Texas and Colorado are seeing a growing number of cases of Vesicular Stomatitis in predominately horses and cattle. The first case was diagnosed on May 23, 2014 by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The lab confirmed a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection (New Jersey serotype) on an equine premises in Kinney County, Texas.
To date, a total of 110 VSV-positive premises have been identified in Colorado (69 premises) and Texas (41 premises). In the latest report from the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 173 cumulative positive cases have been identified and there have bee 3,726 cumulative susceptible cases in Colorado and Texas. Of that total of susceptible cases, 1,564 are horses, 2,054 are cattle, three are hogs, 48 are sheep, 49 are goats and 8 are other ruminants.
Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall released a statement on the state's regulations on livestock from states with VS are: Livestock (equine, bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine, or cervidae) entering Oklahoma from a county where Vesicular Stomatitis has been diagnosed within the last 30 days or a county that contains a premises quarantined for Vesicular Stomatitis shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) dates within five (5) days of entry containing the following statement: “All animals identified on this certificate have been examined and found to be free from signs of Vesicular Stomatitis and have not originated from a premises which is under quarantine for Vesicular Stomatitis.
The CVI shall be completed by an accredited veterinarian from the state where Vesicular Stomatitis has been diagnosed and shall be obtained prior to each entry into Oklahoma. This includes re-entry of Oklahoma origin animals that have traveled to a state with Vesicular Stomatitis. With a lot of livestock traveling Oklahoma to Colorado and Texas for exhibitions, rodeos, and hunting this time of year, Hall is asking for assistance in spreading the word about the increased regulations to try to keep this disease out of Oklahoma.
Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Signs and Transmission:
VS susceptible species include horses, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, pigs, and camelids. The clinical signs of the disease include vesicles, erosions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock. Vesicles are usually only seen early in the course of the disease. The transmission of vesicular stomatitis is not completely understood but components include insect vectors, mechanical transmission, and livestock movement.
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