Equine infectious anemia (EIA) was confirmed July 13 in a Pennsylvania horse, said Bruce Schmucker, VMD, of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The horse is not showing any clinical signs of the disease and passed through Meadville Livestock Auction in Meadville, Penn., on June 29.

The infected horse was first tested at the Sugarcreek Horse and Tack Auction in Sugarcreek, Ohio, on June 24. “The blood sample (for an EIA test) was drawn at Sugarcreek and sent to our laboratory,” said David Glauer, DVM, veterinarian for the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“Ohio allows equine to come to a licensed livestock market where there is a veterinarian to draw that (EIA) sample,” said Glauer. “Our administrative code says that the new owner of that animal must maintain that animal on their property until they receive results. In the interim, the horse moved from Ohio to the Meadville auction.”

Schmucker said Ohio officials alerted him that the horse’s test from the Sugarcreek Auction came back positive and that contrary to instructions by Ohio officials, the new owner had taken the horse to the Meadville Auction for sale. Schmucker said the horse has been located, quarantined, and tested positive again for EIA. The horse is now considered a threat to the equine population