Biosecurity in animal-keeping environments is often discussed in terms of animal movement, vaccination programs, and quarantine protocols.
However, the “fomite” is one of the most underestimated contributors to disease transmission—particularly in equine and livestock operations.
What Are Fomites?
A fomite is any inanimate object capable of carrying and transmitting infectious agents. Transmission via fomites is indirect — animals don’t need to have physical contact with one another for disease spread to happen.
In equine and livestock environments, fomites are everywhere!
Like…
- Feed buckets, water troughs, hay nets, and mineral feeders
- Halters, lead ropes, grooming tools, and tack
- Stall walls, gates, fencing, and bedding materials
- Boots, gloves, coveralls, and outerwear worn by handlers
- Veterinary equipment such as thermometers, ultrasound probes, and dental tools
- Trailers, ramps, and tie rails
These objects are routinely shared between animals, stalls, or barns, so their management is critical to biosecurity.
Free Rides for Pathogens
Pathogens—including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites—can survive on surfaces for varying lengths of time. Survival is influenced by temperature, humidity, sunlight, and the presence of organic material such as manure, saliva, nasal discharge, or blood.
In animal environments, infected animals shed pathogens through respiratory secretions, feces, urine, and bodily fluids. These pathogens contaminate fomites during feeding, handling, grooming, medical treatment and other everyday, routine activities. When another animal—or a human—contacts the contaminated object and then contacts a susceptible animal, transmission occurs.
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) triggered new disease outbreaks in the horse world in late 2025 thanks in large part to fomites. EHV-1 is an ever-present threat but far from the only one. Strangles, influenza, and vesicular stomatitis are other highly contagious diseases lurking in the equine community and the livestock industry has its own long list of fomite-friendly foes. These include foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, avian influenza, bovine viral diarrhea, and salmonellosis.
Fomite Transmission of EHV-1 in Horses
Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a highly contagious viral disease of horses that can cause respiratory illness, abortion, neonatal death, and the neurologic condition known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). While EHV-1 is commonly associated with direct horse-to-horse contact via respiratory droplets, fomite transmission plays a major role in outbreaks, especially in barns, showgrounds, training facilities, and veterinary hospitals.
How EHV-1 Contaminates Fomites
Horses infected with EHV-1 shed the virus primarily through nasal secretions. These secretions contaminate surfaces and objects, including:
- Feed and water buckets
- Stall doors, walls, and bars
- Cross-ties and lead ropes
- Grooming equipment and tack
- Human hands, gloves, boots, and clothing
- Thermometers, stethoscopes, and other veterinary tools
EHV-1 is an enveloped virus, but it can survive for hours to days on surfaces, particularly in cool, damp environments and in the presence of organic material. This allows the virus to be transported from horse to horse without any direct contact between animals.
Fomites in Horse Facilities
The individualized care most horses benefit from increases the risk of fomites spreading disease. Unlike many livestock systems, horses are commonly handled individually multiple times per day for feeding, grooming, training, and medical care.
High-risk scenarios include:
- Shared grooming tools or tack
- Multiple horses drinking from the same hose or bucket
- Veterinary procedures performed on multiple horses without proper equipment disinfection
- Transport trailers used for different horses without cleaning between loads
- Events such as shows, clinics, sales, and racetracks where horses from multiple locations mix
In EHV-1 outbreaks, well-intentioned people frequently become the problem, unknowingly carrying the virus on hands, footwear, and clothing between horses and barns.
5 Fomite Fighters
Effective fomite control requires a structured approach that applies equally to livestock and equine environments, with additional rigor during suspected or confirmed EHV-1 cases.
1. Cleaning Before Disinfection
In most cases, organic material significantly reduces a disinfectant’s effectiveness. All fomites must be physically cleaned with detergent and water to remove dirt, manure, and secretions before disinfectants are applied.
In horse facilities, this includes scrubbing buckets, removing bedding contamination from stall surfaces, and washing grooming tools thoroughly.
One disinfectant, Thymox, is designed to kill viruses in organic material. Using thymol – a natural compound from thyme oil – as its active ingredient, this botanical disinfectant works by disrupting the pathogen’s cell membranes. This makes it suitable for cleaning heavily soiled areas and surfaces, while killing 99.9% of pathogens found there.
2. Use Disinfectants Effective Against EHV-1
EHV-1 is susceptible to many common disinfectants when used correctly. Effective options include accelerated hydrogen peroxide products, peroxygen and oxidizing disinfectants, diluted bleach solutions and quaternary ammonium compounds (when organic matter is removed first).
However, all of the above are harsh, corrosive and, in some cases, unsafe for use around people and animals.
Thymox is the exception. Along with killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, and all fungi and mold, Thymox is rated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s safest disinfectant category. It’s safe on food-serving surfaces and it doesn’t sting or irritate skin or corrode surfaces.
With any disinfectant, it’s critical to follow manufacturer instructions regarding dilution rates and required contact times. Improper use can render disinfectants ineffective.
3. Assign Horse-Specific Equipment
One of the most effective ways to prevent EHV-1 fomite spread is to avoid sharing equipment between horses. Each horse should have its own:
- Feed and water buckets
- Grooming tools
- Halter and lead rope
During an outbreak, this principle should extend to pitchforks, wheelbarrows, hoses, and other barn tools, or those items should be disinfected between uses.
4. Control Human-Facilitated Fomites
People are among the most dangerous fomites in equine environments. Biosecurity measures should include:
- Hand washing or sanitizing between horses
- Disposable gloves when handling sick or isolated horses
- Dedicated footwear and clothing for isolation areas
- Footbaths at barn entrances during outbreaks
Staff and visitors should move from healthy horses to higher-risk or isolated horses—not the reverse.
5. Increase Biosecurity During High-Risk Periods
Periods of stress—such as transport, weaning, competition, or introduction of new horses—are associated with increased EHV-1 shedding. During these times, fomite disinfection frequency should be increased, and horse movement should be minimized.
