HAIRY caterpillars are threatening the lucrative horse stud season in Geelong.
The unlikely sounding threat from progressionary caterpillars, also known as hairy caterpillars, was first discovered in the NSW Thoroughbred-breeding heartland of the Hunter Valley in 2004, where they were believed have caused a large number of abortions that season.
The caterpillars have since been discovered around Geelong, where they were reported to have caused up to six foal abortions in spring last year and have already affected mares this year.
"We have seen one local stud lose some foals because of the caterpillars," Geelong Veterinary Hospital vet Stuart Brown said.
Department of Primary Industries animal health manager Tony Britt said reports of foal deaths were localised in the Geelong area.
"The (DPI) is aware of reports of the horses aborting," Dr Britt said.
"There seems to be a fair bit more to be learned about the condition. This is not widespread at the moment though."
A University of Queensland study into the Hunter Valley outbreak found the caterpillars and their nests caused mares to abort.
Dr Brown said it would take just a gram of the nest to be consumed to cause an in-foal mare to abort.
Progressionary caterpillar nests are found in all native Australian acacia trees and while horses do not eat the caterpillars, they can consume part of the nest or caterpillars' exoskeletons while grazing.
"I would urge any livestock owners that have any type of disease occurring (on their property) to contact their local vet or the DPI," Dr Britt said.
