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  Discussion on MULE'S COGGINS TEST READ POSITIVE AT STATE LAB, WHAT CAN WE DO TO RETEST IF IT COMES BACK POSITIVE FROM THE USDA?
Author Message
New Member:
mizd

Posted on Sunday, Aug 17, 2014 - 10:16 am:

We were devastated to get a call from the Vet telling us our mule tested positive on the Coggins test and NO further information or advice.
The blood taken was sent on to the USDA Lab I am assuming for definitive analysis. We travel extensively with our horses and were ready to go again for two months across the U.S., and the mule was going as well, it would have been his first time leaving our home State, where he was born. He is 16 years old, always healthy. I gave all our horses a 5-WAY vaccination about 3 weeks ago and West Nile about 6. We have tried to find out any information we can regarding Coggins tests and false negatives and anomalies that may pertain to mules. I have read on this site that in the event of a Positive Coggins result, retesting would be prudent. It sounded from the Vet, like the blood he drew was all that was required and it would indicate, via various other tests if the animal had EIA or not. We are beyond devastated to face having to have a lovely, sweet, talented animal destroyed. Then even further complications of all our horses quarantined for 60 days. We are facing having to buy other horses to do the function necessary to train and compete our dogs and board them away from our property. I called the Vet Emergency Clinic in our area and was told Mules test differently and alluding to the Eliza test, but reading info on the Eliza test indicated it can have more false positives than the Coggins. PLEASE, PLEASE, if anyone has any information that can illuminate this situation, we would be extremely grateful. If the animal is indeed a carrier, of course I would not want it to infect any other equines, however, if he is not, and it's a false positive, he does not deserve to be put down if there is other avenues of testing we can do. And finally, I read China has had an EIA vaccine since 1983 why no in the U.S., and should we acquire it from a Chinese source?
New Member:
mizd

Posted on Sunday, Aug 17, 2014 - 10:36 am:

Addendum... All our other horses have tested negative in past tests and recently. The mule was not tested as he has never been out of the state or having any reasons to test via Coggins.
Member:
frances

Posted on Monday, Aug 18, 2014 - 3:25 am:

What an awful situation. I have no advice to give, sadly, but wish you luck in having your mule retested, and hopefully cleared.
New Member:
mizd

Posted on Monday, Aug 18, 2014 - 10:53 am:

This is Monday and called the Vet whom drew the blood, he had no info on results and again told me NOTHING period. All the info I have obtained has been via the net through USDA site and so forth, which is how I found out the protocol and that our horses at our farm would be impounded for 60 days and the mule put down. I called the Emergency Vet clinic to retest the mule and was given the State Vet's phone number. Calling them, I learned the mule was given the Eliza test, not the Coggins, which was helpful to know. Hopefully, there will be a good outcome. We have had to find new horses to purchase that are specifically trained, not knowing the outcome or the time frame of a possible imposed protocol. I hope no one else have to go through what we have been through in the past week. What made it far worse was the Vet giving us no facts or information related to this and indeed, I asked him all the questions, he didn't even tell me what type of test was given.
New Member:
mizd

Posted on Monday, Aug 18, 2014 - 6:57 pm:

FINAL UPDATE
The Mule's final coggins test came back negative!

I sincerely hope that anyone facing this same issue might have a little better understanding regarding EIA testing from what we have had to stumble through. Without the Internet and ability to quickly access info from the USDA, State, etc., we were able to be more empowered with knowledge. I'm dismayed that after paying to this site we received no input or info. In addition to the Test issues, there is info of the EIA vaccine developed and utilized in China we would like to know more about.
Member:
frances

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2014 - 12:26 am:

Yay - what great news!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2014 - 8:06 am:

Welcome Dawn,
I am delighted that your mule has now been found negative for EIA. As to a vaccine in China I have no information, I will look to see what I can find but currently there are no approved vaccines in this country.

I am sorry you are disappointed with us but we are not an emergency posting service. Horseadvice is a information resource. I would note that much, maybe all, of the information you needed is in the article associated with this discussion area available to you instantly. Most importantly that under the subtopic of Positive Reactors an overview of how many states handle this situation, as occurred with your mule, but that rules are decided on a state by state basis so the State Veterinarian Office where the positive reaction occurred would need to be contacted for the next step.
DrO
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