NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MSC 3189, P.O Box 30005 - Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8005 Office of the Director/Secretary Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez, Director/Secretary
MEDIA ADVISORY	Fax: (575) 646-8120

The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), in cooperation with the New Mexico Racing Commission, has entered into a proactive program to protect the New Mexico racing industry and the New Mexico exhibition and breeding industry from the introduction of equine piroplasmosis into New Mexico equine commerce, according to Dr. David Fly, state veterinarian at NMLB.

Equine piroplasmosis is a blood parasite of horses; the disease causes blood loss anemia, debilitation, and death in some cases. Equine piroplasmosis is primarily transmitted by certain species of ticks. Mechanical vectors of the disease such as biting insects, needles, tattoo instruments, contaminated serum, and blood products are also capable of transmitting the disease. The current Texas outbreak appears to be tick transmitted.

Currently all horses entering New Mexico from Texas are required to present a negative equine piroplasmosis test. Additionally, all horses entering a New Mexico race track are required to show evidence of a negative equine piroplasmosis test.

Current ongoing testing has revealed three equine piroplasmosis positive horses residing in New Mexico. These horses were intended to race at Sunland Park; however, these affected animals have not entered the race track.

At this time the horses are under strict quarantine awaiting confirmatory testing and are being moved to an isolation quarantine facility. Further investigation is being conducted by NMLB and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Veterinary Services. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services laboratory is working closely to assist these agencies.

All racing horses are being tested prior to being allowed to race; as a result, there should not be any interruption of the racing schedule.

A national working group has been created to formulate a national response to this outbreak of equine piroplasmosis. Recommendations to USDA are anticipated in early March 2010.    

For further information please contact Ricardo Gonzales at (575) 646-7079.