Infection with equine arteritis virus

Article 12.9.1.

General provisions

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, equine viral arteritis (EVA) is defined as an infection of domestic equids with equine arteritis virus.

This chapter deals not only with the occurrence of clinical signs caused by equine arteritis virus, but also with the presence of infection with equine arteritis virus in the absence of clinical signs.

For the purposes of this chapter, isolation is defined as the separation of domestic equids from those of a different EVA health status, utilising appropriate biosecurity measures, with the objective of preventing the transmission of infection.

The infective period for EVA shall be 28 days for all categories of equids except sexually mature stallions where the infective period may be for the life of the animal. Because the infective period may be extended in the case of virus shedding in semen, the status of seropositive stallions should be checked to ensure that they do not shed virus in their semen.

Standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 12.9.2.

Recommendations for the importation of uncastrated male equids

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals showed no clinical sign of EVA on the day of shipment and during the 28 days prior to shipment and met one of the following requirements:

1. were isolated for the 28 days prior to shipment and were subjected to a test for EVA carried out on a single blood sample collected during the 21 days prior to shipment with a negative result; or

2. were subjected between six and nine months of age to a test for EVA:

   EITHER:

   1. with a negative result,

   OR

   2. with a positive result, followed at least 14 days later by a second test showing a stable or decreasing titre;

   and were immediately vaccinated against EVA and regularly revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer; or

3. met the following requirements:

   1. were isolated; and

   2. not earlier than seven days of commencing isolation were subjected to a test for EVA on a blood sample with a negative result; and

   3. were then immediately vaccinated; and

   4. were kept separated from other equids for 21 days following vaccination; and

   5. were regularly revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer; or

4. have been subjected to a test for EVA carried out on a blood sample with a positive result and then: either

   1. were subsequently test mated to two mares within six months prior to shipment which were subjected to two tests for EVA with negative results on blood samples collected at the time of test mating and again 28 days after the mating; or

   2. were subjected to a test for EVA with a negative result, carried out on semen collected during the six months prior to shipment; or

   3. were subjected to a test for EVA with a negative result, carried out on semen collected within six months after the blood sample was tested, then immediately vaccinated, and regularly revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Article 12.9.3.

Recommendations for the importation of equids other than uncastrated males

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals showed no clinical sign of EVA on the day of shipment; and

EITHER

1. were kept in an establishment where no animals have shown any signs of EVA for the 28 days prior to shipment; and

   1. were subjected to a test for EVA carried out on blood samples collected either once within 21 days prior to shipment with a negative result, or on two occasions at least 14 days apart within 28 days prior to shipment, which demonstrated stable or declining antibody titres; or

   2. were regularly vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer;

OR

2. were isolated for the 28 days prior to shipment and during this period the animals showed no sign of EVA.

Article 12.9.4.

Recommendations for the importation of equine semen

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the donors were kept for the 28 days prior to semen collection in an establishment where no equid has shown any clinical sign of EVA during that period and showed no clinical sign of EVA on the day of semen collection; and

1. were subjected between six and nine months of age to a test for EVA:

   EITHER:

   1. with a negative result,

   OR

   2. with a positive result, followed at least 14 days later by a second test showing a stable or decreasing titre;

   and were immediately vaccinated against EVA and regularly revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer; or

2. were isolated and not earlier than 7 days of commencing isolation were subjected to a test for EVA on a blood sample with a negative result, immediately vaccinated for EVA, kept for 21 days following vaccination separated from other equids and regularly revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer; or

3. were subjected to a test for EVA on a blood sample with a negative result within 14 days prior to semen collection, and had been separated from other equids not of an equivalent EVA status for 14 days prior to blood sampling until the end of semen collection; or

4. have been subjected to a test for EVA carried out on a blood sample with a positive result and then: either

   1. were subsequently test mated to two mares within six months prior to semen collection, which were subjected to two tests for EVA with negative results on blood samples collected at the time of test mating and again 28 days after the test mating; or

   2. were subjected to a test for EVA with a negative result, carried out on semen collected within six months prior to collection of the semen to be exported; or

   3. were subjected to a test for EVA with a negative result, carried out on semen collected within six months after the blood sample was collected, then immediately vaccinated, and regularly revaccinated; or

5. for frozen semen, were subjected with negative results either:

   1. to a test for EVA carried out on a blood sample taken not earlier than 14 days and not later than 12 months after the collection of the semen for export; or

   2. to a test for EVA carried out on an aliquot of the semen collected immediately prior to processing or on an aliquot of semen collected within 14 to 30 days after the first collection of the semen to be exported.

Article 12.9.5.

Recommendations for the importation of in vivo derived equine embryos

Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the donor animals showed no clinical sign of EVA on the day of embryo collection; and

EITHER

1. were kept in an establishment where no animals have shown any signs of EVA for the 28 days prior to collection; and

   1. were subjected to a test for EVA carried out on blood samples collected either once within 21 days prior to collection with negative results, or on two occasions at least 14 days apart within 28 days prior to collection, which demonstrated stable or declining antibody titres; or

   2. were regularly vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer;

OR

2. were isolated for the 28 days prior to collection and during this period the animals showed no sign of EVA;

AND

3. semen used to fertilise the oocytes complies with the requirements in Article 12.9.4.