Guidelines for vaccination of horses. Equine Vaccination Guidelines Subcommittee, Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, AVMA.

This research article outlines the guidelines for vaccinating horses against common diseases like Tetanus, Equine Influenza, and Equine Rhinopneumonitis. It discusses the importance of adapting the vaccination schedule according to the local conditions and emphasizes the need for careful documentation of the vaccination procedures. It also highlights the individual properties of various diseases and the vaccines used to prevent them.

Adapting Vaccination to Local Conditions

• The article emphasizes the need for encapsulating a localized approach to vaccination, considering factors such as geography, environment, and the management system.
• It underscores the requirement for detailed record-keeping, including the immunizations performed, the products used, and the date of vaccination.
• Importantly, the article also mentions the necessity of professional judgment to identify situations where vaccination may not be appropriate and advocates for the use of federally licensed products as per manufacturer recommendations.

Tetanus Immunization

• This section explores the threat posed by Tetanus, a disease in horses caused by Clostridium tetani which produces a fatal neurotoxin found in horse manure.
• The tetanus vaccine uses a toxoid derived from the inactivated toxin and an adjuvant to boost immune response.
• An initial injection can be administered to a foal from three months of age onwards with a secondary injection scheduled one to two months later for effective immunity.
• Boosters are advised annually or in case of injuries, with a six-month gap from the previous vaccination. Antitoxin treatment is recommended for unvaccinated horses or horses whose vaccination status is unknown.

Equine Influenza Vaccination

• The research discusses the challenge of equine influenza, a highly contagious respiratory disease in horses leading to increased immunity with continued exposure.
• There are two major subtypes of the influenza virus, and the vaccination protocol starts from three months of age.
• Similar to the tetanus toxoid, a secondary round of vaccination is advised one to two months later with additional boosters delivered at two-to-three-month intervals depending on the exposure risk.

Equine Rhinopneumonitis Vaccination

• This ailment is caused by equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and can manifest in three ways: respiratory, abortifacient, and neurologic.
• The immunity produced from natural infection is temporary, and antibody titers vanish within three to four months.
• The available vaccines, namely an equine cell line origin modified live-virus (MLV) vaccine, and an inactivated viral vaccine offer protection against the respiratory form of the disease.