By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan officials have tightened the state’s standards for hauling horses across state lines.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now requiring an interstate health certificate for all horses entering Michigan from states in which equine piroplasmosis has been detected within the last 12 months.

Indiana is among the states to have piro-positive horses. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has requested lower requirements for Hoosier horses entering Michigan based on the volume of traffic between the two states and the relatively low risk presented by the small number of piro-positive horses in the state.
Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne protozoal infection in horses.

Symptoms range from acute fever, anemia and jaundice, chronic weight loss, rapid respiration and congestion of the mucus membranes to sudden death. If an infected animal is discovered in a piroplasmosis-free region, the animal must be quarantined and kept from all contact with ticks. Treatment can suppress clinical signs, but the currently available treatments are ineffective in clearing the disease. Carrier animals can introduce equine piroplasmosis into new regions.

Michigan State Veterinarian Dr. Steve Halstead said Michigan officials are concerned about the disease because “it’s a new situation in the state. The disease is transmitted from horse to horse through ticks.”

Halstead said the disease was found in horses from two Texas ranches, which were shipped to 14 states, including Indiana. The disease has not yet been found in Michigan.

“Until now, the U.S. has been equine piroplasmosis free,” Halstead said. “It’s a reportable disease. We see problems with it in European horses. We have strict import requirements. We’re being cautious here in Michigan.”

To enter Michigan, all equidae – horses, donkeys, ponies, zebras – must test negative to an official test for equine infectious anemia within the current calendar year, except equidae that are both nursing and are six months of age or younger. They must have a current official interstate health certificate, which is valid for 30 days, or official certificate of veterinary inspection. The health certificate must include a special statement for equidae coming from any state in which there has been a diagnosed case of vesicular stomatitis in the past 12 months. Equidae coming from or originating from any state in which there has been a diagnosed case of piroplasmosis in the past 12 months must have tested negative to piroplasmosis within 30 days of importation and be accompanied by an interstate health certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection stating that the animal shows no signs of piroplasmosis. Equine with ticks or evidence of tick infestation shall be treated with topical pyrethroids or pesticide products registered with the United States Environment Protection Agency for the treatment of ticks in equine. Horses from premises currently under quarantine for piroplasmosis shall not be imported into Michigan.
Visit www.michigan.gov/mda for more information and a complete list of health requirements for hauling animals into the state.