• Surveillance package for Queensland vets
• Background
• Prevent spread of infection between horses and between premises
• Entry onto property
• Examination of horses
• Samples to be collected
• Advice to owners
• Exiting a property
• Submission to Laboratory
• DPI&F veterinary laboratories contact details
• Additional information

Surveillance package for Queensland vets

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has prepared a special package for vets to use when investigating equine influenza in Queenlsand.

• Surveillance package for Queensland vets (PDF, 663 kB)

Background

Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious viral disease of all equine species (including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and zebras). Most susceptible animals will show signs of the disease but will recover completely within a few weeks.

Clinical signs of EI include fever, a deep, dry hacking cough and a watery nasal discharge which may later become thick. Animals may become depressed, go off their feed, have laboured breathing and muscle pain and stiffness.

The maximum incubation period is five days and horses are infective for 14 days. Most shedding of virus occurs in the early stages of disease when coughing is most pronounced.

Transmission of EI to humans under natural conditions of exposure has not occurred during outbreaks of EI in horses.

The virus can survive on skin, fabrics and the surface of contaminated equipment. Contaminated horse transport vehicles, equipment, grooms, and people who have close contact with horses are all important in transmitting infection between places.

The EI virus is relatively fragile and is killed by exposure to sunlight for 30 minutes. It is also susceptible to soaps, detergents and Dettol which are suitable for personal disinfection.

Instruments and veterinary equipment should be washed with soap or detergent and water and disinfected with Virkon, chlorhexidine, phenolic disinfectants or bleach.
 

Prevent spread of infection between horses and between premises

• Care must be taken not to spread infection. Contaminated equipment and personnel can easily transfer the virus between horses and between premises. Influenza virus can survive on skin, fabrics and the surface of contaminated equipment.
• Virus survival times can be as follows:
  - Hard, non-porous surfaces, plastic, stainless steel: 24-48 hours
  - Cloth and paper: 8-12 hours
  - Dirty water: up to 18 days
• The virus is killed by thorough cleaning with soap or detergent and water and disinfection.
   

Entry onto property

• Do not take your vehicle onto the property. If you are examining a horse with respiratory signs you will have to decontaminate the vehicle when you leave.
• Wear rubber boots, gloves and overalls. 
• A clean pair of overalls must be worn for each property (take multiple pairs of disposable or cotton overalls with you as you may need to change between horses).
   

Examination of horses

• Use a minimum of your own equipment for examining and sampling horses. You will need the following: thermometer, swabs, virus-transport containers, vacutainers for clotted blood samples and needles/vacutainer holder or syringes, plastic bag or cleanable container to hold all samples after collection. 
• Use owners´ restraining equipment such as halters and twitches. Disinfect between horses.
• Record the identity of each horse examined.
• Examine all suspect horses.
• Particularly note the temperature and respiratory signs including coughing, dyspnoea and nasal discharge.
• Record history and clinical signs.
• If examining more than one horse in separate areas of the property, be careful not to spread virus material. Wash hands with soap and water and consider changing overalls and disinfecting boots and examination equipment between horses.
• Call The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries on 13 25 23 if you suspect equine influenza.
   

Samples to be collected

For each suspect horse collect:

• 2 x nasal swabs. Use one swab for each nostril. A normal 6 inch wooden or plastic handle cotton swab is satisfactory. Insert deeply into the nostril and vigorously swab the nasal septum and ventral meatus. Place the swabs into 5 mL virus transport vial (PBGS). Agitate the swab in the virus medium until the solution becomes cloudy with mucous etc. and then remove the swab stick altogether.
• 2 x 10ml clotted blood samples. Do not refrigerate the blood samples until the serum has started to separate.
   

Advice to owners

• Advise owner regarding isolating the horse and actions to prevent disease spread such as:
  • isolate suspect horses
  • feed and attend to suspect horses last
  • use separate feed and water containers
  • dedicate a groom to deal with these horses only
  • decontaminate and disinfect this groom before they are allowed near any other horse
  • use dedicated equipment and tack for suspect horses
  • check the temperature of suspect horses twice daily.
     

Exiting a property

• Leave a telephone number and request that the horse owner make contact if any other horses show signs suspicious of disease or any temperature elevations.
• Package specimens into a plastic bag to take back to your vehicle. At the vehicle, rinse the outside of the bag using soap, detergent or disinfectant and pack into an esky with ice bricks. 
• At the vehicle wash rubber boots using soap, detergent or disinfectant and place in the vehicle. Remove overalls, hat and gloves for later disposal or laundering with detergent and hot water.
• If possible on site, disinfect any equipment you have used e.g. thermometer, vacutainer holder etc. Otherwise do this back at base. Use a disinfectant such as Virkon or chlorhexidine. If this is not available wash thoroughly with detergent or soap.
• If equine influenza (EI) is suspected, go home and shower with soap and shampoo hair, change clothes and avoid immediate contact with other horses.
• If this is a new suspect case of EI, contact the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries immediately.
• Launder clothes and hat with detergent and hot water.
• Instruments and veterinary equipment should be washed with soap or detergent and water and disinfected with Virkon, chlorhexidine, phenolic disinfectants or bleach.
• Once you have visited a property which you believe has EI suspect horses, you must not visit another horse property for 24 hours.
   

Submission to laboratory

• Samples should be kept chilled e.g. use ice bricks and esky.
• A specimen advice sheet must accompany samples.
• Packaging requirements must comply with IATA regulations. A packaging instruction will be provided with the kits.
• All samples should go to the Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory (BSL).  Where appropriate direct transport to BSL will expedite processing by 24 hours.
• Alternatively they should be sent by courier to:

  Specimen Receipt
  Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory
  Animal Research Institute
  665 Fairfield Rd
  Yeerongpilly Qld 4105.

• Samples will be tested by Influenza A PCR.  This is a screening test. If this returns a positive result the second swab sample will be forwarded to Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) for confirmatory testing. 
   

DPI&F veterinary laboratories contact details

If you require further advice or help with the collection or submission of samples please contact on of the Biosecurity Queensland veterinary laboratories:

Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory (BSL)
Animal Research Institute
665 Fairfield Road
Yeerongpilly, Brisbane Qld 4105
Phone: +61 7 3362 9471 (specimen enquires)
Fax: +61 7 3362 9440

Animal Disease Surveillance Laboratory
203 Tor Street
Toowoomba Qld 4350
PO Box 102
Toowoomba Qld 4350
Phone:  +61 74688 1351 
Fax:  +61 7 4688 1195

Tropical and Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (TAAHL)
180-202 River Boulevard,
Oonoonba Qld 4811
PO Box 1085
Townsville Qld 4811
Phone:   +61 7 4722 2624
Fax:  +61 7 4778 4307

Additional information

DPI&F Business Information Centre

The Australian response
http://www.outbreak.gov.au/

AUSVETPLAN
http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/