Equine Influenza Virus

Equine Influenza Virus (EIV)

Equine Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by an orthomyxovirus(H3N8 subtype). It spreads rapidly through aerosolised respiratory secretions and is a major cause of outbreaks in competition yards, studs, and young horse populations.

Clinical signs typically appear 1–3 days post-exposure and include:

• High fever, harsh dry cough
• Nasal discharge, lethargy, inappetence
• Secondary bacterial infections in some cases

EIV outbreaks result in movement restrictions, lost training time, and economic disruption — even in vaccinated horses, due to strain variability or waning immunity.

qPCR testing offers:

• Rapid and highly sensitive detection of viral RNA from nasopharyngeal or deep nasal swabs
• Early confirmation during the pre-clinical or acute shedding phase
• Identification of outbreak strains, supporting vaccination strategy adjustments

This test is essential for:

• Outbreak control and return-to-work decisions
• Pre-competition screening in high-risk environments
• Monitoring vaccinated populations for breakthrough infections

qPCR is the gold standard for early diagnosis and is often required by governing bodies during disease surveillance and management protocols.