The U.S. Department of Agriculture needs your help to develop an equine viral arteritis (EVA) regulatory program for U.S. horses.

The equine industry regards the disease as a potentially significant and increasing economic threat. Currently, the USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) doesn’t have an EVA control program because outbreaks are sporadic. The equine industry has requested that APHIS initiate surveillance, control, and possibly eradication of EVA.

EVA is an acute, contagious, viral disease characterized by edema, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, and abortion. Infection is spread through aerosol transmission, and also venereally by infected stallions or infected semen. Horses which have EVA antibodies, which can be present due to vaccination against the disease or infection with EVA virus, can be barred from entering foreign countries. Semen collected from infected stallions also can be banned. The disease can cause abortion in pregnant mares, with rates as high as 70%.

This notice appeared in the Sept. 20 Federal Register, and can be viewed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html