Weekly Livestock-Equine News: March 23, 2026

Zomedica, Boehringer Ingelheim to collaborate on PPID testing in horses

The collaboration integrates Zomedica’s TRUFORMA system into Boehringer Ingelheim’s idPPI awareness and testing program, enabling veterinarians to perform rapid endocrine testing at the point of care using Zomedica’s equine endogenous ACTH (eACTH) and equine insulin assays. Participation in the program requires no-cost placement of TRUFORMA analyzers in equine veterinary practices along with the diagnostic cartridge kits reimbursed by Boehringer, enabling the veterinarian to reorder both the initial cartridges and the remaining equine assays available from Zomedica, including Cortisol and Progesterone.

Acupuncture may improve racehorses’ movement economy

Acupuncture may help increase stride length in Thoroughbred racehorses, according to a study of 30 horses published in the Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. The researchers found that during a breeze, horses that had not received treatment took significantly more strides than their counterparts to cover the same distance. Conversely, horses that had undergone the acupuncture treatments saw minor increases in average stride length and average speed.

FDA OKs use of topical spray for New World screwworm in multiple species

The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide (benzalkonium chloride, polyhexanide, and cypermethrin topical solution) for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm (NWS) infestations (myiasis) in cattle, horses, minor species of hoof stock (e.g., sheep, goats, deer), raptors and other wild birds, pet birds, and captive wild, exotic, and zoo mammals. The OTC product is sponsored by Health and Hygiene (Pty) Ltd. of South Africa.

ECO a step closer to marketing live poultry vaccine

ECO Animal Health Group reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture delivered a favorable safety assessment of ECOVAXXIN MG, the company’s live poultry vaccine targeting Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacterial pathogen responsible for chronic respiratory disease in chickens. The decision brings ECO one step closer toward securing marketing authorization for the vaccine in the U.S. As part of the US registration requirements, ECOVAXXIN® MG was demonstrated to be safe not only for the target species (chickens) but also for non-target avian species including turkeys and quails. Importantly, the strain did not revert or increase in virulence after passage through chickens, confirming its stability.

AAEP publishes field diagnostic guidelines for equine infectious abortion

The guidelines include step-by-step instructions for examination of the mare, placenta, and fetus/necropsy, along with an abortion field necropsy sample collection worksheet. The differential and diagnostic flowchart is intended to help practitioners navigate their differential list, sample collection and diagnostic test selection to aid in achieving a diagnosis. This is the fourth set of Field Diagnostic Guidelines published by the AAEP and follows step-by-step protocols for Infectious Neurologic Disease, Acute Infectious Diarrhea and Infectious Respiratory Disease.

Poultry feed supplement could be delivery method for HPAI vaccine

Researchers at Kansas State University aim to tackle highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, by using mealworms, a supplement of poultry feed, as a vaccine delivery method. Associate professor Laura Miller said that by using gene-editing, the team could “update” the vaccine within weeks to match new circulating strains of HPAI. Miller’s project was awarded $2 million in a competitive process by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.