Coggins tests are an essential component of a horse’s yearly preventative treatment. The given test is a blood test that determines if an animal is a transmitter of equine infectious anemia (EIA), a viral illness that affects equine representatives (Kirkland, 2022). All interstate traveling and most horse institutions require a negative Coggins test (Kirkland, 2022). The Coggins test is vital because EIA is a highly dangerous condition for which there is now no cure.
The cause of EIA is a bacterial blood infection that can damage any equids. This infection is a significant subject of concern in the horse business, and there is still no medication or vaccination available (Kirkland, 2022). The indications and survival rates of horses with EIA might differ. A high temperature, drowsiness, and loss of weight are common concerns (Kirkland, 2022). The intervention comprises intravenous fluid supplementation and mosquito control (Kirkland, 2022). Additionally, affected horses should be quarantined as soon as possible.
A negative Coggins test confirms that the animal does not have the EIA antibodies during the testing. Nevertheless, it is recommended that biosecurity measures are applied as a precaution. Because EIA is spread mainly by insects, using fly management measures can help lower disease risk (Kirkland, 2022). Moreover, it is vital to implement integrated pest management (IPM) structure, which employs various aimed methods to counter fly populations (Kirkland, 2022). Lastly, while emphasizing equine health and welfare, it is critical to aid in the reduction of infection by using sterile needles during the injection process.
Thus, the Coggins test is a blood test that determines whether a horse is a transmitter of EIA. This inflection is the cause of such test practice since it is a deadly inflection. The test is usually done for equine institutions or traveling. In order to prevent inflection, there is a need to create a sterile environment for the animal and implement pest control.
Reference
Kirkland, B. (2022). What is a Coggins test?Penn State Extension.