Newly published Equine Viral Hepatitis Guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) provide comprehensive information and instruction for equine veterinarians concerning transmission, risk factors, clinical signs, diagnostics, and other considerations for two viral causes of liver damage in horses: equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV).
The guidelines document incorporates updates to guidance originally published for EqPV-H in 2021 along with new and corresponding guidance for EqHV, recently recognized as a cause of chronic hepatitis.
While EqHV infects approximately 40% of US horses, versus 15% for EqPV-H, most will clear the infection within 20 weeks and will not have clinical signs of liver disease or illness. Approximately 20%…