What is Coggins disease, how is it spread, and why test horses?

Question

Would I be able to get more information on Coggins Testing and what the Coggins disease is and how it is transferred and the distance horses would have to be to not be infected?? Do you personally think Coggins testing is important? How so?? Pet's info: Farm Animal | Horse | Male | neutered | 19 years and 4 months old

Angel Alvarado, LVT · Accepted Answer

A Coggins test is a blood test that detects antibodies to the disease, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). It is a virus related to the HIV virus in humans and can result in anemia, edema, or weight loss and muscle wasting. Once infected, a horse remains infected even though it may not show symptoms. Positive horses are typically quarantined for life or humanely euthanized. This is important because the horse can still serve as a source for infection since the illness is spread by flies. You can read more here: http://foundationequineclinic.com/blog/2014/3/4/why-does-my-horse-need-a-coggins-test-if-we-dont-travel

What is Coggins disease, how is it spread, and why test horses?

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