The Disease
Equine coital exanthema (ECE) is a predominantly sexually-transmitted disease caused by infection with Equine Herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3), a highly contagious but otherwise non-invasive and relatively benign virus. EHV-3 is distinct from the other equine herpesviruses. Typical ‘pox-like’ skin lesions appear on the penis of stallions and the vulva of mares. The virus is endemic in UK and most horse breeding populations internationally.
