Abstract
BackgroundAfrican horse sickness (AHS) is of importance to health and international trade in horses worldwide. During export from and transit through AHS endemic countries or zones, physical and chemical measures to protect horses from the vectors of AHS virus (AHSV) are recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health. Protection of containerized air transport systems for horses (jet stalls) with alphacypermethrin insecticide-treated high density polyethylene mesh is effective in reducing the Culicoides midge vector attack rate. In order to determine the effect of this mesh on jet stall ventilation and horse welfare under temperate climatic conditions, jet stall microclimate, clinical variables and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels of 12 horses were monitored during overnight housing in either a treated or untreated stall in two blocks of a 2 × 3 randomized crossover design.ResultsTemperature difference between the treated stall and outside was significantly higher than the difference between the untreated stall and outside at 1/15 time points only (P = 0.045, r = 0.70). Relative humidity (RH) difference between the treated stall and outside did not differ from the untreated stall and outside. Temperature and RH in the treated stall were highly and significantly correlated with outside temperature (r = 0.96, P < 0.001) and RH (r = 0.95, P < 0.001), respectively. No significant differences were detected between rectal temperatures, pulse and respiratory rates of horses in the treated stall compared to the untreated stall. Mean FGM concentrations for horses housed in the treated stall peaked earlier (24 h) and at a higher concentration than horses housed in the untreated stall (48 h), but were not significantly different from baseline. No significant difference was detected in FGM concentrations when the treated and untreated stall groups were compared at individual time points up to 72 h after exiting the jet stall.ConclusionsAlphacypermethrin-treated HDPE mesh could be used under temperate climatic conditions to protect horses in jet stalls against AHSV vectors, without compromising jet stall microclimate and horse welfare.
Highlights
African horse sickness (AHS) is of importance to health and international trade in horses worldwide
The aims of the study were to determine the effect of alphacypermethrin insecticide-treated high density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh applied to commercial jet stalls on jet stall microclimate, clinical variables and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations of horses housed under stationary jet stall, temperate climatic conditions
Alphacypermethrin-treated HDPE mesh applied to commercial jet stalls as a physical and chemical protection barrier against AHS virus (AHSV) vectors did not compromise jet stall microclimate, clinical variables or indicators of physiological stress in horses housed under stationary stall, temperate climatic conditions
Summary
African horse sickness (AHS) is of importance to health and international trade in horses worldwide. Protection of containerized air transport systems for horses (jet stalls) with alphacypermethrin insecticidetreated high density polyethylene mesh is effective in reducing the Culicoides midge vector attack rate. In order to reduce risk of AHSV transmission during export from or transit through AHS endemic countries or zones, measures of a physical and chemical nature have been recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health to protect horses against AHSV vectors [7]. Alphacypermethrin insecticidetreated high density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh has a rapid insecticidal effect against Culicoides midges [8] and has recently been shown to significantly reduce the midge attack rate on horses housed in containerised air transport systems (jet stalls) [9]. There are currently no published reports on the effects of physical or chemical vector protection measures, such as alphacypermethrin insecticide-treated HDPE mesh, applied to jet stalls on stall microclimate or stress indicators of horses
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