EQUINE | Equine Disease Update
EQUINE | Equine Disease Update
in contact with that horse , as soap will kill influenza viruses . And if you are sick with the flu , it is probably best not to cuddle your pets .
Contact : Thomas M . Chambers , PhD tmcham1 @ uky . edu ( 859 ) 218-1126 Maxwell H . Gluck Equine Research Center University of Kentucky Lexington , KY
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Equine Identification in the United States
The need for horse identification spans back to the 1800s , when branding cattle and horses was commonplace for tracing these animals to specific ranches or owners . Historically , horses were identified by physical description . With many solid horses without unique identifying markings , this identification modality had limited usefulness . For example , it would be challenging to individually describe a group of yearling Friesian fillies in a field . The transition to utilization of individual animal brands and lip tattoos aided in the identification of equine in the United States .
Unfortunately , the recognized disadvantages of these identification modalities include inducing pain and stress in the animal , potential transmission of disease agents , and inherent safety issues associated with the procedures . Additionally , brands can be considered unsightly , difficult to read , and altered . Over the years , the industry has researched innovative ways to uniquely identify horses .
Iris scanning was developed by Japanese researchers in 2000 , but the expense of this process and limited access to reading equipment made this a non-viable option . The recent advances in microchip technology has made this procedure the desired identification modality of the future .
Today , the international standards for acceptable microchips are :
• ISO 11784 / 11785 compliant and ICAR certified
• 15-digit numeric , no letters format
• 134.2 kHz frequency
Concerns have been raised regarding impact of the invasive procedure and longevity of the microchip . However , subsequent microchip implantation studies have proven that microchip administration yields minor transient pain and inflammation at the injection site and minimal microchip migration following the correct implantation in a horse .
Recently , improved microchip temperature sensing technology has enabled accurate body temperature recording . Not only does this type of chip provide a unique individual identification , but it also provides a value added health monitoring benefit . For example , should an equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy incident occur at a large boarding facility , management could easily and rapidly monitor temperatures via the biothermal microchip and move horses with elevated temperatures to isolation before the horses start shedding virus .
In the last five years , the equine industry in the United States has embraced the use of microchips for equine identification . In 2008 , the Jockey Club began offering microchips for sale to its members . The Jockey Club began mandating that thoroughbred foals have an ISO 11784 / 11785 compliant microchip implanted starting with the 2017 foal crop .
mpressively , Jockey Club members embraced microchipping technology and two-thirds of the 2016 foal crop were voluntarily microchipped . Recognizing the need and benefit of microchipping , the United States Hunter Jumper Association ( USHJA ) passed a regula-
16 • Equine Health Update •