African horse sickness is a severe, viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever, respiratory distress, and swelling in horses, often leading to high mortality.

African Horse Sickness

This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.

African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a highly infectious but non-contagious viral disease affecting horses, mules, and donkeys, caused by the African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV). It is primarily transmitted by Culicoides biting midges and is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa.
 
The disease presents in four forms: pulmonary, cardiac, mixed, and horse sickness fever, with symptoms ranging from severe respiratory distress and swelling to mild fever and swelling around the eyes. The pulmonary and mixed forms have particularly high mortality rates.

Symptoms

  • Lameness
  • Difficulty Standing
  • Balance Issues
  • Fainting
  • Swollen Eyes
  • Eye Discharge
  • Nasal Discharge
  • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Yellow Gums
  • Despression

Exclusive in

  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Near East
  • Middle East
  • India
  • Iberian Peninsula
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia

Common in

  • Stagnant Water

Treatment

There is no specific antiviral treatment for African Horse Sickness; management focuses on supportive care, including fluid therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and ensuring a stress-free environment. Early detection and prompt veterinary care are crucial, but the prognosis for severely affected animals is often poor.

Prevention

Preventing African Horse Sickness involves regular vaccination, especially in endemic areas, to protect against multiple serotypes of the virus. Vector control measures, such as using insect repellents, insect-proof stabling, and eliminating standing water to reduce breeding sites for Culicoides midges, are essential. Additionally, implementing movement restrictions and quarantine measures for new or potentially exposed animals, along with vigilant monitoring and reporting of symptoms, can help control and prevent the spread of the disease.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

Google Play
App Store

Related articles

Equine coronavirus is a contagious viral infection affecting horses, characterized by fever, lethargy, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.
Intestinal

Equine Coronavirus

Equine Coronavirus Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease. Equine Coronavirus (ECoV) is a viral infection in horses caused

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) is a highly contagious viral infection causing respiratory disease, neurological disorders and even abortions
Viral & Infectious

Equine Herpesvirus

Equine Herpesvirus This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly. Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is a

Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial infection in horses caused by Streptococcus equi, characterized by fever, nasal discharge, and abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck.
Respiratory

Strangles in Horses

Strangles in Horses This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly. Strangles, caused by the Streptococcus