Study in preparation for a nationwide vaccine trial

It has been announced that the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies of the University of Edinburgh, will be conducting a small pilot vaccine trial to protect against equine grass sickness.

Following approval by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the pilot study is set to take place in eastern Scotland, since equine grass sickness was first reported in the region more than a century ago.

The pilot study is in preparation for a full nationwide vaccine trial involving at least 1000 horses and ponies. This will likely commence in 2014, but is subject to securing sufficient funding.

The Equine Grass Sickness Fund is leading a campaign in order to raise money for the full vaccine trial.

The AHT has great hopes that these vaccine trials will mark an enormous breakthrough in the prevention of the disease. Although there is still a lot of work to do before launching the full nationwide vaccine trial, this initial pilot study will help to ensure that the trial design will be practical to perform on a larger scale.

Kate Thomson, spokesperson for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund, said: "We are over the moon that the pilot vaccine trial has begun, but fundraising now starts in earnest to ensure that the full trial can go ahead.

"Grass sickness brings about a devastating annual toll, and we are appealing to every horse owner in the UK to help bring an end to this disease by donating to this cause."