Imported Equine Inspection & Quarantine Procedures

Summary

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service safeguards American agriculture by implementing strict inspection and quarantine procedures for international horses. Veterinarians in protective gear check horses' health certificates, look for signs of illness, apply tick treatments, and conduct blood tests for diseases. Horses undergo quarantine based on their country of origin. During events like the World Equestrian Games, horses may enter under controlled conditions, but must leave the U.S. post-competition. This process ensures the health of U.S. livestock and supports the equine sports industry.

Takeaways

• 🐎 The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is tasked with safeguarding American agriculture, including livestock, poultry, and horses, against foreign animal diseases.
• 👩‍⚕️ Veterinarians employ specific inspection and quarantine procedures to prevent the introduction of diseases through international horses entering the U.S.
• 🛡️ Protective gear is changed between each shipment of horses to mitigate the risk of disease transmission.
• 📄 Upon arrival, horses are checked for ID and health certificate alignment, signs of illness, and ticks, with tick treatment applied as a preventative measure.
• 💉 A blood sample is taken from each horse for laboratory testing to screen for specific diseases of concern.
• 🔒 Horses undergo a quarantine period, the length of which is determined by the country they originate from.
• 🌐 The diseases tested for and quarantine duration vary based on the exporting country's disease prevalence.
• 🏥 At the end of quarantine, veterinarians re-examine the horses and verify laboratory results before release.
• 🏆 During events like the World Equestrian Games, the same stringent processes are applied to ensure disease prevention.
• 🚫 Horses testing positive for certain diseases like glanders or equine infectious anemia are not allowed entry, while those with equine paraplasmosis may enter under strict conditions and must leave immediately after the event.
• ✈️ An on-site temporary quarantine facility streamlines the process, allowing horses to go directly from the airport to quarantine before competition.

Q & A

Which department is responsible for protecting the health of American agriculture including livestock, poultry, and horses?

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for this.

What is one of the ways APHIS ensures the health of American agriculture?

APHIS ensures the health of American agriculture by implementing specific Inspection and Quarantine procedures for international horses to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases.

How do APHIS veterinarians prevent potential disease spread when inspecting horses arriving in the U.S.?

APHIS veterinarians change into fresh protective gear between each shipment of horses to prevent potential disease spread.

What checks do the veterinarians perform when inspecting horses arriving in the U.S.?

Veterinarians check the horses' ID against the health certificate paperwork, look for any signs of illness, and check for ticks.

What is the purpose of applying a tick treatment to horses upon arrival?

A tick treatment is applied as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases.

What laboratory tests are conducted on the blood samples drawn from the horses?

Laboratory tests are conducted to look for specific diseases of concern.

How does the length of quarantine for horses depend on the country they are coming from?

The diseases tested for and the length of quarantine depend on the country the horse is coming from, reflecting different disease prevalence and risk levels.

What happens at the end of the quarantine period for horses?

At the end of the quarantine period, APHIS veterinarians examine the horse again and verify the lab results before releasing the horse from quarantine.

How does the process of inspection and quarantine benefit the equine sport industry during events like the World Equestrian Games?

The process ensures that horses do not introduce diseases like glanders, equine infectious anemia, or equine piroplasmosis into the United States, thus protecting the health of local animals and supporting the equine sport industry.

What are the conditions under which equine paraplasmosis positive horses may enter the U.S. to compete?

Equine paraplasmosis positive horses may enter the U.S. to compete under strictly controlled conditions and must leave the U.S. immediately after the games.

How does the on-site temporary quarantine facility benefit the horses and the event organizers?

The on-site temporary quarantine facility allows horses to fly into the local airport, go directly to quarantine, and then on to their competition, streamlining the process for both the horses and event organizers.