Getting Ready for the Horse Exhibition 2025 Season: What is New with Coggin’s Testing Requirements in Kansas

By Laurie Beard, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Clinical Professor Kansas State University

Updated Coggins Testing Requirements for Kansas

Most horse owners are aware that a Coggins test and a health certificate (otherwise known as a certificate of veterinary inspection) are required when horses travel across state lines. The Kansas Department of Agriculture has recently revised requirements regarding Coggins testing. Starting in January 2025, all horses used for exhibition purposes, in the state of Kansas, are now required to have a current negative Coggins test (dated within the previous 12 months) regardless if the horse is crossing state lines or originating from within the state of Kansas to attend the event. In addition, horses that are changing ownership are also required to have a current negative Coggins test dated within the previous 12 months. Horses with a current negative Coggins do not need to be retested provided sellers relinquish a copy of the horse’s Coggins, represented by the USDA VS Form 10-11, to the new owner at change of ownership. If a horse has more than one Coggins during the previous 12 months, only the most recent test is considered valid.

Why is Coggins Testing Important?

A Coggins test is a test for the disease called equine infectious anemia (EIA), which is a viral infection that can infect horses, donkeys and mules. The virus results in fever and anemia, is most commonly spread by biting insects and it can be potentially fatal. Horses that are infected with EIA virus are persistently infected serving as lifelong carriers, they will always serve as a potential source of virus which can cause spread of disease to other equids. There is no effective vaccine or treatment for this viral infection. Positive horses must either be kept isolated under lifelong quarantine with regulatory oversight or euthanized.

A Historical Perspective on EIA in the U.S.

Testing for EIA began in the United States in 1972. Approximately 4% of all Coggin’s tests were positive in 1972, and in 1977 a total of 10,371 horses were diagnosed with EIA. This number has dropped dramatically due to testing, with less than 0.004% of all Coggins tests being positive currently. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that 61 horses (out of 1,364,247 tested) were positive for EIA in the United States in 2023. Despite low numbers, EIA is still reported in clusters. In 2017, eleven horses associated with unsanctioned racing in southwest Kansas were diagnosed with EIA. Since that time Kansas has only had one horse confirmed positive.

Types of EIA Tests Available

There are two different serological tests used for EIA testing. The agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) was developed by Dr. Leroy Coggins in 1970, this test takes a few days to perform. The other test for EIA, enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA), is also an acceptable test and can be performed within a few hours. Horse owners are encouraged to have EIA testing performed annually on all of their horses. That way, horse owners are always prepared and will have a negative Coggins test always ready. However, when owners are needing Coggins test results back sooner, the ELISA EIA test can be performed. When requesting an ELISA EIA test for a “same day EIA test results,” it is critical that owners check in with their veterinarian/testing facility as often the blood sample and submission forms need to get into the lab early in the day.

All EIA testing must be completed at a USDA approved laboratory; Kansas currently has 13. In the event a test is determined to be suspect for EIA, the associated blood sample must be forwarded to the National Veterinary Sciences Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for confirmatory testing.

Planning Ahead With Your Veterinarian

Finally, when owners are requesting a Coggins test it is important to have all of the correct information to give to the veterinarian. To be considered valid, Coggins tests must be represented by the official USDA VS Form 10-11. This form must be completed in entirety. Owner and stable information, horses’ names, colors, age, sex and narrative description are required and cannot be modified once the Coggins test is finalized and reported out from the lab. Most Coggins tests are currently completed electronically, and it is important to have good quality pictures to correctly identify the horse. Horses will need to have blankets removed and, in some cases, mud hosed off to correctly see leg markings. Owners need to understand that the quickest part of getting a Coggins test completed is doing the examination and getting the blood sample collected. Capturing accurate information for the USDA VS Form 10-11 is critical and requires a significant amount of time to do correctly.

Working with your veterinarian when completing annual preventative health services is a good time to plan for blood collection and EIA testing. This will allow owners to be well prepared for all transport purposes. Knowing that the majority of horses are routinely tested for EIA and are negative for the virus helps ensure the health and well being for all horses in the environment. If you have questions about Equine Infectious Anemia, additional information is available through your primary veterinarian, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) website, or you can contact the clinicians at the VHC.