Stallions - Harnesslink

Equine vaccination programmes may differ greatly due to the
animal’s geographic location, risk to potential disease, age
or type, e.g. a race horse, brood mare, foal, or a pleasure
horse.
Listed below is the range of vaccinations in common use on
New Zealand stud farms.
It should be clearly emphasized that these are only guidelines.
Your veterinarian, taking into account potential risk factors,
will be able to determine what vaccination programme is most
appropriate for your horses.
BROODMARES
Equine vaccination programmes for New Zealand
Broodmares are primarily vaccinated to protect the foal either
in-utero and also to convey passive immunity via colostrum in
the first months of the foal’s life before they have a mature
immune system.
Equine Herpes Virus Abortion: Vaccination is an aid in
the prevention of EHV-1 induced abortion. Two vaccines
are available in NZ: Pneumabort –K+1b and Pneumequine.
The manufacturers’ vaccination programmes need to be
followed to give protection to the pregnancy in the face of a
challenge.
Tetanus: pregnant mares are given a booster vaccination prior
to foaling to increase the protection provided to the foal via
the mare’s colostrum (first milk).
Following a wound or surgery tetanus antitoxin Equivac TAT
should be given to provide immediate short-term protection
against tetanus, especially where there is no evidence of a
vaccination history.
Salmonellosis: Annual vaccination of pregnant mares against
Salmonella typhimurium is given prior to foaling to increase
the protection provided to the foal via the mare’s colostrum
(first milk).
Strangles: Vaccination of pregnant mares against strangles
is usually given in conjunction with tetanus using Equivac 2
in 1.
Often the vaccination programme of the pregnant mare is the
combination of the three (salmonella, tetanus and strangles)
administered together with an all purpose wormer which has
praziquantel for tapeworms. Tapeworms have been implicated
as a cause of colic in late pregnancy.
Equine Rotavirus: This virus is sporadic in its incidence in NZ.
Passive transfer of immunity via the colostrum provides young
suckling foals protection from rotavirus enteritis. Duvaxyn R
is used to vaccinate pregnant mares on farms with a history
of the disease.
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YOUNG ANIMALS
Salmonellosis: This is probably the most impor tant
vaccination from the point of view of disease incidence. Young
animals with it will die. Vaccination should take place between
three and five months of age according to the vaccination
programme recommended by the manufacturer.
Tetanus: Generally the foal’s primary vaccination course of
tetanus toxoid starts around weaning time (five to six months
of age). If the vaccination status of the mare is not known
vaccination may commence earlier. Vaccination consists of
two doses of Equivac T or Equivac 2 in 1 administered four
weeks apart. A third dose of tetanus vaccine is given a year
later to confer long lasting immunity. For ongoing protection
a booster is required every four to five years.
Following a wound or surgery tetanus antitoxin Equivac TAT may
be given to provide immediate short-term protection against
tetanus in the young animal or where there is no evidence
of a vaccination history. Antitoxin can be administered in co-
junction with toxoid if indicated.
Strangles: Generally the primary vaccination course would
start at weaning. The commonly used vaccines are Equivac
S and Equivac 2 in 1 (an intranasal vaccine). Equivac S or
Equivac 2 in 1 can be administered from 12 weeks of age
with the second and third vaccinations each two weeks apart.
A booster vaccination is required annually or more frequently
in high-risk situations.
The modified-live vaccine Pinnacle IN is a third option, it is
administered via a special applicator tip into one nostril. This
approach stimulates mucosal immunity at the site of natural
infection. Two doses of Pinnacle IN are administered two
to three weeks apart regardless of any previous injectable
strangles vaccines.
EHV Respiratory Infection: For reduction in severity of
clinical signs of respiratory disease caused by EHV1 and 4
Duvaxyn EHV 1,4 as prescribed.
EXPORTED HORSES
Equine Influenza and Encephalomyelitis: Yearlings and
other horses sold for export to the Northern Hemisphere
and South Africa require vaccination prior to transit. Fluvac
Innovator-4 combines equine encephalomyelitis eastern and
western viruses with equine influenza types A1 and A2 and
tetanus in one vaccination. Two doses of Fluvac Innovator-
4 are given two to four weeks apart. The first dose is given
prior to transit and the second dose is administered in the
country of destination. This vaccine is only available to be
administered to horses being exported.
All vaccination programmes should be administered according to the
manufacturer’s directions under the authority of a veterinarian.
Pacificvet Limited, 3 Hickory Place, Christchurch 8042