EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA - BELGIUM: (WEST FLANDERS) OIE

*******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 3 Feb 2010
Source: OIE WAHID 2010; 23(5) [edited]



Information received on 2 Feb 2010 from Docteur Gerard Lamsens,
Conseiller General - CVO, Service Public Federal Sante Publique,
Service Politique Sanitaire, Animaux et Vegetaux, Bruxelles, Belgium

Summary
Report type: Immediate notification
Start date 20 Jan 2010
Date of 1st confirmation of the event 29 Jan 2010
Report date 2 Feb 2010
Date submitted to OIE 2 Feb 2010
Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease
Manifestation of disease: Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent: Equine infectious anaemia virus
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks
Outbreak 1 Assebroek, West-Vlaanderen [West Flanders]
Date of start of the outbreak 20 Jan 2010
Outbreak status: Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: Not applicable
Species _Equidae_
Susceptible 46
Cases 1
Deaths 0
Destroyed 0
Slaughtered 0

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics
Species _Equidae_
Apparent morbidity rate 2.17 percent
Apparent mortality rate 0.00 percent
Apparent case fatality rate 0.00 percent
Proportion susceptible animals lost* 0.00 percent
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction
and/or slaughter
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection - Introduction of new
live animals; Animals in transit; Vectors

Epidemiological comments: This outbreak was detected following an
investigation launched on 20 Jan 2010 after the United Kingdom
reported having confirmed the disease in 2 horses of a consignment
coming from Romania via Belgium. On 21 Oct 2009, 18 horses arrived
from Romania at a dealer's establishment at Drongen. On 22 Dec 2009, 9
of these horses were sent to the United Kingdom, where the disease was
diagnosed.

The investigation revealed that the other 9 horses were sold
mid-November 2009 to the same person at Assebroek. This person then
sold one horse to his brother at Meetkerke. Movement controls are
applied in the farms where the horses are kept at Drongen, Assebroek
and Meetkerke; no movement of horses is permitted to or from these
facilities.

All horses having been in contact with the horses from Romania are
being traced; movement controls will be applied in the farms, and the
animals will be tested for the disease. The positive animals will be
culled.

Control measures
Measures applied - Quarantine; Movement control inside the country;
Screening; No vaccination; No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied - Control of arthropods; Modified stamping out

Laboratory name and type Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre
(CERVA) (National laboratory)
Species _Equidae_
Test Coggin's test
Test date 29 Jan 2010
Result Positive

Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[It is not surprising to see EIA positive horses occurring in Belgium
when at least 2 of the 9 horses that originated from the same group in
Romania have already tested positive for EIA in the UK. Of the 18
horses exported from Romania (with approximately half winding up in
the UK and half staying in Belgium), positive animals have been
identified in both countries. Now, the traceback should lead us to
Romania and the origin of those horses and, hopefully, some insight
into the epidemiology of their EIA infection.

The distribution of EIA reports to OIE WAHID is quite striking. In the
1st 6 months of 2009, Romania reported 36, 35, 52, 65, 31, 32
outbreaks but none since then to date. In Europe, Slovenia (11
outbreaks), France (3 outbreaks), and Croatia (11 outbreaks) have also
identified outbreaks in EIA reports during this time frame. Russia has
definitely had trouble with EIA, but the numbers reported are hard to
interpret, and Bosnia and Herzogovina reports confirmed
infection/infestation without clinical signs.

For fascinating details about the worldwide history of EIA, see
Mod.AS's comments in Equine infectious anemia: UK ex Romania
20100121.0235. - Mod.PC]

[see also:
Equine infectious anemia: UK ex Romania 20100121.0235
2009
----
Equine infectious anemia - Germany: OIE 20091208.4189
Equine infectious anemia - Slovenia: (Vipava Valley) 20090310.0988
2008
----
Equine infectious anemia - Germany (NRW) 20080925.3038
2007
----
Equine infectious anemia - France (Ardeche): OIE 20070604.1801
Equine infectious anemia - USA (NM ex TX) 20070831.2872
2006
----
Equine infectious anemia - Germany: OIE 20060930.2800
Equine infectious anemia - Ireland (02): OIE 20060622.1723
Equine infectious anemia - Ireland (04) 20061006.2866
Equine infectious anemia - UK (N. Ireland): OIE 20060906.2526
Equine infectious anemia - USA (VA) 20060803.2154]
......................................................pc/msp/jw
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at

************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at .
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################