Glanders update seminar

THE Bahrain Horse Society invited members of the equine community to attend a seminar at Ali Bahar Stable about colic and to provide an update about Glanders, the disease that has claimed the lives of many horses and ponies in the kingdom.

The stable also showcased some of its beautiful horses, finishing off last Thursday night’s event with dinner for the guests.

The first seminar regarding colic was interesting and informative, giving advice on how to recognise the different symptoms, alongside the various forms of colic, with suggested treatments.

The second seminar, a presentation from Britta Tappendorf in respect of Glanders, highlighted what had happened in recent months and future plans for ridding the island from its scourge.

Glanders is a highly-contagious disease of equines caused by the bacteria, Burkholderia mallei. It was once common throughout the world but programmes to eradicate the disease have been successful in many countries.

It causes respiratory infection and skin lesions. It is believed to have been carried into the kingdom on an infected horse brought in from Kuwait.

Glanders primarily affects horses, mules, and donkeys but infection can also occur in dogs, cats, goats and camels.

Surveillance initially based on the original database used in the first round of testing in 2010 has been developed and improved.

Two teams have been formed, one for the north and the other for the south, with results collated jointly. Their target is to provide two clear rounds of testing in both areas, followed by further random sampling.

As there had been no infected cases in the south of the region it was decided to protect this area, by prohibiting any movement of horses from the north.
 
This was done by setting up police checkpoints. Imports of horses to the south from the airport have also been carried out in such a manner as to protect the horses at the airport whilst being transported.

Importantly, in order to prevent re-introduction of Glanders into the country, strict import control measures have been adopted which require post entry quarantine periods in the country of origin as well as stricter post import quarantine in Bahrain.
 
Controls on movement of horses into the south will continue until the disease has been completely eradicated in the entire country.

Horses and Stables also have to be registered under Ministerial Decree No 75 of 2010.

Each stable must be registered at the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture with their location co-ordinates. In case a stable is not already registered, forms are available at the Directorate of Animal Wealth. Each and every horse and pony must have a registered microchip for identification purposes.

There are notifiable events too, such as

*Change of stable: Only allowed with movement permission. Request forms are available at the Veterinary Authority.
*Death or Euthanisation: Notification from owner to the Veterinary Authority on the same day. In cases of death or euthanisation the Municipality will collect and dispose of the carcass at no cost to the horse owner.
*Birth: Notification within one week. After birth, animals must be micro-chipped by three months at the latest, however, in the northern part of Bahrain within one month.
*The Movement Control – Ministerial Decree No 62 of 2010 – concerning the ban on horse movement – is in effect until the end of February.

Authorised movements or holding of authorised events shall be by means of a written licence.

*The unauthorised movement of equidae from a holding is prohibited by law; this prohibition includes hacking horses, walking horses on the streets, moving to other stables, taking part in external equestrian competitions and movement off or burial on site of carcases.

*Procedure for movement request: The Animal Movement Permit form is available at the Animal Wealth Directorate. The horse owner has to complete a questionnaire and provide reason for moving and its destination.

*Movement permission: Movement from north to south is strictly prohibited and requests will be rejected.

*However, emergency movement for veterinary treatment can be allowed if authorised by members of the Glanders Committee.

*Competitions can take place where horses taking part are resident on the premises and the general public attending do not have contact with the horses.

After the first round of testing, movement of horses to other premises can be permitted if the origin stable and the destination stable are Glanders-free in both cft and cELISA, tested by CVRL, and the horse are registered. Movement requests will be checked by the Independent Monitor and IF there are no objections signed by the Head of Glanders Committee or his deputy. The request is only valid with a stamp from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Future plans

*Release of the movement ban within Bahrain: This will only happen when the EU lifts the Export ban for the overall island and the active surveillance is finished.

*Release of the Export Ban from Europe: This will only happen when the country has been completely free from Glanders for a minimum of six months after the last positive case has been found.

The last positive case of Glanders was moved to Quarantine on September 14, 2011.

The country is maintaining ‘on-going surveillance’.

It is hoped the EU will again send a mission to inspect the north of the island, however, it apparently will still take time to publish the decision.

Imperative to Glanders surveillance is movement control – there should be no illegal movement.

In conclusion, currently the north of Bahrain remains under a complete movement ban unless you have a stamped and certified movement certificate, and it is currently effective until February, 2012.

The Bahrain Horse Society (BHS) will now meet with the Glanders Committee to discuss any personal issues, suggestions, complaints or queries that horses owners may have.

The BHS will take your queries to the Glanders Committee and report back to you.
 
Therefore, if you have any issues you would like put to the Glanders Committee then contact the BHS by visiting the website www.bahrainhorsessociety.com – on facebook: Bahrain Horse Society, email: info@bahrainhorsesociety.com or call 33331777.