Equine Viral Arteritis

Last reviewed October 2005

Australian situation

Although equine viral arteritis virus (EVA) occurs in Australia, EVA disease does not occur.

EVA virus was first detected in Australia in 1988 after a suspicion that seropositive, possibly carrier, stallions had been imported. Serological surveys of imported stallions, and mares they had served, confirmed this suspicion and indicated that the virus had been in Australia since at least 1975. Antibodies have been detected, mainly in standardbreds, in most Australian States and Territories. EVA virus has been recovered from the semen of standardbred carrier stallions.

Disease associated with EVA infection has never been recorded in Australia, suggesting that the strains of virus circulating in Australia are of low virulence.

For general information on managing animal health in Australia, please consult the latest edition of 'Animal Health in Australia'.

This disease is nationally notifiable in Australia. Please consult Australia's Agreed Minimum List of Notifiable Diseases for further information.

Disease summary

EVA is a viral infection of horses characterised by variable clinical signs resulting from a panvasculitis, the most serious of which is abortion.

World distribution

More information on this OIE-listed disease, including worldwide disease status and distribution, is available on the OIE Website.

Surveillance statistics

Surveillance statistics can be viewed at the NAHIS site.

Further information

Further information, including publicly available Australian historical data can be obtained by contacting:

Project Manager
Animal Health Australia
Phone: (02) 6203 3912
Fax: (02) 6232 5511
Email: aha@animalhealthaustralia.com.au