equine coronavirus. Equine Enteric Coronavirus and Covid-19 are both coronaviruses but are distinctly ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com different viruses, and there is no evidence to indicate that horses could contract Covid-19 or that they would be able to spread the disease to other animals Erika Smith Royal or humans, according to several international health Editor organizations. Equine coronavirus affects horses erika963realcountry@gmail.com infrequently, and many horses exposed do not show clinical signs even after being infected. Equine coronavirus is not a reportable illness in Arizona.Misty VoitovskiCoronaviruses comprise a large group of RNA virusesCOMPLICATIONS CAN OCCUR IN RARE CASES:Creative Director that can cause both respiratory and enteric signs of Protein lossdisease in various species. They are further grouped DehydrationContributing Writers based on genetic and serologic differences into Neurologic signs (such as lethargy, depression, loss alpha, beta, and gamma coronaviruses. The equineof body control) secondary to an excess of ammonia Lee AndersonJustin Legler coronavirus, a beta coronavirus, has been recentlyin the systemMark MelkowskiBetsy Nunn isolated from several outbreaks across the United Recumbency that can progress to an inabilityStates, Europe, and Japan, with its rising incidenceto standJim & Bobbi Jeen Olsonbeing associated with increased awareness and testing. Bill RobertsAlan Rockman Equine coronavirus manifests as an enteric disease Generally, equine coronavirus is treated by addressing in the horse. the clinical symptoms and providing supportive care. Bob RoloffJohn Samsill Severe cases may require hospitalization for IV fluid Hank ShefferBuddy Uldrikson Equine coronavirustreatment and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. is transmittedMore severe cases may require extensive treatmentGrace WebbMichele Wilson between horsesor hospitalization.by contact with infected feces.There is no vaccine to protect horses from Equine 801 W. Wickenburg Way Coronavirus isCoronavirus infection.Wickenburg, AZ 85390 spread when feces from an infectedThe best method to prevent equine coronavirus is (602) 254-6644 horse is ingested byto keep equine facilities as clean as possible. When another horse. The virus can also be transmitted whencleaning surfaces that may be contaminated with ArizonaRealCountry.com horses make oral contact with surfaces or objects thatfeces, clean the surface first to remove all traces of are contaminated with infected feces. Stalls, muckorganic matter, then disinfect. Disinfectants that forks, manure spreaders, thermometers, hands, andare effective at inactivating equine coronavirus clothing are common fomites (objects or materialsinclude sodium hypochlorite (bleach), povidone that carry infection). iodine, chlorhexidine gluconate, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, and peroxygen compounds.Coronavirus is most commonly diagnosed in the winter months but cases are also diagnosed in the heatManure of the summer. Miniature horses seem to be moreshould be Follow Arizona Realseverely affected than other disposed breeds/types. of where Country for news, events,it cannot Clinical signs of equine coronavirus are seen 48-72contaminate giveaways and more! hours after exposure and fecal viral shedding beginspasture, 3-4 days after exposure. Peek shedding is documentedpaddocks, Arizona Real Country is owned and3-4 days after the development of clinical signs.or drinking published by Barna BroadcastingHorses with no clinical signs of the disease can shedwater. Having good biosecurity practices will LLC. No person, organization or partythe virus. It is unknown how soon infected horsessignificantly reduce the likelihood of your horses become infectious, but the feces of infected horses docontracting the illness. can copy or reproduce the contentpose a risk to other horses. on our website and/or magazine orTake precautions by using footbaths, individual any part of this publication withoutTYPICALLY, EQUINE CORONAVIRUS RESULTSthermometers, and disposable gloves between horses. a written consent from the editorsIN RELATIVELY MILD SYMPTOMS INCLUDING:Attempt to isolate affected animals, handle them last, panel and the author of the content, as Fever up to 106 F and use separate manure handling equipment from applicable. The publisher, authors and Lack of appetite the rest to the barn. Minimize traffic into/out of barn.contributors reserve their rights with Depression Survival in the environment is unknown. AlthoughColic a direct comparison cannot be made, human regards to copyright of their work.Laying down frequently coronaviruses have been shown to survive the longestDiarrhea (may or may not be present) at cooler temperatures for 14 days in wastewater andLow white blood cell count 17 days in feces. ArizonaRealCountry.com June 2020 5'