A horse infected with vesicular stomatitis in Las Animas County has spurred the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office to extend a travel requirement for certain livestock.
A release Thursday said that all horses, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, swine and camelids entering Colorado from states with confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis should have health certificates with the following statement from a veterinarian:
“I have examined the animal(s) represented on this Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and have found no signs of vesicular stomatitis and they have not originated from a premises under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis.”
Dr. Keith Roehr , state veterinarian, said that is the only other state where the disease has been identified this year. There are currently 27 infected horses on 20 premises.
The infected Colorado premises is under quarantine. Veterinarians believe insects infected the horse, who has not recently traveled. It’s the first time a case has been identified in the state since 2006 .
Roehr expects the travel requirement to remain in place until the fall.
“It’s a summer disease,” he said. “The disease is spread primarily by black flies and sand flies and they have a normal migration from south to north.”
The die-off of flies in the winter brings an abrupt end to vesicular stomatitis.
Roehr said the disease often comes with vesicles, erosions and the shedding of skin on the infected animal’s muzzle, tongue, teats and above the hooves.
The ruptured vesicles can produce oral lesions causing the animal to refuse to eat or drink, which results in weight loss. Lesions above the hoof may result in lameness in one or more feet, and hoof growth can be permanently impacted in severe cases.
“It usually doesn’t create any permanent problems that they aren’t capable of healing,” Roehr said.
Human cases of vesicular stomatitis are very rare, and cause flu-like symptoms. Lesions or blisters are unlikely.
“The overall risk to people is very low,” Roehr said.
To prevent the spread of disease, strict fly control is key and avoiding the transfer of feeding equipment and cleaning tools between herds.
Veterinarians and livestock owners who suspect an animal may have the disease should contact the at 303-239-4161 .
Tegan Hanlon: 303-954-1729, thanlon@denverpost.com
