Equine Potomac Horse Fever Disease Conditions Prevention Info

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•   PHF - Potomac Horse Fever
Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) or Equine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis is an infectious diarrheal disease seen most frequently in the late summer through early fall months. It was originally reported near the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia, but today it can be found throughout the United States.

•   PetCareTips.net - Potomac Horse Fever
Small animals may serve as reservoir hosts for this sporadic, summertime disease. Biting insects that allow the virus to live and reproduce are the suspected transmission vectors. PHF parasitizes the monocyte white blood cell in the horse. After nine to 12 days of incubation, the symptoms first appear as depression and transient high fever.

•   About Potomac Horse Fever
Commonly recognized PHF symptoms include diarrhea, depression, colic, anorexia, dehydration, and signs suggestive of laminitis or founder. However, the cases at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee have not exhibited the characteristic diarrhea. The horses had low white blood cell (WBC) counts, a little heat in their feet, and were depressed.

•   Bayer Animal Health - Potomac Horse Fever
Potomac horse fever (PHF), or equine monocytic ehrlichiosis, is an infectious disease of the horse's gastrointestinal tract. The clinical signs of PHF vary widely among individual cases. Most horses show colic, depression and reduced appetite. Others may develop a fever which may last only a few hours or may occur in cycles throughout the day.

•   EasternDraftHorse.com - Potomac Horse Fever
Potomac horse fever currently is treated with tetracycline antibiotics, however, the success rate of treatment varies depending on the severity of the infection. Diagnosis of PHF is based on the history, clinical findings and the knowledge of E. risticii activity in the immediate area. Accurate, reliable diagnostic testing for PHF is currently unavailable.

•   Animart.com - Potomac Horse Fever
Potomac horse fever (equine monocytic ehrlichiosis) is an acute enteric disease characterized by diarrhea, depression, reduced gut motility, and often laminitis due to infection by Ehrlichia risticii. PHF is a seasonal disease, occurring mostly in late spring to early fall and has been reported mainly in the northeastern United States and Canada.