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Reducing
Your Horse's Exposure to Mosquitoes
Auburn, August 30,
2002 --- One of the most important steps horse owners can take
to reduce their horses' exposure to diseases such as West Nile virus
and Eastern equine encephalitis is to reduce their animals' exposure
to mosquitoes as well as vaccinate the animals against both
diseases. Mosquitoes are the primary carriers of both diseases.
First, horse owners
should control mosquito populations by removing all potential
sources of stagnant water in which mosquitoes might breed.
Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than four days.
Livestock watering
troughs should be thoroughly cleaned on a monthly basis. Troughs
should be dumped and refilled on a weekly basis if they are small
enough to handle easily.
Housing animals in
structures with well-maintained insect screening can reduce exposure
to adult mosquitoes. However, these mosquito-resistant structures
may actually lead to mosquito exposure unless precautions are first
taken to eliminate mosquitoes from inside the structure. This can be
done in a variety of ways including the use of pesticides targeting
all life stages of mosquitoes. In addition, using fans may reduce
the potential ability of mosquitoes to feed on horses.
A recently completed
study of WNV suggests that keeping horses in stalls at night may be
helpful in reducing their risk of infection.
Use of insect repellents
may decrease exposure of horses to adult mosquitoes. Due to
practical limitations in the coverage area that may be achieved and
the limited duration of effectiveness, repellents should not be
solely relied upon to prevent exposure.
Repellents should be
used according to label instructions regarding appropriate species,
method of application and other precautions. Topical application of
a product containing a synthetic pyrethroid compound (e.g.,
permethrin) as the active ingredient may offer the best combination
of safety and effectiveness.
SOURCE: Dr.
Cindy McCall, Extension animal
scientist
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