AAEP BIOSECURITY GUIDELINES


v. Depending on clinical presentation, determine the samples for diagnostic testing and send to pre-determined diagnostic laboratory in order to confirm or rule out specific infectious diseases of interest.


vi. Manure and soiled bedding from stalls of sick equids should not be put in open air piles or pits or spread on pastures. It should be placed in heavy plastic bags for disposal in a landfill. If the disease is zoonotic, any potentially infectious waste should be disposed of by the method recommended by public health officials.


vii. If a professional laundering service is used, they should be informed if any of the materials are potentially infectious. If barn laundering facilities are used, the washing machine should be cleaned by running empty with a suitable disinfectant following use on potentially infectious materials.


viii. All equids demonstrating neurologic clinical signs with no confirmed diagnosis should be clearly marked with a “rabies suspect” sign on the stall and reported to public health authorities. Restrict personnel access to the equid and ensure that anyone contacting the equid wears double gloves, protective clothing, and splash protective equipment (face shield or goggles) as necessary. Record the names of all who make contact with the equid in a log so that they can be contacted in the event of a positive rabies diagnosis. See this link in the AAEP guidelines for information about rabies.


ix. If euthanasia is required, the ideal location is on a remote area of the grounds accessible to large equipment or trucks, with no public access. 1. Someone capable of removing carcasses should be identified in advance of necessity


2. The route of a rendering truck or dead hauler on and off the premises should not cross any live equid routes or exercise areas.


3. Necropsy of any equid that dies or is euthanized should be strongly recommended and optimally performed off-site at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. The State Animal Health Official should be consulted in case they would like to request specific and expedited tests. In the case of a potential zoonosis, necropsy is essential to protect public health.


e. Release of equids from isolation i. The state veterinarian will be in charge of determining release protocols in the event of a reportable disease.


ii. The event veterinarian and management should work together to determine isolation release protocols in cases of non-reportable potentially contagious diseases.


iii. In general, equids should be maintained in isolation at the event until one of the following occurs: 1. The equid no longer has clinical signs and tests negative for all suspected infectious disease agents


2. A non-contagious disease is confirmed 3. The equid is moved to another facility and quarantined if necessary


11  Copyright AAEP – Revised 2017


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