Keith Coffman

DENVER, (Reuters) – Laboratory (NYSE) tests identified an equine viral that could have caused an outbreak of a fatal respiratory disease in horses. This virus has claimed the lives of at least 95 wild horses. It was discovered at a Colorado federal corral.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), released a statement confirming that results of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed by two of the most respected U.S. veterinarian diagnostic laboratories. They found the virus in lung and nasal tissue from multiple horses.

According to the BLM, this virus, an equine influenza subtype H3N8, is common in wild and domestic horses. However, it is not related to the recent outbreak of highly contagious bird flu in wild birds and poultry in the United States.

Two equine herpes virus types (EHV-2 & EHV-5) were also identified by PCR. BLM confirmed that they are common in horses of normal health and did not say if the herpes virus was responsible for the respiratory illnesses.

April 23rd was when the BLM’s Wild Horse Corrals in Canon City (Colorado) saw the first signs of an outbreak. These corrals are about 120-190 miles southwest Denver and house more than 2500 wild mustangs that were rescued from local public range lands.

The BLM reported that ten horses died last Saturday. By Thursday the total number of animals had risen to 95. Steven Hall, spokesperson at the BLM stated that quarantine was performed in order to separate animals who were sick from horses with infection.

BLM stated that most of the horses were sickened and had been brought from Rio Blanco County, Colorado near Utah’s state line in an emergency roundup following the wildfire in the region.

According to a BLM veterinarian report, the virus H3N8 was the most likely culprit. However, the horses may also have been exposed to smoke and dust in their pens, making them more susceptible to infection.

According to the vet report, the horses were suffering from pneumonia-like symptoms, which included fluid accumulation in their lungs, fever and coughing.

Although wild horses and burros are not indigenous to the United States of America, these herds were bred from animal strays that prospectors, miners, and others left behind during American West settlement.

The West has an estimated number of 80,000 animals. According to the BLM, they must be controlled as they pollute water sources and eat forage that is harmful to native species.

It conducts regular roundups and moves the animals into holding areas, where they are auctioned. According to activists, the conditions in which captive animals live are cruel and roundups can be done regularly.