COVID-19 Exposure in Working Equines-A Longitudinal Study

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus infectious disease 19 (COVID-19) is known to infect multiple animal species, including equines. The annual economic impact of the equine industry is significant – involving some $300 billion dollars and 1.6 million full-time jobs globally with a worth of $16 billion in Canada9. The ability of horses to carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus is therefore of economic and public health interest. In this longitudinal study, four equines in a competitive hunter barn were monitored over a period of three years for the presence of COVID-19 by oral swab. Despite exposure to large numbers of people and other equines, no animals tested positive for COVID-19. This study suggests that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in a competitive hunter barn setting is low.