What is equine infectious anemia?

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Non-contagious but infectious disease of horses, donkeys and mules;
Viral disease which affects the animal’s immune system, something like HIV in humans;
Symptoms include fever, anorexia, muscle weakness and wasting, swelling of the underside of belly and legs;
Horses infected with the EIA virus carry it for life;
Transmitted by larger bloodsucking insects, mainly horseflies and deer flies. Contaminated needles and surgical instruments can also spread the virus;
Infected horses don’t necessarily show symptoms, but will still be ‘carriers’ and thus, a risk to other horses;
No treatment or cure for EIA, and no vaccine to prevent it;
Diagnosed by testing a horse’s blood, with the original test developed by Dr. Leroy Coggins in 1970;
EIA is found around the world. It’s been in Canada since the 1800s;
Control is based on voluntary testing, identification and destruction of infected animals.

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Spate of new EIA cases may up pressure to combat ‘swamp fever’ in horses