Many people will ask this question: if I am bitten by a horse, do I need to get a rabies vaccine? I have been asked a similar question. At present, there is not enough attention to the prevention of equine rabies, and some human doctors and veterinarians also lack understanding of this. This article will answer several questions related to horse rabies that horse friends are more concerned about, so as to help you better protect your own health and that of your horses.
This article is originally from the April 2024 issue of Equestrian magazine
Q: Can horses get rabies?
Dr. Veterinarian: Yes. If your horse farm is on the outskirts of a city or in a rural area, there is a chance that your horse will come into contact with wildlife. Horses can become infected when they are bitten by certain wild animals carrying the rabies virus. Wild animals that can transmit rabies include bats, ferrets, badgers, foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs, etc., which have been reported in China. The mainland is the second most prevalent country for rabies after India, and cases of rabies have been reported in almost all parts of the country, but there are no statistics on rabies in equine animals.
Theoretically, horses can be infected in areas where rabies is endemic. In areas with large numbers of wildlife, horses are at higher risk of being infected with rabies. Horses are very curious animals, especially foals, they will actively approach wild animals and the possibility of being bitten is very high.
The bite site is usually in the mouth, nose or extremities. The period between being bitten and the onset of symptoms is called the incubation period. The incubation period can be as short as two weeks and as long as several months. The animal's face is closer to the brain, so symptoms will appear more quickly after being bitten; The limbs are farther away from the brain, and symptoms appear more slowly. It is important to note that even if a horse appears normal during the incubation period, there is still a possibility of transmitting rabies.
Q: Can rabies be transmitted to humans?
Dr. Veterinarian: Yes. And the risk of infection in people is high. Rabies can be transmitted from an infected horse to a human through being bitten by an infected horse or by contact with body fluids from an infected horse. That is, even if you are not bitten by a horse, you are at risk of infection if you come into contact with a horse that has rabies. Therefore, if a horse is suspected of being infected, contact the relevant authorities immediately and avoid direct contact with the sick horse.
Q: What are the signs of rabies in horses?
Doctor of Veterinarian: There are many manifestations of disease in horses. Foreign reports show that some horses drool, shake their heads, and are aggressive after the disease; Some horses simply have a loss of energy or appetite, or are simply unable to swallow; Some horses will suddenly experience abdominal pain such as falling and rolling. Without exception, these horses eventually deteriorated and were unable to stand until they died.
These reports tell us that there are many possibilities and unpredictable ways to predict how rabies will be. It is generally difficult to suspect rabies when a horse exhibits abnormal behavior, lack of energy, or similar abdominal pain.
Q: How is rabies diagnosed in horses?
Doctor Veterinarian: Rabies cannot be diagnosed while a horse is alive. The only way to confirm the diagnosis is to collect brain tissue from the carcass of the horse after it has died. In practice, the diagnosis of rabies can be roughly determined by investigating the history of the horse, for example, the horse has been bitten by wild animals or stray animals, and generally has not been vaccinated against rabies.
Q: How can I prevent rabies?
Doctor of Veterinarian: For horses, the mortality rate after rabies is 100%, it is an incurable disease. Rabies vaccination is effective in preventing rabies in horses. In the United States, the rabies vaccine is one of the must-have vaccines recommended by the American Equine Veterinary Association. For people, it is recommended that people who have been bitten by a horse or have been in contact with an infected horse can consider getting a rabies vaccine just in case.
Q: Can my horse get rabies if it is kept in the city?
Dr. Veterinarian: Possibly. Horses in urban areas do have a lower risk of infection, as these horses usually do not come into direct contact with wild animals. However, if there are stray dogs or stray cats in the area where the horse is located, and these animals carry the rabies virus, then it is entirely possible for the horse to be infected. When house-fed horses come into contact with stray animals, it is difficult to avoid attacks like herding horses due to their limited space for movement, which also increases the risk of infection from bites to a certain extent.
图/Vetericyn、Horse Illustrated