| The Coggins' test is for a serious equine virus called | | | | persistent virus for which antigenic drift was defined. |
| equine infectious anemia (EIA). There is no vaccine or | | | | (Antigenic drift is the virus's ability to change its form |
| cure for EIA, which is also known as "swamp fever" | | | | sufficiently so that it is no longer vulnerable to existing |
| because of the warm, wet regions of the United | | | | antibodies.)" |
| States in which it is more common. | | | | To determine if a horse is negative on a Coggins' test, |
| There are three stages to EIA. The acute stage is | | | | a blood sample from the horse is tested for the |
| when the horse shows the symptoms of the disease, | | | | presence of EIA antibodies. Antibodies are proteins |
| which include fever; listlessness; swelling in the chest, | | | | produced by the immune system that recognizes and |
| belly or legs; and no appetite. Although, while the | | | | helps fight infections and other foreign substances in |
| infection progresses, he may not show any symptoms | | | | the body. The antibody is specific to the EIA antigen (a |
| at all, and it may take over a month for the horse to | | | | foreign substance causing an immune response). |
| test positive on the Coggins' test. | | | | The Coggins' test was developed by Dr. Leroy |
| According to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, | | | | Coggins, a veterinary virologist, in the 1970s. According |
| between 30 and 50 percent of horses infected with | | | | to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at |
| EIA die within two to four weeks of showing initial | | | | Purdue University, the test has a 95% accuracy rate |
| symptoms. | | | | and is the most used test for EIA though other tests |
| Horses that survive the acute phase enter the chronic | | | | can be used when the results are questionable or to |
| phase where they will have recurring symptoms of the | | | | confirm diagnosis. |
| disease including weight loss, fever and anemia. Such | | | | According to the USDA APHIS, the percentage of |
| horses can survive up to a year or more in this stage | | | | positives for the Coggins' test has declined from |
| before finally succumbing to the disease. While | | | | "nearly 4 percent in 1972 to less than 0.01 percent in |
| appearing healthy at some times, horses can | | | | 2005." The agency states that historically the disease |
| experience acute episodes again when under stress | | | | was present particularly in "hot zones" such as Texas, |
| such as when faced with hot weather, hard work or | | | | Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, |
| other disease, according to the Indiana State Board of | | | | Georgia, North and South Caroline, Virginia, Kentucky, |
| Animal Health. | | | | among others. Recent figures show that the |
| EIA is transmitted to horses by insects such as | | | | prevalence of EIA in the United States is roughly less |
| deerflies and horseflies. It can also be transmitted to | | | | than 8 in 100,000, according to the USDA APHIS. |
| horses through instruments contaminated with infected | | | | Many states have different requirements with regard |
| blood such as needles or tattoo equipment. | | | | to handling horses positive for EIA. Because there is no |
| Some horses can also be in the asymptomatic carrier | | | | cure for the disease, and a horse positive for it is a |
| stage where they do not show any signs of disease | | | | threat to healthy horses, many states require |
| but will test positive on the Coggins' test. But these | | | | euthanasia. Others allow for very strict quarantine |
| horses can also experience acute episodes when | | | | measures, where horses are removed from the herd |
| stressed. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health | | | | and kept in a 200-yard buffer zone away from all |
| notes that these horses in the asymptomatic carrier | | | | other horses. Some require confinement to a screened |
| stage present the greatest danger to healthy horses in | | | | stall. Isolated horses are to never have contact with |
| public gatherings like horse shows or clinics because | | | | with the rest of the herd again. |
| they appear healthy. | | | | Though EIA is low in incidence in the United States, to |
| Surviving horses are unable to completely clear | | | | reduce risk of horses being infected with EIA, the |
| themselves of the virus and will remain infected for the | | | | USDA APHIS recommends horseowners: |
| rest of their lives, according to the Animal Disease | | | | Never share needles among horses. Dispose of |
| Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University. Affective | | | | needles after each use. |
| control of the disease depends on isolation of new, | | | | Sterilize instruments thoroughly after each use. |
| sick, untested or positively testing horses; hygiene with | | | | Keep stables and area clean and drained to avoid |
| regard to needles and like equipment such as dental | | | | attracting insects that spread the disease. |
| tools, fly control and identification of positive animals. | | | | Use insect control such as insecticides. |
| Horse owners are often required to submit a negative | | | | Quarantine unhealthy, infected animals. Do not breed |
| Coggins' test in order to show, move to a new stable, | | | | horses that have tested positive to EIA. |
| sell their horse or transport their horse across state | | | | Quarantine all horse species that are new to your |
| lines. A negative Coggins' test proves that your horse | | | | facility until you have a Coggins' test. |
| is safe to have around other healthy horses. | | | | Have the Coggins' test result done and available for |
| According to the US Department of Agriculture | | | | horse shows, fairs, and other places where animals |
| (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | | | | co-mingle. |
| (APHIS) fact sheet on the EIA virus, it is the "first | | | | Follow state laws concerning EIA. |