THE AFRICAN HORSESICKNESS PERSPECTIVE.

Dr. L. A. Gouws BVSc (Pret)

From the outset I must make perfectly clear that I am not in the least anti-alternative therapy. On the contrary I regularly advise on and prescribe homeopathic remedies to my clients if they so prefer. I also do aqua-puncture on horses on a regular basis and the solution injected is purely homeopathic ( saline, Vit.B 12 and Traumeel). The South African Equine Veterinary Association of which I am a member has it’s own Alternative Medicine Group and I totally support their initiative.

Unfortunately over the past few years we have seen numerous websites spring up as well as advertisements in other media where the authors claim to have found a “miracle cure” for AHS. Some even claim that their products will cure all infections and even cancer. You can find useful things on the internet, free stuff on Gumtree and even some scientific-based advice about AHS, but these 'miracle cure' sites are to be avoided. Ridiculous unsubstantiated figures are quoted of horses that survived AHS by means of these miracle drugs where “conventional medicine has failed”. What is most disturbing is the dangerous and irresponsible misinformation that can be found in the promotional material for these products. Rightfully the Advertising Standards Authority of S.A. have managed to close down most of these websites for advertising unregistered products as stock remedies, making unsubstantiated claims, spreading dangerous information and misleading  the public. Common comments found on these websites and other promotional materials are the following:

1. The AHS  vaccine does not work and overloads the immune system and horses should therefore not be vaccinated.  A comprehensive scientific research project by Mz. Beate Von Teichman and others in 2007 conclusively proved that the vaccine is highly effective against all nine strains of AHS in the vaccine. The research was published in several scientific journals and a paper read on the subject at the 2008 SAEVA annual conference A vaccine can not be made for strain 5 of AHS and if we have an outbreak of this particular strain like we had 3 years ago, it results in a high mortality rate. This is again proof that the vaccine works. The fact of the matter is that no equine industry would be possible in S.A. without this vaccine. Anybody who advocates not vaccinating against AHS is extremely irresponsible. Due to the complexity of AHS, producing a vaccine that gives 100% protection against all strains of AHS is extremely difficult. Research is currently being done in S.A and several other countries to find a single vaccine that could give life-long immunity.

2. Do not use anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics if a horse has AHS because it overloads the system and the fever helps to kill the virus.  AHS causes a massive amount of inflammation in a horse and this inflammation contributes greatly to the death of the horse.  All metabolic functions in the body operates optimally at a certain normal body temperature. The higher the temperature the  less functional these processes become and if the temperature  gets high enough these processes stop. This is what happens in the case of heat-stroke where the temperature regulation system is knocked out by the high temperature and the body temperature keeps rising until death occurs. The immune system therefore becomes less effective as the temperature rises which reduces the horse’s chance of mounting an immune response. Horses with AHS are in pain, they generally have a high fever there is a massive amount of inflammation. It is your duty as a horse owner to relieve the pain and fever and reduce the inflammation. Failure to do so can get you prosecuted under the Animal Protection Act. Par 2 (e) If your child has an ear infection with a high fever, in severe pain, clenched little fists and crying uncontrollably are you going to give the poor child  Panado or leave it up to the fever to do the work? You will certainly give the Panado. Why then must your poor horse suffer?  Secondary infections by bacteria do most certainly occur in AHS cases and a good broad spectrum antibiotic is certainly indicated and will not “overload the system” as stated by some severely uninformed quacks with no medical knowledge whatsoever.

3. Insect repellants like citronella attracts the midges that carry AHS and poisons the system. Rather cover your horse in paraffin  While it is true that the insect repellants available in the horse trade (the various brands are all basically a copy of each other) are not nearly as effective as the human insect repellants they do work to a certain extent and will certainly not attract midges. Paraffin is a petroleum distillate and long term exposure can lead to health problems.

4. It’s all natural and therefore it is safe  The most toxic substances known to man are “all natural” A single kilogram of purified Clostridium botulinum bacterial toxin is enough to wipe out the entire human population. Risin is the toxin in the caster oil plant. Just a hand-full of the seeds will kill a horse. There are numerous natural substances that can be deadly. Heavy metals are natural but heavy metal poisoning can be fatal. “Natural” is not always “harmless’

Now if we look at the “alternative therapies” in the “fight against AHS” we can clearly define these into two categories i.e. 1.Homeopathic Remedies and 2. Quack Medicine

Nobody is allowed to advertise or sell any product as a stock remedy/foodstuff or feed supplement in South Africa unless the product is registered under Act 36 of 1947 Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies ACT. The purpose of this act is to ensure that all stock remedies are properly tested for their efficacy, stability and that these products are safe to use. Homeopathic remedies must be registered under this act otherwise they can not be advertised or sold legally.

1. Homeopathic Remedies

These are homeopathic products that have been thoroughly tested, produced by a reputable manufacturer and are registered under Act 36 of 1947. There are numerous products (imported and locally manufactured) available in this category that could be of benefit in treating AHS. Products like ZEEL and TRAUMEEL are tried and tested natural anti-inflammatory products. The South African ECO range of homeopathic products also have several preparations that could be of benefit in treating and preventing AHS.

2. Quack Medicine

These are chemical agents, potions, quantum machines and herbal concoctions of questionable origin, untested scientifically, unregistered but purported to be able to cure any disease on this planet including AHS. The explanations of how these wonder drugs work, by the people sell them, is the biggest load of unscientific nonsense that you can come across. If it wasn’t for the fact that they pose a danger to humans and animals alike one could even find these explanations entertaining. There is not a shred of scientific evidence that these substances are of any value in treating any disease. Let’s look at a few things that these geniuses pass of as “miracle medicines”.

a. Colloidal Silver – a safe natural antibiotic with no side effects

Silver is a heavy metal and is TOXIC when ingested. It has a cumulative effect in the body like all heavy metals. It is laid down in various tissues including the skin where it reacts with sunlight and forms bluish-grey deposits.(similar to the use of silver on photographic paper) The condition is call “argyria” and is irreversible. Long term intake results in organ failure and death. In Aug 1999 the FDA in the US issued a ruling banning people selling colloidal silver from claiming any therapeutic value for the product.

See website: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/silverad.html

b. Concentrated Oxygen—a safe natural product that kills viruses, bacteria, fungi, malaria, AIDS and cancer

Several chemical compounds are punted as “concentrated oxygen” These compounds mostly have a double oxygen molecule in their structure and are highly reactive. Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) (This was advertised in S.A. Horseman Jan issue and S.A. Arabians Issue 2 as Immunity 101/105) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) are examples. A 10 % concentration of chlorine dioxide will spontaneously explode when exposed to light. High concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are highly explosive and is commonly used as rocket fuel. When ingested these compounds are purported to be absorbed into the bloodstream, travel around and kill any bacteria, virus, fungus and cancer cell by oxidation. Sounds wonderful but there are a few snags in this theory. Firstly as mentioned these products are highly reactive. As soon as they get in contact with the stomach acid (Hydrochloric acid) a reaction occurs rapidly and the oxygen molecules are freed. In the case of hydrogen peroxide the byproduct is water and with chlorine dioxide the byproduct is Cl- which will react with other elements to form a chlorine salt. Fantastic—we now have free oxygen in the stomach ---and that is exactly where it will stay. The stomach of a horse is designed to store food and be part of the digestive process. The stomach of a horse (or any mammal for that matter) CANNOT ABSORB OXYGEN INTO THE BLOODSTREAM. If this was the case a person with emphysema will be able to run the Comrades after drinking two liters of hydrogen peroxide. Anybody with Gr. 5 biology knows that absorbing oxygen is the function of the lungs. Secondly these molecules are very strong oxidizing agents. If by some miracle they were to be absorbed into the bloodstream in tact they would cause oxidation of the hemoglobin (turning the iron molecule in hemoglobin into

Fe +++ instead of Fe++). This hemoglobin is called methemoglobin and although it carries oxygen it cannot release it. The result is cyanosis and death. (Similar to cyanide poisoning)

Now for the scary part—most of these so-called concentrated oxygen products are toxic. Oral intake of hydrogen peroxide leads to fatal blood disorders, gastric ulceration etc.

See website: http://www.filteredarticles.com/health-hygiene/article1317.htm

Chlorine dioxide is toxic to all forms of life. It is mainly used as an industrial bleach but because of it’s toxicity it is also used as a disinfectant to kill viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is used as a water purifying agent and the safe level is 1ppm (one part in a million parts of water)  Because of it’s instability it does not last long in water leaving the water safe after a few hours. Laboratory test have shown significant red blood cell destruction after long term use in rats and a significant drop in thyroid hormone levels in African Green Monkeys at only 3ppm.. If the gas is inhaled it causes severe lung damage. Contact with the skin will cause a chemical burn. If ingested even at low concentrations it can cause gastric ulceration, vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.

See website: http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=chlorine+dioxide+toxicity&meta=&rlz=1W1GGLR_en

The product Immunity 101 is nothing more than citric acid (lemon juice) and Immunity 105 is a sodium chlorite (NaClO2) solution. Both worth a rand or two yet sold for R500. By mixing the two together and sodium dioxide is produced. If 1ppm is safe and 19ppm is fatal how much is your horse getting—something in-between? No wonder the information brochure says that your horse might look sick after administration. You will also look sick if your stomach lining is being eaten away. Some American websites, where this nonsense comes from, strictly instructs you not to take it orally (vomiting, causes stomach ulcers etc) but to rub it on your skin to get absorbed? They also warn you that you will get a chemical burn where you apply it—so you must apply it to different spots everyday. How long do you continue? Probably until you look like a person with leprosy---- but that’s okay this stuff is good for you. At least you think it got rid of that mild cold you had.

Sadly there is no medical cure for AHS, or any other viral infection for that matter, but to feed your horse a substance which is nothing more than a toilet-cleaner when it is already critically ill is cruel and inhumane. The Animal Protection Act clearly states: “Any person who without reasonable cause administers to any animal any poisonous or injurious drug or substance will be guilty of an offence” It most certainly will not be difficult for the SPCA to convince a judge that this stuff is injurious and poisonous.

c. A quantum machine that works on the photon level

Now this thing is a real gem. It can diagnose and treat your horse (most certainly for AHS as well. R250 for treatment and R350 per month for prevention) and although the machine is in Klerksdorp it can treat a horse anywhere in the world. The “treatment” starts as soon as the owner of the machine receives conformation of payment into his account (of course). This machine can even do a long distance vet-check on a horse you want to purchase and get your wife pregnant in Hong Kong. If you want a good laugh get this machine to do a diagnosis on your horse. Venezuelanian(sic) equine encephalomyelitis is a common diagnosis. Very impressive but this disease does not occur in S.A. Another diagnosis is “Mycosis infestation of the air-sac” ( infestation by fungi ?-more like an infection) (See S.A. Arabians Issue 2 page 36). Mycosis (fungal infections) of the air-sacs are common medical conditions but it is impossible for a horse to contract this condition because it is a mammal and mammals do not have air-sacs. Air-sacs are anatomical entities found only in the respiratory system of  BIRDS. Either the writer of the testimonial has a horse that can fly or he is riding an ostrich. How anybody in his right mind can fall for this nonsense is mind-boggling. This is quackery at its best. But then again there is a quote attributed to several conmen “ A sucker is born every minute and never give a fool a break” While I have no problem with a fool and his money being parted I do have a problem in the sense that horse owners who believe in this pseudo-science are denying their horses a proper diagnosis and proper veterinary treatment and therefore causing the horse unnecessary suffering. After numerous court cases and convictions in the U.S. where humans have died after giving up conventional medicine to be treated by these “wonder machines” the FDA have now banned the use of them. Please have a look at this before you make a bigger fool of yourself.

http://www.occamsdonkey.com/2008/07/quackery-in-south-africa-scioqxci.html

Owners whose horses contract AHS suffer severe emotional distress and will often do things out of desperation. To prey on the desperate and dying to make a quick buck is despicable. If your horse does contract AHS there is no substitute for professional veterinary help (conventional or homeopathic),  good nursing and a prayer of your choice but please do not place your horse’s life in the hands of a charlatan out to fleece you of your money by selling you a toxic concoction or promising some wonder cure by some quantum machine. When your child is desperately ill you will seek proper medical advice and administer proper medicine and certainly not give the child a dose of something that belongs under the kitchen sink or call ET. Why then treat your desperately sick horse differently?

Good luck during these trying times and a thought for those poor horses that will succumb to this terrible disease this summer.

SOMEWHERE

Somewhere, somewhere, in God's own space, there must be some sweet, pastured place

Where creeks sing on, and tall trees grow; some paradise where horses go.

For by the love that guides my pen, I know great horses live again.

Author unknown