What Is an Equine Infectious Anemia Virus?


Equine infectious anemia virus expression

The vast majority of the average population have never heard of equine infectious anemia virus, and rightly so. It is a virus that infects horses, spread by biting insects, such as a deer fly, or a horse fly. It can also be spread through blood and other body fluids, as well as by contaminated surgical instruments. It is know that just on fifth of a teaspoon of blood when taken from an animal suffering from EIAV fever can spread the disease to another 10,000 horses. Horses that are being transported from other countries will be tested before entrance with an equine infectious anemia virus antibody test kit to determine whether or not this virus is living in their system.

Often, horses that have a chronic case of this virus will not display any symptoms at all. The use of the equine infectious anemia virus antibody test kit can aid in preventing the spread of the disease to otherwise healthy horses, donkeys, and mules who are prone to it. It is a requirement of the United States that any horse coming into this country be tested for this disease. Owners moving horses within the United States, from state to state will be required to adhere to the specific requirements of the state regarding EIAV. Use of the equine infectious anemia virus antibody test kit is required.

In order to protect horses from this disease, prevention is the only recommendation. Again, an equine infectious anemia virus antibody test kit needs to be used in order to eliminate the possibility that the animal is either infected or is a carrier. A horse that has, in fact, been infected will begin to display acute symptoms and could even die within two to three weeks. Unfortunately, there are not many options when a horse is stricken with the disease. Both federal and state health agencies recommend that euthanasia is the most advisable way to go because the disease is so highly contagious.

When it comes to caring for pets, millions of dog owners opt for prevention as well. Heartworm is a foot long worm that can live in the heart, lungs, and the blood vessels leading to these organs, and can cause heart failure, lung disease, and can even damage other organs. Other warm blooded animals can be affected by the heartworm, such as wolves, ferrets, sea lions, and foxes. Because heartworms can live and reproduce within a pet’s body, it is possible that several hundred of them are surviving in there a the same time, all causing permanent damage to the vital organs. Even after the pests have been discovered and eliminated from the pet’s system, the damage done cannot be reversed.

In order to test a dog for heartworms a heartworm antigen test is used. A canine heartworm antigen test kit is a test that can pinpoint pieces of heartworm skin that could be circulating throughout a dog’s bloodstream. These pieces of heartworm skin cannot be seen by the naked eye. They are microscopic and can only be identified through testing. Statistics show that approximately one million dogs test positive for heartworms each year in the United States alone.

Once a dog is infected with heartworms, it could take a couple of years before the owner begins to see signs that something is wrong. Typically the first signs of the presence of heartworms is a loss of stamina, a dry, soft cough, and shortness of breath. Heartworms get into the heart, and the valves of the heart, thereby clogging them as well as the major blood vessels that lead to the heart. This reduces the blood supply to the dog’s major organs, causing the organs to malfunction.

Diagnosing a dog with heartworms is a simple process of blood tests. If the dog tests positive for heartworms, injections are given, usually over a thirty day time span, to kill the heartworms present in the dog’s body. Sometimes an antibiotic will be given as well, in order to combat any infection that could come from the bacteria inside the heartworms themselves. Unless a dog is diagnosed with advanced heartworm disease, treatment is usually successful, and most dogs will return to their former active selves after treatment is done.


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