How does equine infectious anemia (swamp fever) get transfered from one horse to!
Question:
How does equine infectious anemia (swamp fever) get transfered from one horse to another?
I know the equine infectious anemia virus is a cousin to the HIV virus in humans. I also know it gets transfered through the blood by biting insects and by reused needles. Can it get transmitted through other body fluids such as through sexual intercourse? All it ever says on the sites is about the needles and biting insects.
Answers:
You already know It can be transmitted by mechanical transfer of blood and by biting insects. .The DEFRA web site has A Code of practice for Equine anemia, it is quite interesting, and scary. It does not mention anything about infection during breeding apart from pregnant mares passing the virus through the placenta, or in the colostrum after foaling.
It can be spread from infected horses during bouts of fever that will occur if they have survived the initial infection. These horses will be carriers.
The virus can also survives in dried blood and dung.
All horsed that test positive for this disease in the UK will be slaughtered, and all horses that have had contact of any sort, will be kept in quarantine until they have 2 negative tests.