MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL WELFARE AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AT ONIRIS
In June 2023, Oniris welcomed a 14-year-old mare into its emergency service exhibiting signs of ataxia. How could a diagnosis be made directly on the horse box to avoid any injury, implement biosecurity measures to prevent its spread, and refer her to a facility equipped with an isolation facility?
Challenge
Our client is the CHUV of Oniris, which has a dedicated equine emergency building equipped with examination rooms, an operating theatre, and stalls specially designed for intensive care. For over two years, the CHUV of ONIRIS has been using the Enalees rapid diagnostic solution for detecting infectious diseases in horses.
One June morning in 2023, the owner of a 14-year-old mare observed signs of ataxia: stiffness, loss of balance, and hypermetria of the forelimbs. These signs progressed throughout the day. He transported his mare to the CHUV of Oniris for an emergency consultation. The symptoms had quickly worsened: an increased base of support, leaning against the horse box wall, and a flaccid tail. The team suspected an infectious cause for the ataxia.
Solution
To prevent the animal from injuring herself when disembarking and to avoid potential contagion with other patients, the veterinary team decided to perform an Enalees rapid point-of-care diagnostic test.
The nasopharyngeal sample from the horse was taken directly on the horse box. The preparation of the biological matrix for the pathogen DNA extraction was completed in a few minutes using the ready-to-use reagents included in the diagnostic kit. LAMP PCR amplification, in just thirty minutes, provided a qualitative result: EHV-1 positive.
“The simplicity of the sample preparation steps allows for a reliable point-of-care diagnosis under any circumstances. Indeed, the results were corroborated by our reference laboratory, Laboratoire Frank Duncombe. Animal welfare is a key factor. The mare did not experience additional stress or injury as she remained on the horse box. Finally, we were able to refer her to an isolation facility for immediate care with the appropriate biological diagnosis.”
Dr. Barbazanges of Oniris.
Assets
> 30 minutes to obtain qualitative results
> Point-of-care solution to minimise stress
> Administration of the appropriate treatment & biosecurity measures