Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) has recently announced the re-establishment of the HBLB-funded equine influenza (EI) surveillance scheme. This provides free of charge PCR testing for suspected cases of equine flu in Great Britain.
The laboratory testing is conducted on behalf of EIDS and HBLB by Rossdales Laboratories for samples submitted with an appropriately completed scheme submission form and is intended to assist treating vets in confirming whether influenza is present on a premises, and in particular where there may be financial constraints on pursuing diagnostic testing. Importantly, the scheme is intended also to encourage testing in EI vaccinated horses with clinical respiratory signs, which may be suggestive of failure of vaccine efficacy. On confirmation of a positive diagnosis of EI, veterinary epidemiologists at EIDS will be able to assist equine vets with relevant outbreak advice.
The scheme also enables epidemiological and virological information to be obtained, which is vital to ensure that preventive measures such as vaccination are optimally used in our horse population in Great Britain.
Equine vets are encouraged to sample the most recently affected animal(s) to optimise the chance of confirming a diagnosis of EI. Horses in the acute phase of infection are most likely to be shedding virus and therefore be found to be positive for EI by PCR. Once a diagnosis has been reached for a particular premises, if vaccinated animals go on to demonstrate clinical signs, EIDS strongly encourages that they also be sampled through this scheme.
How does the Scheme work?
Veterinary practices must sign up to the HBLB Equine Influenza Scheme here prior to submitting any sample(s).
Submission forms are available here – please note that a completed submission form must be submitted with each sample.`
Nasopharyngeal swabs, transport media and pre-paid postage labels can be requested from Rossdales Laboratories here.