[Guidelines for the vaccination of horses – 5th edition].
Abstract: Vaccination is one of the most important measures for preventing infectious diseases. Vaccinations against tetanus and West-Nile-Virus are essential to protect the individual horse. These infections are not contagious and are not transmitted from animal to animal. By contrast, Equine Influenza and Equine-Herpes-Virus infections are highly contagious, transmissible diseases. In addition to protecting the vaccinated individual, vaccinating as many horses as possible aims at inducing a broad herd immunity, which interrupts infection chains and thus additionally protects the individual. Vaccination against tetanus, Equine Influenza and Equine-Herpes-Virus infections are core vaccinations for horses. The immunization against West-Nile-Virus is currently considered non-core and only recommended in the outbreak areas in eastern parts of Germany and, since 2024, in the entire lowlands of Northern Germany. Prospectively, depending on the future development of the epidemic, vaccination against West-Nile-Virus is likely to become core-component. It will then be recommended for the entire country. In addition to those already mentioned, there are marketing authorizations for vaccines against dermatomycosis, strangles, rotavirus infections, equine viral arteritis and rabies. Depending on the risk of exposure, the use of these vaccines can be highly advisable for individual cases. Die Impfung ist eine der wichtigsten Maßnahmen zur Verhinderung von Infektionskrankheiten und deren Verbreitung. Die Impfungen gegen Tetanus und West-Nil-Virus sind essentiell um das einzelne Pferd vor der Erkrankung zu schützen. Diese Infektionen sind nicht kontagiös und werden nicht von Tier zu Tier weitergegeben. Equine Influenza- (EIV) und Herpesvirusinfektionen (EHV) sind dagegen hochansteckende, übertragbare Erkrankungen. Neben dem Schutz des geimpften Einzeltiers soll durch die Impfung möglichst vieler Pferde gegen EIV und EHV eine breite Herdenimmunität erzielt werden, die Infektionsketten unterbricht, und so das Einzeltier zusätzlich vor der Erkrankung schützt. Die Impfung gegen Tetanus sowie Equine Influenza- und Herpesviren gelten als Core-Impfung beim Pferd. Die Impfung gegen das West-Nil-Virus wird in den bisherigen Verbreitungsgebieten in Mitteldeutschland und seit 2024 in der gesamten norddeutschen Tiefebene empfohlen. Je nach weiterer Ausbreitung des Virus ist perspektivisch die Impfung im gesamten Bundesgebiet anzustreben. Neben den genannten sind für das Pferd Impfstoffe gegen Dermatomykose, Druse, Rotavirusinfektionen, Equine Virus Arteriitis und Tollwut zugelassen. Der Einsatz dieser Impfstoffe kann im Einzelfall sehr sinnvoll sein.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-18 PubMed ID: 39965580DOI: 10.1055/a-2517-4204Google Scholar: Lookup
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- English Abstract
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses the guidelines for the vaccination of horses against various diseases, identifying core and non-core vaccinations, and emphasizing the role of wider herd immunity in disease prevention.
Vaccination Overview
- The article identifies vaccination as a significant method to prevent infectious diseases in horses.
- It explains that different types of infections demand different vaccination strategies. Some diseases such as tetanus and West Nile Virus aren’t contagious and don’t spread from horse to horse. Vaccines for these diseases primarily protect individual horses.
- On the other hand, diseases like Equine Influenza and Equine-Herpes-Virus are highly contagious. Therefore, their vaccinations aim to immunize as many horses as possible. This approach creates herd immunity, which disrupts disease transmission and provides additional protection to individual horses.
Core and Non-Core Vaccinations
- Vaccinations against tetanus, Equine Influenza, and Equine-Herpes-Virus are termed as core vaccinations for horses. They are fundamental and necessary for all horses.
- Immunization against West Nile Virus is not yet considered a core vaccination. It’s only recommended in certain outbreak areas, mainly in eastern parts of Germany and the entire lowlands of Northern Germany, since 2024.
- The paper suggests that this could change in the future with the spread of the virus, making the West Nile Virus vaccine a core vaccine that would be recommended for horses all over the country.
Additional Vaccines
- The research paper also mentions additional vaccines, such as those against dermatomycosis, strangles, rotavirus infections, equine viral arteritis, and rabies, which have been approved for horses.
- It notes that the use of these vaccines may be highly recommended on a case-by-case basis, depending on the horse’s risk of exposure to these diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
(2025).
[Guidelines for the vaccination of horses – 5th edition].
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere, 53(1), 33-38.
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2517-4204 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Vaccination / veterinary
- Vaccination / standards
- Germany
Conflict of Interest Statement
Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Rupprecht CE, Belsare AV, Cliquet F, Mshelbwala PP, Seetahal JFR, Wicker VV. The Challenge of Lyssavirus Infections in Domestic and Other Animals: A Mix of Virological Confusion, Consternation, Chagrin, and Curiosity. Pathogens 2025 Jun 13;14(6).
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