Serre's Vistoso EHV-1 Positive at 2021 CDIO Compiegne, Three Horses Left Show

Dressage

France

Arnaud Serre's Vistoso de Massa turned out to be EHV-1 positive at the 2021 CDIO Compiègne on 28 - 30 May 2021.

His horse as well as his wife's Ultrableu de Masas and daughter Mathilde Juglaret's Dahlia de Massa were immediately removed from the show grounds on Saturday 29 May but no stable quarantine was imposed at the venue.

Risk Assessment

The FEI Veterinary Department was alerted of an EHV-1 positive in a horse competing at the CDI in Compiegne (FRA) following mandatory pre-arrival testing. The horse and its two in-contacts were immediately removed from the venue and retested.

Following a risk assessment of the stabling layout and management in Compiegne, it was concluded that the risk for transmission to other horses at the venue was minimal.

The FEI is following up on this case. All three horses have been blocked on the FEI Database and will have to fulfil biosecurity requirements before returning to competition.

EHV-1 Protocol

The 2021 CDIO Compiègne ran a tight EHV-1 protocol with all horses having to present a negative PCR test upon entry at the show grounds.

The protocol was put in place following an EHV-1 infection at the CDI Ornago at the beginning of May, caused by a French horse.

The stabling in Compiegne is a majority of permanent, outdoor stalls, with no social interaction between the horses possible as the partitions are walled.

FEI HorseApp

"During the examination at arrival, the horse's identity was verified and passed on to the FEI HorseApp," a statement about the EHV-1 situation in Compiegne read. "On this HorseApp, the horse's status was, at that time, mentioned as 'validated' and the test date was May 25th. So, there was no reason to refuse this horse or to open the document that had been uploaded to the app."

The FEI announced by telephone the next day that the uploaded test was positive, and that the horse's status was changed to 'blocked.'

"In agreement with the FEI, measures were immediately taken (dismissal from the competition of the horse concerned and of the other horses which may have been in contact during transport of by the equipment or the grooms). Prior to departure, these horses were tested and all tested negative, including the horse reported positive. A test taken the day before the 'positive' test on the same horse and analyzed in another laboratory was also negative."

Error in Lab Results

The Serre couple stated that an error in the lab results caused the EHV-1 scare in Compiègne.

"Unfortunately, we were the victims of an error in the lab results," Anne Sophie Serre told Eurodressage. "Vistoso was controlled negative and there will fortunately be no consequences for the following. We do not wish to communicate about this to avoid any controversy in these difficult times."