Being around horses, you’ll quickly hear about getting Coggins done, but you may not know what it’s for or what it tells you about your horse.
A Coggins test is a blood test performed by a veterinarian to see if a horse has EIA antibodies. There are multiple tests to detect antibodies, but the Coggins test is the most popular and well known among horse industry professionals.
What is a Coggins test?
The Coggins test is a blood test used to detect Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), a potentially fatal viral disease that affects horses, donkeys, and mules.
EIA, also known as “swamp fever,” is caused by a virus transmitted primarily through blood-sucking insects like horseflies and deer-flies.
It can also be spread via contaminated needles or surgical instruments.
Named after Dr. Leroy Coggins, the veterinarian who developed the test in the 1970s, the Coggins test checks for antibodies to the EIA virus in a horse’s bloodstream.
If these antibodies are present, it means the horse has been exposed to the virus and is a carrier, even if it shows no symptoms.
What is Equine Infectious Anaemia?
Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is caused by the Equine Infectious Anaemia Virus (EIAV), a retrovirus similar to the one that causes HIV in humans.
The virus likely originated in horses centuries ago, though the exact origins and how it first appeared in equine populations are not fully known.
The EIA virus is primarily spreads through the transfer of infected blood between horses. This transfer can occur in several ways:
- Insect vectors: The most common way EIA spreads is through blood-sucking insects like horseflies and deer-flies. These insects feed on the blood of an infected horse and can then transmit the virus to another horse when they feed again. While the virus does not replicate within the insect, it can survive long enough to be passed on during a subsequent feeding.
- Contaminated needles or equipment: EIA can also be transmitted through the use of contaminated needles, syringes, or surgical instruments. If an instrument is used on an infected horse and then reused without proper sterilisation, the virus can be transferred to another horse.
- Blood transfusions: In rare cases, EIA can be spread through blood transfusions if the blood used is from an infected horse.
EIA is more common in areas with high populations of blood-sucking insects, particularly in warm and humid climates where these insects thrive. However, the disease can occur anywhere horses are present, making testing and prevention crucial regardless of location.
EIA has likely been affecting horses for centuries, but it wasn’t until the development of the Coggins test in the 1970s that it became possible to identify and control the spread of the disease effectively.
Before this, the disease would often spread unchecked, leading to sporadic outbreaks.
Why is EIA so serious?
Equine Infectious Anaemia is a serious disease because there is no cure or effective vaccine.
Horses that contract EIA may suffer from symptoms like fever, weight loss, lethargy, and anaemia. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Even if a horse does not show symptoms, it can still carry the virus and transmit it to other horses, posing a significant threat to the equine community.
Why does your horse need a Coggins test?
- Preventing the spread of EIA: The primary reason for the Coggins test is to prevent the spread of EIA. Since the disease can be transmitted by seemingly healthy horses, regular testing is essential to identify carriers and take appropriate measures to protect other horses.
- Legal requirements: In many regions, a negative Coggins test is required by law for horses to travel, participate in competitions, or enter boarding facilities. This helps to ensure that horses coming into contact with others are not carriers of EIA.
- Peace of mind: Knowing that your horse is free of EIA provides peace of mind, not just for you but for the entire equestrian community. It’s a proactive step in maintaining the health and safety of all horses.
- Protection of investment: Horses are a significant investment, both emotionally and financially. Regular Coggins testing is a small but crucial part of protecting that investment by ensuring your horse’s health and the health of those around it.
What happens if a horse gets a positive Coggins?
If a horse tests positive for EIA, it is considered a carrier for life.
Depending on the regulations in your country/region, the horse may need to be quarantined for the rest of its life, kept under strict isolation to prevent contact with other horses, or in some cases, humanely euthanised.
This is a heartbreaking situation for any horse owner, but it is a necessary measure to prevent the spread of this incurable disease to other horses.
This is why you should always have a horse tested whenever its getting moved to a new place or when it changes owners.
How often should your horse get the Coggins test?
The frequency of Coggins testing can vary depending on where you live and what activities you and your horse are involved in.
Many regions, states and municipalities require annual testing, but some events or facilities might require a negative test within the last six months. When you want to travel with your horse or attend an event, check the specific requirements and make sure you have all vaccines and required documents up to date.
To perform a Coggins test, a licensed veterinarian draws blood from your horse and sends it to an accredited lab for analysis. The lab will conduct a test to detect the EIA antibody (a protein that allows the body to recognise the EIA virus; this will only be present if the horse has had the EIA virus).
They will then provide either a positive (antibody is present) or a negative (antibody is not present) test result back to the veterinarian, who will share it with you, the owner.
These results, often referred to as Coggins papers, will then be available as either a paper or an electronic certificate and should be kept with the horse’s health records.
The test results expire one year from the testing date.
The following information is generally found on all Coggins tests:
- Owner information: Owner’s name, address, phone number
- Stable’s information: Point of contact, address, phone number
- Veterinarian’s information: Name, clinic, accreditation number, address
- Horse’s identifiable information: Name, barn name, breed registration number, breed, sex, colour, age, permanent identification (microchip, tattoo), pictures or drawings of all markings accompanied with a narrative description of markings
- Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) test information: Type, lab that preformed the test, reason for testing, date received, date reported, and result
The Coggins test is a critical tool in the fight against Equine Infectious Anaemia.
By ensuring your horse is regularly tested, you’re not only complying with legal requirements but also playing a vital role in safeguarding the health of the wider equine community.
Regular testing is a small investment in your horse’s health that can prevent the spread of a devastating disease, for which there is no vaccine, treatment or cure.
For the well-being of your horse and those it comes into contact with, make sure that your horse’s Coggins test is up to date.
