Horse owners registered with the American Quarter Horse Association can now take extra steps toward preventing and controlling equine viral arteritis. A new AQHA program allows members to document when their horses are tested for and vaccinated against EVA. Participants in this voluntary program can then store this information permanently on file with the horse’s record at AQHA.
EVA, an infectious viral disease of horses that causes a variety of symptoms, is transmitted through the respiratory and reproductive systems. It can be transmitted during horse-to-horse contact at sales, shows and racetracks. While it does not kill mature horses, EVA can eliminate an entire breeding season by causing numerous mares to abort. In addition, U.S. horses that test positive for EVA antibodies can be barred from entering foreign countries.
To participate in the documentation program, owners must complete the official AQHA EVA report form and return it to AQHA, along with the horse’s certificate of registration. The name of the federally accredited lab that performed the test along with the accession number and test results must be provided, as well as the manufacturer, serial number and expiration date of the vaccine and date of vaccination. Once received by the AQHA, the form becomes part of the horse’s permanent records. However, the AQHA EVA report form is not a certification of vaccination and does not serve as import and export documentation.
For an AQHA EVA report form, visit www.aqha.com/forms