ENGLISH VERSION ease, each more horrific than the last, with symptoms such as a frothy nasal discharge( resembling beaten egg whites) or swelling of the whole body. There is no treatment for African horse sickness. Mortality is close to 100 % for the pulmonary form of the disease, which is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, south of a line drawn between Senegal and Ethiopia. African horse sickness has sometimes“ escaped”, as between 1959 and 1961, when 300,000 equines died in the Middle East and South-East Asia. In 1987, Spain was affected after the import of a zebra carrying the virus without symptoms, bought by a wildlife park in Madrid. The disease was eventually eradicated by vaccination after several years, having also affected Portugal and Morocco.“ Zebras and donkeys are often asymptomatic carriers,” says Jean-Marc Betsch.“ All it would take is the introduction of an infected animal, or a few infected midges catching a plane, for the disease to arrive. It would be tragic: culling of the herds concerned and possibly of those on neighbouring farms, a ban on all horse movements within a 150-kilometre radius for a year … Imagine a scenario like that in Normandy, for example!” A vaccine exists, but its use is not authorised in
France, as the country is currently declared free of African horse sickness.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE RESPE
The RESPE( the French equine epidemiological surveillance network), based at the Normandie Équine Vallée site near Caen, was set up in 1999 to monitor the health of the horse industry, share knowledge, provide biosecurity training, manage crises and support scientific research. It relies on a network of 1,250 volunteer“ sentinel” vets who report information from the field. The RESPE also has a network of reference laboratories. Its missions include improving the prevention and control of equine diseases by encouraging early detection, and keeping industry players informed. The RESPE covers 50 % of the cost of diagnostic samples for infectious diseases( in return for a report if the result is positive), and then maps the various epidemics. The reports received remain anonymous, so breeders and horse keepers have no reason not to pass on information that can sometimes be vital for the whole industry.“ Neither the breed of the horse nor the location is given in our alerts, simply the number of cases per département,” says Jean-Marc Betsch.“ The RESPE’ s role is absolutely fundamental, but its funding is not secure. We have an annual budget of nearly a million euros, with six permanent staff in the control tower, including an epidemiologist, a bioanalyst and a vet specialising in biosecurity. We are funded by public and private grants, but putting together all the applications is extremely time-consuming and uncertain. The RESPE needs more long-term visibility.” As a fundamental tool serving an industry increasingly threatened by“ new epizootics”, the RESPE is therefore launching an endowment fund called Equi’ Santé and is looking for patrons. Anyone can make a donation, which is tax-deductible.
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BREED FOCUS
Whether Purebred Arabians, AQPS horses or ponies, they embody the full diversity of horse racing. A closer look at these essential sectors that continue to inspire and captivate.
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THE“ HUEZ” REACH NEW HEIGHTS
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