The Equine Healthcare Market Is Growing Due To Rising Awareness And Increasing Investment

Improving Biosecurity at Equestrian Events: The VetTrue™ System

Posted on June 21, 2021

Biosecurity at Equestrian events is of critical importance. Large numbers of horses arriving from far and wide to one location creates the potential for the rapid spread of any introduced infectious disease. Accurately monitoring the temperatures of horses before they arrive is therefore crucial. This is because the one clinical sign all equine infectious diseases have in common is a fever. Real-time, 24 hour temperature monitoring, before entry to an equestrian event is far more accurate at detecting fevers than twice daily rectal temperature readings. Take a look at this video demonstrating use of the VetTrue™ System before entry to an equestrian show jumping competition. Simple to use and extremely cost-effective. #eponabiotec #vettrue #equinebiosecurity #equineinfectiousdisease #equineherpesvirus #strangles #equineinfluenza #shippingfever #horsetemperature #horsemonitoring #itsallaboutthehorse https://youtu.be/8kGUvWeqeFc

Horse Health Monitoring goes High-Tech with the VetTrue™ System

Posted on July 3, 2021

In 2018 Equine Air Transport History was made. In a proof of concept demonstration by Epona Biotec, a large shipment of 29 horses had their body temperatures closely monitored in real-time during a long-haul flight from Hong Kong to New Zealand (via Singapore and Australia). This is the future of equine health & welfare monitoring during transportation. With thanks to Singapore Airlines, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and IRT.Learn more at www.eponabiotec.com#equine #horse #equestrian #eponabiotec #vettrue #hkjc #irt #singaporeairlines #horsewelfare #horsehealth #horsetransport #shippingfever #iata #itsallaboutthehorsehttps://youtu.be/N8vF6NDWW8g

The Innovators: Epona Biotec

Posted on July 29, 2021

The Innovators: Epona Biotec's VetTrue System We are delighted to be featured in Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) Australia / NZ in their series on businesses in the equine world using innovative technology.Editor-in-Chief Bren O'Brien discusses our VetTrue System with our founder Dr Michael Hurley what how it sets out to improve equine health.

High-Tech Temperature Monitoring in the Management of Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Posted on October 20, 2021

In a worldwide first, the VetTrue™ System from Epona Biotec has been successfully used in the management of an equine infectious disease outbreak. A pregnant mare on a Thoroughbred stud farm developed the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The mare was immediately isolated, but rapidly deterioration over several days, and was euthanised on humane grounds. EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus and easily spread by direct horse-to-horse contact or by indirect contact with contaminated objects. The stud farm immediately instigated biosecurity measures to contain the spread of the disease. These included segregation of staff and horses, and the mandatory use of PPE by all staff members.  Temperature monitoring during disease outbreaks is important for identifying other infected individuals. In a novel approach by the stud farm, three stallions and seventeen close contact mares had their temperatures remotely monitored using the VetTrue™ System. As the incubation period for EHV-1 is very short, further cases would be expected in the week following the first case if the disease were spreading on the farm. A fever is usually the first clinical sign seen with this viral infection, so by screening temperatures closely with the VetTrue™ System the farm could easily identify other infected horses and further isolate and treat them. Normal temperature charts from four of the horses monitored on the farm After monitoring the horses for seven days, no fevers were identified and no further horses became ill with EHV-1. The VetTrue™ System gave staff additional assurance in the early days following the first clinical case that the disease was not spreading on the farm.Fortunately, this was a single isolated case of EHV-1, with the virus most likely contained from spread by the strict biosecurity measures immediately implemented by the farm.The VetTrue™ System proved time-saving by avoiding the need to take rectal temperatures twice daily, as well as providing a complete record of temperatures for each horse during the monitoring period. Remote monitoring was also of benefit in reducing contact with horses, potentially limiting opportunities for disease transmission and improving biosecurity.This is the first known report of a remote temperature monitoring system being used in the face of a potential disease outbreak.