Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins) Testing

Equine Infectious Anemia or EIA is a federally-regulated, and reportable disease in Canada and worldwide. Reportable diseases are microbes, toxins, parasites or syndromes that are particularly harmful. Monitoring, control and eradication measures for EIA are established through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in order to determine its presence, prevent its spread, safeguard animal health and avoid trade and travel barriers. A negative EIA (Coggins) test result is required to travel internationally or it may be required to compete at certain horse shows or stable at certain barns.

Although EIA is a relatively rare disease, there is no current vaccine, treatment, or cure. EIA is mainly spread through insect bites from one infected horse to another. Symptoms of EIA include lethargy, fever, hemorrhage, anemia, swelling of extremities, jaundice, weakness, collapse and death. Not all infected horses show symptoms of the disease, otherwise known as asymptomatic carriers, however they are still able to infect other horses.

EIA testing involves a blood draw and CFIA-regulated paperwork, performed by a CFIA Accredited Veterinarian, Dr Danica Olenick, Dr Kaitlin McDonald or Dr Dianne Meney. As EIA is a reportable disease, your horse’s test result will be shared with the CFIA’s Federal Veterinarians. In the event the test result is non-negative or positive, you will be contacted by the Accredited Veterinarian and/or Federal Veterinarian. You will be required, by law, to establish mandatory quarantine for all potentially exposed horses and follow further protocol instructions. A horse confirmed to be carrying the EIA virus (EIA positive) will be required, by law, to be humanely euthanized with specific protocols for body disposal. All potentially exposed horses may be required to remain under quarantine and undergo EIA testing under the direction of CFIA. There will be no monetary compensation for loss of show entry fees, any expenses associated with mandatory quarantine through the CFIA or SEVS. Maximum compensation for equine animals ordered destroyed under the Health of Animals Act and the Compensation for Destroyed Animals and Things Regulations is $2000.00.

As the owner (or authorized agent of the owner) of the animal described below, I hereby give my consent to perform testing for Equine Infectious Anemia. I have carefully read and fully understood this consent and understand that a positive and non-negative test result will require my full cooperation. I hereby understand that it is mandatory that all results be reported to the CFIA Federal Veterinarian, and a confirmed positive result will result in euthanasia of my horse.