Diagnosis of African horsesickness

African horsesickness (AHS) is a very serious, non-contagious disease of horses and other solipeds caused by an arthropod-borne orbivirus of the family Reoviridae. The epizootic nature of the disease makes rapid, accurate diagnosis of AHS absolutely essential. Currently, diagnosis of AHS is based on typical clinical signs and lesions, a history consistent with vector transmission and confirmation by laboratory detection of virus and/or anti-AHS virus antibodies. The clinicopathologic presentation of AHS, current and next generation laboratory diagnostic methods are discussed.