What is a communicable disease?
An infectious disease transmissible (horse to horse) by direct contact with an affected individual or the individual’s discharges or by indirect means (fomites).
Terminology thrown around:
- Incubation period: Time between exposure to a disease and when symptoms first appear
- Fomites: objects or materials likely to carry infectious agents (clothes, grooming supplies, feeding supplies, etc)
- Prevention: proactive steps suggested to reduce risk of infection including vaccination
- Biosecurity: measures taken to reduce exposure risks, including disinfection, quarantine and protective clothing
Important diseases you should know about
Strangles (Streptococcus equi equi)
- Incubation period: 3-14 days
- Clinical signs: Fever, mucoid/mucopurulent bilateral nasal discharge, depression, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty swallowing, increased inspiratory noise
- Prevention: vaccination, strict biosecurity
Equine Herpes Virus
- Incubation period: 2-10 days
- Clinical signs: acute fever, nasal discharge, coughing, inappetence, swollen lymph nodes
- Prevention: vaccination, strict biosecurity
Influenza
- Incubation period: 1-3 days
- Clinical signs: acute fever, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, dry coughs, depression, anorexia, weakness
- Prevention: vaccination, strict biosecurity
Rabies *Zoonotic*
- Incubation period: varies depending on location of exposure
- Clinical signs: Behavioral changes, inability to swallow, colicky behavior, ataxia
- Prevention: vaccination is the only method for prevention