Virus found in two horses in Santa Cruz County
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
Three properties in Arizona’s Santa Cruz County are under quarantines after two horses tested positive for Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV).
The horses involved have no history of travel and other livestock have shown no signs of VSV. The investigation is ongoing to detect and prevent the virus from spreading into other animals.
“Vesicular Stomatitis Virus mainly affects equine and to a lesser extent cattle and swine,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Perry Durham in a release. “It can be painful for animals and costly to deal with.”
The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with other infected animals or by blood-feeding insects.
Symptoms of VSV include blisters around the mouth, tongue, and nose/muzzle area. It can cause the animal pain and difficulty eating and drinking. If cattle become infected, the hooves and teats will show symptoms.
If the teats are infected, it can negatively impact the dairy cattle economy. Another worrying fact about VSV in cattle is that it is very similar to Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Veterinarians and livestock owners who think one of their animals may have contracted VSV are encouraged to contact State or Federal animal health authorities.
Although it’s uncommon, humans can be infected with VSV. It usually happens if there’s direct contact with an infected animal, such as a horse coughing while inspecting its mouth. In humans, VSV can cause flu-like symptoms and rarely will cause lesions or blisters.
Arizona’s equine industry accounted for more than $31 million in sales in 2012.