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AHT begins equine herpes virus vaccine research
Equine herpes virus causes respiratory disease, abortion or fatal illness in newborn foals.
Charity to design a modified live virus vaccine 

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) has begun research into developing a new vaccine to protect against equine herpes virus (EHV-1).

Overseen by Dr Neil Bryant, the research comes after the AHT became aware of a pressing need for progress towards a new and improved EHV-1 vaccine.

In March, the Newmarket-based charity was called upon to work with the racing industry and affected parties in dealing with confirmed cases of EHV-1 abortion in Yorkshire and Suffolk. This need led to the development of an Equine Industries EHV Vaccine Steering Group, comprising of world-renowned experts on both human and equine herpes virus.

Chaired by Professor Joe Brownlie of the RVC, the steering group has looked at the existing scientific evidence and agreed the most appropriate way forward is for the AHT to design a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine.

“We’re at the beginning of a very exciting and potentially ground-breaking vaccine development,” said Dr Bryant. “Through our research, we will construct different viruses with attenuating mutations and assess their suitability as MLVs.

“We hope our findings will enable further development by vaccine manufacturers in creating an effective vaccine to protect against the serious clinical signs induced by EHV-1.”

EHV-1 causes respiratory disease, abortion or fatal illness in newborn foals. It also causes neurological disease in adult horses.

Whilst EHV can have severe consequences, there is no vaccine that is licensed to protect against the neurological form of the disease. Existing vaccines do not offer sufficient protection - something that was emphasised in 2016 by the Hertfordshire ‘abortion storm’ in fully vaccinated animals.

“EHV is a major welfare concern for horses and foals and causes emotional, as well as financial strains, on horse owners and breeders around the world,” said Dr Bryant. “It can strike any horse at any time so a vaccine will be of global welfare benefit to all horses, including the Thoroughbred and sports horse breeding industries, and would help control this serious and sometimes fatal disease.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."