Results received yesterday (Jan. 4) showed that three additional horses were positive for equine herpesvirus and two were “suspect” for the virus at barns quarantined at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky, according to Rusty Ford of the Kentucky state veterinarian’s office. One positive horse is showing signs of viral infection.

Ford said PCR assays (to look for the DNA of herpesvirus) of nasal swabs conducted at the University of Kentucky’s Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center indicated herpesvirus was circulating in the Outrider’s Barn, with two of the six horses positive and one horse suspect for herpesvirus. One of those positive horses is showing evidence of viral infection, and the other five have no clinical signs of illness.

In addition, results from 28 horses tested in the Pony Barn confirmed herpesvirus present in one horse, with another being suspect. There has been no clinical evidence of disease reported in either animal in this barn. A more thorough health review will be done today (Jan. 5).

In each of the positive PCR horses (Outrider’s and Pony Barns), the result was reported from nasal swabs, with EDTA buffy coat (from white blood cells) being negative