Vesicular Stomatitis Virus found in Arkansas
On July 27, 2020, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed a finding of VSV infection (Indiana serotype) on an equine premises in Benton County, Arkansas.
One horse on the premises met the case definition for a new positive state with compatible clinical signs and a positive complement fixation test (CFT).
This is the first 2020 VSV case for Arkansas. Two other horses on the same premises subsequently met the required VSV case definition with compatible clinical signs and (RT-PCR) positive results for VSV.
The index premises is a private equine property located in Benton County, Arkansas . There are 4 equids on the premises (horses and a donkey) with the three (3) horses showing clinical signs of VSV and first noted around July 19 th .
There are no other susceptible species present and there have been no recent animal movements on or off the premises.
The epidemiological investigation indicates that incursion of VSV-infected insect vectors is the likely source of infection on this premises.
Biosecurity measures and vector mitigation (insect control) have been instituted to reduce the within-herd spread of the virus. The animals are being monitored and the premises will remain under quarantine until 14 days after the onset of lesions in the last affected animal on the premises and at least thirty days from the first verification of VSV infection on the premise.
Since the start of the outbreak (4/13/2020), affected states in the USA have identified 267 VSV premises. Two hundred fifty-six (256) of these premises had only equine species clinically affected (> 95% of total) , 10 premises had clinically affected cattle (Texas and Kansas), and 1 premise had both equine species and cattle clinically affected (Cedar County, Missouri – area of Stockton, MO).
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