Is the EIA horse vaccine effective and worth it?

Question

When looking at horses to buy, I noticed some of them had "coggins test" a test to determine if the horse has EIA (basically horse HIV). If they get this disease they have to be put down or qurantined for the rest of their life.
However there is a vaccine for EIA, the "Chinese Live Attenuated EIA vaccine". I was wondering if anybody had any information its effectiveness? Is it worth it if I live in a developed country?

thanks a lot :)

-M-

Road Apples · Accepted Answer

We (as in, a draft horse rescue) asked our vet about it, and she believes that the testing on it is inconclusive regarding it effectiveness, and for most people it would be cost-prohibitive, especially if the horse is in an environment where it isn't around horses who don't get tested.  If you show a lot, but on show circuits that require a yearly Coggins, there are other more common diseases you should worry about and vaccinate against, like EHV.

So, no, it probably isn't worth it, as the chances of your horse getting it in a developed country with no contact with untested horses are slim to none.

. · Answer

All sale horses should have a negative Coggins. I wouldn't finalize the deal without it.

EIA stands for Equine Infectious Anemia. Has nothing to do with human HIV. It's communicable through insect bite and is incurable. Hence the need for quarantine. You need to keep the horse outside of the travelling distance of the insects vs. other horses. 

Website from the USDA about EIA.. according to them there is no effective vaccine.
Interesting website, though. 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/eia/

orangebunny · Answer

there is a vaccine, but the efficacy is currently unknown.  it'd be better to put your vaccine budget towards other things that are known to be effective

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Is the EIA horse vaccine effective and worth it?

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