African Horse Sickness takes its toll

Across Gauteng, a total of 236 cases of African horse sickness (AHS)

have been reported between 1 January and 18 June this year, according to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – and the illness has also hit closer to home.

The historic and internationally recognised horses of the South African Lipizzaners non-profit organisation (NPO), located in Kyalami, have been affected by the virus.

So far, four Lipizzaners have died and one has managed to survive with treatment.

The NPO is appealing to the public for donations so they can buy medication and insect repellent needed to prevent further deaths at both the venue in Kyalami and at the organisation’s stud farm, where females and foals are kept.

“We’ve lost young and old horses so far,” explained Dr Karen Bohme, who is the head rider and veterinarian for the SA Lipizzaners.

“We lost two brood mares. We also lost two colts within a day of each other in late April,” she added.

African horse sickness is a virus which appears seasonally in warmer weather and is transferred by biting midges, according to a statement by Steve Galane of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which receives official reports of the disease.

Galane added that African horse sickness was particularly present in the country this year due to climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature.

“In most of South Africa, except for a part of the Western Cape province, African horse sickness (AHS) is endemic and the area is known as an AHS infected zone. Unfortunately, outbreaks of AHS are expected to occur in the AHS infected zone from November to May, often with a peak from February to April,” the statement read in part.

Symptoms from the illness include a raised temperature, bulged eyes, a high heart rate and purple gums. With a mortality rate between 50 and 95 per cent, horses who succumb to the illness are killed by heart failure.

According to Bohme, a third female Lipizzaner also contracted the disease, but managed to survive and was on heart medication for about six weeks.

The South African Lipizzaners centre is appealing to the public for donations in order to pay for preventative care and treatment.

To prevent the spread of the illness, the animals need to be doused in insect repellent, which the organisation had not budgeted for.

“Our horses have all been vaccinated [against African horse sickness] as that was budgeted for and is actually the law, but the cost of insect repellent was not expected and that’s what we are fundraising for now,” Bohme said.

The insect repellent is used to stop midges from biting the animals and thus infecting them, and the 68 Lipizzaners at the organisation need to be doused with about one litre of the substance each month for protection until the first winter frosts appear. Other preventative measures, such as keeping the horses stabled overnight to keep them away from insects, have been implemented.

“We’re aiming to raise $12 000, and we’ve raised about $1 440 so far,” Tessa Hellman who also works at the NPO said.

She added that the website they use to raise funds operates in American currency.

Protecting the animals should be important to everyone, Bohme added. “The South African Lipizzaners are unique. They have been here at this premises in Kyalami for 60 years, and here in South Africa for 70 years, so they are part of our cultural heritage. It would be very sad if we lost them.”

To make a donation to the animals’ medical care and treatment, visit www.chuffed.org/project/lipizzaner-urgent-medical-rescue.

Donations are welcome until the end of June and the threat imposed by African horse sickness should abate for this year with the first frosts of winter.

You can also support the Lipizzaners by attending their Sunday performances. Visit the South African Lipizzaners Facebook page for more information.