TAHC Votes Not To Require
Coggins Tests At Auctions

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Animal Health Commission will not require a Coggins test for horses offered at public sale, although a TAHC document must be attached to the buyer's sheet notifying the purchaser that the animal has an unknown Equine Infectious Anemia test status.

Commissioners for the state's livestock health regulatory agency, meeting here April 1, stopped short of requiring horses, mules, donkeys and other equine to be tested for the virus before being sold at livestock markets and horse auctions.

Agency officials say almost 7000 horse owners and livestock marketers sent comments to the commission regarding a proposal to require equine to be tested for the disease, usually called Coggins or swamp fever, prior to being offered for public sale.

However, equine being transported to such events as trail rides, shows, fairs, rodeos, boarding stables and pasture, training stables, breeding farms, exhibitions, ropings and other competitive events and offered in private sale or trade must still have a negative EIA test within the previous 12 months, officials say.

They don't require a test if they are being transported or used for ranch work, moved to a veterinarian's office, hauled to a slaughter plant or sold at a livestock market or horse auction.

Still, the TAHC recommends buyers have newly purchased horses tested before commingling them with other animals.

Dr. Terry Beals, state veterinarian and TAHC executive director, says testing has improved for EIA, a disease that affects only members of the horse family. In 1996, about 96,000 Texas equine were tested, but by 1997, nearly 190,000 had the blood test that can be given by an accredited veterinarian.

In 1997, 750 equine tested positive for the virus, about one half of one percent in the state. The virus can cause weakness, fever, weight loss, swelling of the chest and depression. Although infected animals can die from infection, some affected equine appear perfectly healthy but test positive for the disease, Beals says.

EIA is spread by blood-to-blood contact. It can be spread by reusing an infected needle or by flies. The disease can incubate for up to 42 days before testing positive on one of the four tests available to veterinarians and laboratories.

Infected animals should be quarantined at least 200 yards from other animals, Beals says. TAHC regulations restrict movement of infected equine to slaughter or research facilities.