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Discussion on Potomac Horse Fever reported in KY in 2002
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New Member:
Nants
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004 - 5:34 pm:
I live in the Mid Hudson Valley of NY State. Two weeks ago, one of our valuable dressage horses (who ran the Rolex 3 Day one year ago, clean cross country) didn't finish his breakfast. I take temps every morning before turnout and his was 101.3. I had the vets out immediately and our vet suspected potomac horse fever (although all our horses have been innoculated.) IV antibiotics were started immediately. By the next morning his fever was 103 and his feet were hot all around. We began packing ice around all 4 legs and he began spending his time lying down. He was treated with fluids for hydration, DMSO, bute and banamine for inflammation. Diarhea did not start until the third day when he exhibited pipe stream diarhea. The following day he perked up a bit and began eating hay. Lily pads had been placed on all 4 feet to try to make him comfortable but on day 4 he began bleeding from all 4 coronary bands and had definitely foundered and so was destroyed. it was unbelievably heart breaking. We stayed with him 24/7 and had tons of ice that we continually packed around his feet. Our vets said they have seen several virulent cases of PHF that did not respond to the usual antibiotics. Do you have any information for me? Thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 1, 2004 - 7:25 am:
Nancy I am so sorry to hear about your horse. There have been dozens of cases of PHF reported in NY recently. Your case is a bit unusual: the founder seemed to start up before the diarrhea. The article associated with this forum has a lot of current information on this disease. To get to the article go to the navigation bar at the top of this page and select » Potomac Horse Fever ». If you have any questions start a new discussion in the forum below the article window.
DrO
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Member:
Horrocks
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Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 8:47 pm:
I lost a mare to PHF yesterday. It was confirmed by University of Tennessee lab. Is there a way to find out how many cases have been reported by state? I am in North Alabama and it was my vets first case.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 6, 2005 - 7:10 am:
My deepest condolences Sherri. Unfortunately PHF is not a reportable disease so there will not be any accurate numbers. Your best source will probably be your 2 state veterinary schools and the state diagnostic lab. But let me ask, how did the lab confirm the diagnosis? Though it has been awhile since I have probed into this, there are blood tests that were commonly used in labs that have not been reliable and then there are horses with titers from past vaccination and subclinical exposure. What were your horses clinical signs, was he vaccinated, and lastly have you seen caddisflies (easily seen white winged insects usually seen in groups that don't fly all that well) around your pasture?
DrO
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Monday, Aug 8, 2005 - 10:44 am:
DrO
I have seen what looks like those "caddisflies" in my pastures lately ... we have had a phenomenal amount of rain this season(25 inches in 4 months) as well as high temps. Should I possibly vaccinate against the Potomac Fever? We live in Middle Georgia, but also have travelled to Alabama and Tennessee this year for shows. I'm wondering if it would be reasonable to vaccinate for this disease?
Thanks, Nancy
PS Sherri, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find your answers! God bless and send you peace.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 6:48 am:
Hello Nancy,
I would want at the very least confirmed evidence of the disease being in the area where you live and there are other issues with this vaccine. It is very unlikely your horse will pick this up at a show. See the article on PHF on transmission and the vaccine and the issues with this.
DrO
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 7:57 am:
Hey DrO
My vet is coming this AM for other stuff so I'll ask her about any cases being confirmed in our area, but I was more concerned about the "ingestion of adult caddis flies" as mentioned in the article on PHF. And, after another 3 inches of rain last night , I realize now what those little white "moths" are! I think I read somewhere on this site that your original reason for starting this site was because of issues surrounding Potomac Horse Fever Vaccines?
Thanks for responding. Talk to you soon.
Nancy
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 9:32 am:
My above post suggesting they are all white or even light colored was in error there are hundreds of varieties and color variations. The ones I have noticed in large groups were very light. Here is the typical appearance of a caddisfly:
DrO
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Member:
Morg1
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 11:22 am:
We get a lot of those around our yard light every night in the summer. We currently vaccinate for Potomac Horse Fever, but according to your article it might not be effective in preventing the disease. If the vaccine doesn't work I don't want to throw away money vaccinating with something that doesn't provide protection, so should I skip the vaccine unless there is an outbreak? Thanks,
Karen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 6:59 am:
With PHF it really is a question you have to answer with your veterinarian Karen. The article gives you the important points to consider but the decision must be yours. Me...I would not vaccinate unless there were a epidemic of local cases.
DrO
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 6:02 pm:
My vet says no reported cases of PHF, though it looks like I really do see those csddisflies on my place... Are they really small,DrO? I can see them well enough to say they certainly look like the picture you posted, although they are so small I cannot make out that antennae in the picture. It might not be caddisflies, but there are many of them in the wet grass, especially in the mornings. They are in groups that kind of fly up when you walk thru the grass, and land a very short distance away! Now I'm really curious to find out if they are caddisflies?
Thanks'
Nancy
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 10:13 am:
Most of these are good size insects Nancy and inch or more in length and a large filamentous wing spread.
DrO
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Member:
Redalert
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 7:59 pm:
Thank goodness, I DO NOT have caddisflies ... I will take this off of my list of things to attend to on my farm!!! My "caddisflies" are miniature moth like little nuisances! THANKS FOR THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION!
Nancy
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