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Piroplasmosis and the 1996 olympic games
letter to FEI in November of 1993 stated USDA and Georgia's position of no waiver to EP positive horses. Georgia's position concerning equine piroplasmosis is shared by states, organizations and individuals as per the following list: Georgia Equine Advisory Board Georgia Veterinary Medical Association US Animal Health Association US Department of Agriculture National Association of State Departments of Agriculture States: Arizona, New Hampshire, Florida, Texas, California, Kentucky, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Virginia, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Maryland, North Carolina, Montana, Connecticut, various US Senators and Representatives When a nation, country or state is faced with a disease in its livestock population, a decision must be made to eradicate, control, or ignore it and live with it. Why should other nations and countries be expected to take risks with the possible introduction and spread of equine piroplasmosis within its equine population? Those of you with positive EP horses have made your choice of how to deal with this disease. That is your choice and Georgia respects it. Commissioner Tommy Irvin and the Georgia Department of Agriculture have made the choice that the state's import will be met. No waiver of equine piroplasmosis will be considered for the 1996 Olympics in Georgia.
PIROPLASMOSIS AND THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES Dr. Peter F. Cronau, Chairman FEI Veterinary Committee From the foreigners point of view the attitude of the U.S. Veterinary Authorities concerning the restriction of
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seropositive piroplasmosis horses is not understandable. The main reason is the fact, that American horses and European horses, as far as they compete in Europe are stabled together, they are hacking together and they are standing at the prize winning ceremony very close to each other. The restrictions are paradoxical because there existed waivers for major events in the past in USA (Olympic Games in Los Angeles, VOLVO-World-Cup Final in Tampa and Del Mar). A seropositive test does not necessarily mean that the horse is sick. Diseases in Europe are very rare. Since the vector is a tick a transmission may be controlled very effectively by eradicating (or avoiding) this vector. A direct infection from one horse to the other is practically impossible. One of the outstanding and important laboratories in Europe-the Institute of Parasitology in Hannover-has performed a total of 7168 complement fixation (CF) tests for piroplasmosis, from various European countries (n=21) during 1980-1987. The tests have been performed under the same criteria like the USDA standards according to the technique described by Holbrock et al. A total of 410 tests (5.7%) showed a positive result. Since 1986 the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was carried out, where the USDA strains of B. caballi and B. equi for antigen preparation where used. If the USDA and Georgia authorities do not waive the piroplasmosis restrictions, the general IOC recommendations for participation will be out of order. These are: 1. The best riders should compete. 2. The best horses should compete. 3. A representative participation from all continents should be guaranteed. The latest FEI Rule Book states in the Veterinary Regulations under Art. 1000.9: "If a National Veterinary Authority refuses to admit horses from a country eligible to take part, the Orga-
220
nizing Committee of the event and the NF involved must refer the case directly to the FEI. The Bureau will take advice from its Veterinary Committee and, if insufficient grounds for refusal are found, it may cancel the event, or in the case of Championships, transfer them to another country." Despite an appreciation of the importance of national and local interests in keeping seropositive horses out from their country, the Veterinary Committee of the FEI feels very much concerned about the perspective for the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996. [In further comment Dr. Cronau indicated that the FEI Veterinary Committee may recommend to the FEI that the 1996 Olympic Games be transferred to another country. That is, his committee, so fur, sees insufficient grounds for refusal of a waver as has been granted in the past.]
A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS AND THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES Joyce W. Bowling, DVM and Robert F. Kahrs, DVM, PhD The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has taken the position that it will not waive import regulations requiring horses entering the United States to be serologically negative for equine piroplasmosis (EP). The U.S. horse industry, state animal health authorities, and elected officials support this position. EP is present in parts of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Southern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Florida had EP in 1960. It was imported from Cuba, It has been eradicated from the United States. EP test positive horses con be treated and the majority will revert to a negative status. Horses from around the world will
be entering the United States to participate in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. The mission of APHIS is to protect the health of U.S. animal populations. To meet this goal for the Olympics, APHIS veterinarians will prepare and implement protocols for supervision, testing, quarantine, and treatment of participating horses. As stated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 9, Part 92, Section 92.308, entering horses will be tested for dourine, gladers, EP, and equine infectious anemia. Waivers have been granted for EP positive horses for some competitive events in the United States. However, because Georgia has competent vectors and a specific law prohibiting entry of EP positive horses, USDA, APHIS, has established the "no waiver" position for the 1996 Olympics. USDA has answered inquiries by stating we intend that horses entering the United States for the Olympics will meet these requirements. We have no plans to issue waivers. The International Equestrian Federation and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games have already been informed of this position. As the Olympics approach, there will be increased pressure on the State of Georgia and USDA to modify their positions on EP. We will need current data on the prevalence of EP in Georgia and other Southeastern States. The United States is signatory to international agreements requiring sanitary measures to be scientifically based and transparent. USDA is undertaken an objective risk assessment to replace the subjective assessment done before the initial decision was made. Because the Olympics command such international attention we believe an objective risk assessment and serological survey is the best way to prepare for any unpredictable scenario, either scientific or political, that may unfold between now and 1996.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE
PIROPLASMOSIS AND THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES Dr. Peter F. Cronau, Chairman FEI Veterinary Committee From the foreigners point of view the attitude of the U.S. Veterinary Authorities concerning the restriction of
Volume 14, Number4, 1994
219
seropositive piroplasmosis horses is not understandable. The main reason is the fact, that American horses and European horses, as far as they compete in Europe are stabled together, they are hacking together and they are standing at the prize winning ceremony very close to each other. The restrictions are paradoxical because there existed waivers for major events in the past in USA (Olympic Games in Los Angeles, VOLVO-World-Cup Final in Tampa and Del Mar). A seropositive test does not necessarily mean that the horse is sick. Diseases in Europe are very rare. Since the vector is a tick a transmission may be controlled very effectively by eradicating (or avoiding) this vector. A direct infection from one horse to the other is practically impossible. One of the outstanding and important laboratories in Europe-the Institute of Parasitology in Hannover-has performed a total of 7168 complement fixation (CF) tests for piroplasmosis, from various European countries (n=21) during 1980-1987. The tests have been performed under the same criteria like the USDA standards according to the technique described by Holbrock et al. A total of 410 tests (5.7%) showed a positive result. Since 1986 the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was carried out, where the USDA strains of B. caballi and B. equi for antigen preparation where used. If the USDA and Georgia authorities do not waive the piroplasmosis restrictions, the general IOC recommendations for participation will be out of order. These are: 1. The best riders should compete. 2. The best horses should compete. 3. A representative participation from all continents should be guaranteed. The latest FEI Rule Book states in the Veterinary Regulations under Art. 1000.9: "If a National Veterinary Authority refuses to admit horses from a country eligible to take part, the Orga-
220
nizing Committee of the event and the NF involved must refer the case directly to the FEI. The Bureau will take advice from its Veterinary Committee and, if insufficient grounds for refusal are found, it may cancel the event, or in the case of Championships, transfer them to another country." Despite an appreciation of the importance of national and local interests in keeping seropositive horses out from their country, the Veterinary Committee of the FEI feels very much concerned about the perspective for the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996. [In further comment Dr. Cronau indicated that the FEI Veterinary Committee may recommend to the FEI that the 1996 Olympic Games be transferred to another country. That is, his committee, so fur, sees insufficient grounds for refusal of a waver as has been granted in the past.]
A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS AND THE 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES Joyce W. Bowling, DVM and Robert F. Kahrs, DVM, PhD The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has taken the position that it will not waive import regulations requiring horses entering the United States to be serologically negative for equine piroplasmosis (EP). The U.S. horse industry, state animal health authorities, and elected officials support this position. EP is present in parts of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Southern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Florida had EP in 1960. It was imported from Cuba, It has been eradicated from the United States. EP test positive horses con be treated and the majority will revert to a negative status. Horses from around the world will
be entering the United States to participate in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. The mission of APHIS is to protect the health of U.S. animal populations. To meet this goal for the Olympics, APHIS veterinarians will prepare and implement protocols for supervision, testing, quarantine, and treatment of participating horses. As stated in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 9, Part 92, Section 92.308, entering horses will be tested for dourine, gladers, EP, and equine infectious anemia. Waivers have been granted for EP positive horses for some competitive events in the United States. However, because Georgia has competent vectors and a specific law prohibiting entry of EP positive horses, USDA, APHIS, has established the "no waiver" position for the 1996 Olympics. USDA has answered inquiries by stating we intend that horses entering the United States for the Olympics will meet these requirements. We have no plans to issue waivers. The International Equestrian Federation and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games have already been informed of this position. As the Olympics approach, there will be increased pressure on the State of Georgia and USDA to modify their positions on EP. We will need current data on the prevalence of EP in Georgia and other Southeastern States. The United States is signatory to international agreements requiring sanitary measures to be scientifically based and transparent. USDA is undertaken an objective risk assessment to replace the subjective assessment done before the initial decision was made. Because the Olympics command such international attention we believe an objective risk assessment and serological survey is the best way to prepare for any unpredictable scenario, either scientific or political, that may unfold between now and 1996.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE