Reportable Disease Response

Disease: Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy

Situation: 8-year-old pony gelding in Dakota County was displaying subtle neurologic signs and developed significant ataxia. It was positive for EHV-1.

Status: As of January 18 the horse was showing signs of recovery while receiving treatment.

Disease: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Situation: A backyard flock in Le Sueur County experienced a loss of birds and contacted their veterinarian. The veterinarian forwarded samples to the University of Minnesota, which identified H5 suspect results. Samples were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, which confirmed HPAI.

Status: The flock was depopulated and the site has been quarantined and must go through a fallow period and environmental sampling before it may restock poultry or other birds.

Disease: Canine Influenza (confirmed 04-10-2023)

Situation: A Twin Cities animal shelter operating in Anoka, Hennepin and Washington Counties imported a dog from a shelter in Oklahoma where a canine influenza outbreak was reported. Nearly 200 dogs in the affected Minnesota shelter were quarantined due to clinical signs and exposure.

Status: The quarantine will remain in place, estimation of 6-weeks, until clinical signs subside and the shelter populations show full recovery.

Disease: Canine Influenza

Situation: A Hennepin County dog tested positive for H3N2 canine influenza. This case does not appear to be directly related to the previously reported canine influenza outbreak. The affected dog was potentially exposed in the first week of April when a neighbor was dog sitting it along with a symptomatic dog from another household. The dog sitter reported the symptomatic dog may have previously been at a dog day care or community event and commingled with other dogs.

Status: 30-day quarantine for test-positive dog and housemate. Dog is recovering with supportive care.

Disease: Rabies

Situation: A Nobles County calf is the first rabies-positive bovine detected in Minnesota since 2020. The calf began acting strange on April 10 and the owner called their veterinarian after it was straining to defecate. The veterinarian diagnosed a possible intestinal blockage and relieved the pressure surgically. Three days later the calf struggled to stand, exhibited signs of neurologic illness, and died in the evening. The veterinary clinic performed a necropsy and sent samples to the South Dakota State University diagnostic laboratory, which confirmed rabies on April 15.

Status: After receiving the results, the Board of Animal Health contacted the owner and initiated a rabies investigation to determine risk of exposure to other animals and look for a possible source of infection. The calf was housed in a feedlot pen with 28 other calves and there are around a dozen farm cats on the premises. The Board veterinarian recommended vaccination for the calves and to keep them confined and observed for six months to monitor for any signs of rabies. The cats on the premises will be vaccinated and quarantined in a building for six months.

Disease: Canine Influenza

Situation: Multiple Twin Cities area detections of canine influenza continue to be reported to our office. Please visit our canine influenza website for the latest case counts and guidance.

Status: Outbreak ongoing.

Disease: Tularemia

Situation: In late April two indoor-only cats from Hennepin County chased a mouse around their house. Within the next couple days, the owner noticed anorexia and lethargy. The cats became increasingly sick and developed lip sores, at which point they were brought to their veterinarian. The veterinarian reported fevers of 105-106°, oral ulcerations, and mandibular lymphadenopathy. The veterinarian suspected tularemia, and administered doxycycline before sending them home.

Status: The owner reported no improvement in their condition within 24 hours. Cat #1 was hospitalized for two days and Cat #2 for three days, and they both made a full recovery. Cat #2’s PCR results came back as suspect for tularemia while Cat #1 was negative. The incubation period, clinical symptoms, and weakly positive result support a diagnosis of tularemia. Serology testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed both cats were positive for tularemia.

Disease: Equine Infectious Anemia

Situation: Earlier this month a veterinarian in Washington County was called to perform Coggins testing and write health certificates for change of ownership on three ponies. Two of the ponies tested non-negative for EIA at a private laboratory prompting samples to be retested by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories for confirmation. The NVSL confirmed EIA in mid-May and reported the results to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

Status: The owner elected to euthanize the ponies and there is no ongoing disease threat to nearby equine.

Disease: Anthrax

Situation: Kittson County farm with cow/calf pairs and several horses on site. In late June some of the cows died out in the pasture and the producer called their veterinarian. The veterinarian drew blood samples and results confirmed anthrax from one of the cows.

Status: 15 cows and one horse died from exposure to anthrax. The remainder have been vaccinated and given antibiotics. The carcasses have been properly disposed and the site is quarantined for 30 days.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: Two Kandiyohi County horses detected with West Nile virus. One horse, a one-year-old quarter horse colt was unvaccinated and died from complications related to the illness. The other horse is a 21-year-old mare who recently received a West Nile virus booster dose prior to its infection and is recovering.

Status: Recovering horse is doing well.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: A Kandiyohi County yearling miniature horse colt with an unknown vaccination history tested positive for WNv. The colt could rise with assistance and had some clinical signs of the disease. His condition is improving and he received a WNv vaccination.

Status: Recovering horse is doing well.

Disease: Eastern Equine Encephalitis

Situation: A Todd County unvaccinated 3-year-old Standardbred stallion who was unable to stand was euthanized in late July due to its deteriorating condition. The veterinarian collected diagnostic samples and both WNv and EEE were confirmed.

Status: Horse was euthanized.

Disease: Mycoplasma synoviae

Situation: Mycoplasma synoviae was detected in a 39-week old broiler breeder flock in Stearns County during routine National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) surveillance testing on August 17, 2023 and was confirmed on August 18, 2023. No clinical signs were present at the time of detection.

Status: The flock is under quarantine and participating in an approved salvage program.

Disease: Tularemia

Situation: A 3-year-old Dakota County domestic medium hair, neutered male cat tested positive for Tularemia. This cat has a history of rabbit/rodent hunting and was taken to its regular veterinarian in August for lethargy and anorexia. Physical exam revealed lymphadenopathy and oral ulcerations but no fever.

Status: The cat was treated with antibiotics and recovered.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: In Mid-August, a veterinarian reported a positive case of WNv in a 2-year-old unvaccinated Quarter Horse mare in Rice County. The veterinarian said the trainer noted the horse was sensitive to touch and sound, became ataxic but was always able to rise on its own.

Status: The horse was treated and is recovering.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: On September 10, a veterinarian in Winona County reported a positive case of WNv in a 9-year-old Norwegian Fjord Horse gelding. The horse was seen on emergency the end of August, with signs of lethargy, anorexia, and acute ataxia. The owner noticed he was slightly off two days prior and called the veterinarian when the horse didn’t eat its grain, appeared uncoordinated, and had muscle fasciculations along its neck and shoulders. The horse has not been vaccinated in the last two years with the current owner, and prior vaccination history is unknown.

Status: The horse was treated and is recovering but remains ataxic at this time.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: On September 15, a veterinarian in Le Sueur County reported a positive case of WNv in a 2-year-old unvaccinated Arabian cross mare. The horse was ataxic but was able to rise on its own.

Status: It is being treated and is recovering.

Disease: West Nile virus

Situation: On September 22, a veterinarian reported a positive case of West Nile virus (WNv) in an unvaccinated 3-year-old paint mare in Murray County.

Status: The horse was ataxic and febrile but is now recovering.