If dourine is suspected in any horse, stop all breeding activities immediately, identify the horse(s) concerned, notify the APHA and seek veterinary advice about the welfare of the horses and the next steps.
If dourine is confirmed, further action will be controlled by Defra. Mating, teasing, collection/insemination of semen and movement of horses on and off the premises must stop until the disease outbreak is confirmed to be over. The premises concerned will be subject to official movement restrictions.
Any venereal contacts with confirmed infected horses must be isolated and will be blood tested to determine if they produce antibodies, i.e. to determine if they have become infected.
Inform:
T. equiperdum is a parasite, which cannot survive outside a living host. It dies quickly with its host. Various disinfectants, including 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde, as well as heat of 50-60°C, will kill the parasites in the environment, but their transient life outside the host makes this unnecessary, although good stable hygiene is always recommended.
