Peter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS, Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, was named the acting chair of the international Prevention of Equine Infectious Disease Guidelines Group (PrEquID) in September.

PrEquID was “set up to compile guidelines for the prevention and management of major equine infectious diseases based on current scientific knowledge and available vaccines,” according to its mission statement. The group, which is comprised of international veterinary experts that specialize in immunology, vaccinology, and/or equine medicine, was established in fall 2009 under the founding chairmanship of Marian Horzinek, professor emeritus at University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The University of Kentucky co-organized the meeting where the group was formed.

“The equine industry worldwide is facing an unprecedented threat from the challenge of infectious diseases,” Timoney said. “It’s a huge industry involving a complex range of stakeholders, including veterinarians, owners, breeders, trainers, shippers, and regulators.”

PrEquID was initially supported by Fort Dodge Animal Health and more recently is supported by Pfizer Animal Health. Since the group was formed, it has met three times-in Athens, Greece, in November 2009; Marrakech, Morocco, in March; and in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in September. During these meetings the group has drafted guidelines for equine influenza, equine herpesvirus 1- and 4-related diseases, strangles, tetanus, and African horse sickness