By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In an effort to prevent an outbreak of a deathly contagious disease in the Hoosier equine population, the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) recently passed both an emergency rule and the first reading of a permanent rule to require new testing at racetracks.

The emergency rule will set wheels in motion to temporarily require testing of American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbred horses for equine piroplasmosis (EP) prior to entering a premise, where a horse race is conducted. Since an emergency rule expires in 90-days – the process must also begin for a permanent rule, which requires a first reading, an open hearing and final reading, according to State Veterinarian Bret Marsh. The proposed (permanent) rule would require testing of any equine animal, rather than only Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.

While symptoms may not always be apparent for the blood-born parasitic disease known as equine piroplasmosis, they may include fever, anemia, yellowing of the membranes in the eyes and mouth and even death. Horses infected with EP are carriers of the parasites that cause the disease and may potentially infect other horses.

The reason behind the push for testing at Indiana racetracks? According to Tim Bartlett, director of equine programs for BOAH, an outbreak at King Ranch in Texas and a sub-outbreak in Mexican-based racehorses forced testing of 50 horses in Indiana during 2010.

“Ten (Indiana) horses were linked to King Ranch, three tested positive, two of which were euthanized and one still resides in quarantine,” said Bartlett. “If there was an outbreak in Indiana, it would have potential to shut the races down. This is the reason we wanted to look at this at the beginning of the racing season. Further testing is necessary to protect the racing industry and horses throughout the state.”

Bartlett explained that Indiana is one of the hottest states for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.

“Indiana has the highest purse structure in the country for Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and it’s also very good for Standardbreds,” he added.
Beginning on March 1, the emergency rule will require any Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred horse entering a track where racehorses meet to present paperwork that proves a negative test for equine piroplasmosis. The rule states that blood sample testing must take place at least once in a 12-month period by a licensed and accredited veterinarian.

Additionally, testing must be performed and the results reported by a laboratory certified and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Currently, there are no laboratories in Indiana available to test for EP, according to Bartlett.

“There are two labs in Kentucky, one lab in Texas, one in Florida and one in New Mexico,” he said. “The turnaround times are still slow, currently it’s about 28 days for horses in Indiana.”

Last fall, Bartlett explained that the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) was declined in its request to test for EP because Indiana did not have an in-state outbreak.

Currently, ADDL does not have someone on staff trained to test for EP and with budget cuts on the horizon, the outlook for further testing is bleak, according to Steve Hooser, director of ADDL.

“Can the ADDL absorb the cost (of the EP test, which would be $12 per test, not including technician fees or $5 each for a large group of tests, also not including technician fees),” asked Hooser. “Probably not. If the funding was provided for the test kits, then yes. If we had a technician, then yes.”
For more information on equine piroplasmosis, the emergency rule or the rule-making process, contact BOAH by e-mail at animalhealth@boah.in.gov or phone at 317-544-2400.