EIA and Coggins Test Requirements in Nebraska: What Horse Owners Must Know

Equine Infectious Anemia is one of the most tightly regulated diseases in the horse industry — and for good reason. There is no cure, no vaccine, and an infected horse remains a carrier for life. For Nebraska horse owners, understanding the Coggins test requirements tied to this disease is not optional; it is a legal obligation that applies any time you move, show, sell, or import an equine.

Whether you trail ride across state lines, haul to a local rodeo, or bring new horses onto your property, Nebraska’s EIA testing rules affect you directly. This guide walks through every layer of the state’s requirements, from which animals must be tested to what happens when a horse comes back positive.

What Is Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) and Why It Is Regulated in Nebraska

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a viral disease affecting only equidae — horses, ponies, zebras, mules, and donkeys. It was once mistakenly believed to occur only in wet, humid regions of the southern United States, earning the nickname “Swamp Fever,” but its actual distribution is nearly worldwide regardless of climate.

There is no vaccine or treatment, and infection is often inapparent, resulting in a lifelong carrier state if the horse survives the acute phase. EIA poses no evidence of being a threat to human health, but it is a reportable animal disease in all states.

While certain equines may carry the virus without displaying any outward signs, others exhibit pronounced symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, edema in the legs and abdomen, lethargy, anemia, elevated body temperature, and, in severe cases, sudden death. According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), common signs of EIA include fever, depression, low platelet count, anemia, red or purple spots on the mucous membranes, edema, muscle weakness, and muscle atrophy.

EIA is transmitted from one horse to another through the bites of mosquitoes and flies that have previously fed on an infected animal. Unlike many diseases, direct contact with an infected horse is not required for transmission, making containment challenging. EIA can spread rapidly among equines since insects are naturally attracted to areas where horses congregate, such as barns.

Other modes of transmission include the use of contaminated equipment such as used needles and syringes, mare-to-foal transmission in utero, and through natural breeding of mares and stallions. Nebraska regulates EIA testing precisely because the disease spreads silently and has no cure — routine Coggins testing is the only tool available to keep infected animals out of the general horse population.

Key Insight: Nebraska confirmed its first EIA case since 2013 in Colfax County in July 2024, a reminder that the disease remains an active threat in the state even after long quiet periods.

Which Animals Require a Coggins Test in Nebraska

The Coggins test is a diagnostic tool used to detect Equine Infectious Anemia, a viral disease that affects horses, mules, and donkeys. In Nebraska, the testing requirement applies broadly across the equid family — not just horses.

Equine shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) which certifies that such equine have been tested and found negative for EIA within one year of shipment into the State of Nebraska, except that foals under six months of age accompanying their dam shall be exempt from this requirement.

The foal exemption is narrow and specific: it applies only when the foal is traveling alongside its dam and the foal is under six months old. Any equine traveling without its dam, or any equine six months of age or older, must have a current negative Coggins on file. A negative Coggins test is required for many shows and is required for interstate movement of horses.

Practically speaking, this means the requirement covers horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and zebras. If you own any of these animals and plan to move them across state lines or bring them into Nebraska, a current Coggins test is mandatory. For Nebraska-based owners who never leave the state, a Coggins is still strongly recommended and is required at most shows, sales, and equine events. You can learn more about Nebraska’s broader animal regulations by visiting the types of animals kept in Nebraska or exploring the state’s wildlife landscape.

When a Coggins Test Is Required in Nebraska

Nebraska triggers the Coggins requirement in several distinct situations. Knowing each one helps you stay compliant without being caught off guard.

• Interstate movement into Nebraska: A negative Coggins test within one year of entry is required, along with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to entry into Nebraska.
• Shows and exhibitions: All out-of-state horses must be tested and found negative for EIA within 365 days of entry for exhibition events such as the Nebraska State Fair.
• Sales and change of ownership: Most states require a negative Coggins test for horses traveling across state lines, attending shows, or changing ownership. Nebraska follows this standard practice.
• New arrivals to a property: Veterinary professionals recommend that any horse new to a herd have a current negative Coggins before being introduced to other equines.

An Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (EECVI) is valid for six months from the CVI inspection date or until the horse’s current EIA test expires, whichever comes first. Since EIA tests are typically valid for 12 months from the blood draw date, the EECVI expiration is determined by whichever date occurs sooner.

Nebraska participates in the EECVI program, which means your veterinarian can issue a six-month health certificate tied to a current Coggins — a practical option if you travel frequently with horses. Sandhills Equine recommends surveillance testing annually, at the time of vaccination, so that any last-minute travel or show entry does not require waiting on test results.

Pro Tip: Schedule your horse’s annual Coggins at the same appointment as spring vaccinations. This keeps your testing calendar predictable and ensures you always have a current certificate on hand for unexpected travel or show entries.

How the Coggins Test Works and Approved Testing Methods in Nebraska

A Coggins test is a blood test used to identify the presence of antibodies for equine infectious anemia, a potentially fatal disease with no current treatment available. There are multiple tests to detect if a horse has EIA antibodies, but the Coggins test is the most popular and well known among horse industry professionals. To perform a Coggins test, a licensed veterinarian must draw blood from the horse and send it to an accredited lab for analysis.

The lab conducts a test to detect the EIA antibody — a protein present only if the horse has had the EIA virus — and then provides either a positive or negative result back to the veterinarian, who shares it with the horse owner.

The official test certificate contains detailed identifying information about the horse. Information generally found on all Coggins tests includes owner information, stable information, veterinarian information, and the horse’s identifiable information such as name, breed registration number, breed, sex, color, age, permanent identification (microchip or tattoo), and pictures or drawings of all markings with a narrative description.

The name of the laboratory performing the EIA test and the date of such test must be stated on the CVI. Nebraska requires that testing be performed at a USDA-approved laboratory. Starting April 15, 2020, all veterinarians and laboratories must use USDA-approved EIA test forms for regulatory compliance.

Sandhills Equine offers blood collection, paperwork, and lab submission to a state-approved laboratory for testing. This ensures that any last-minute interstate movement of horses does not need to wait on the test lag time, which can be up to one week. Digital Coggins certificates are now widely accepted; once the laboratory results and signs the EIA test, horse owners can instantly access their digital Coggins certificate through secure online portals.

Interstate Movement and Import Requirements in Nebraska

If you are bringing horses into Nebraska from another state, you must meet both federal and state-level documentation requirements before the animals cross the border.

A negative Coggins test within one year of entry is required along with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to entry. The CVI must contain the physical location of the origin of the animals and the physical location of the destination of the animals in Nebraska, and the purpose of movement must be included on the CVI.

Within the United States, there is a requirement that any horse crossing a state line must have a health certificate and a negative test for EIA, often identified by a Coggins test. States may vary in the timeframe in which the health certificate must have been acquired before travel, and this is often affected by current disease situations.

Nebraska also maintains import restrictions tied to disease activity in other states. Nebraska has import restrictions on livestock coming into the state from states with confirmed EIA cases. If you are importing horses from a state with an active EIA outbreak, contact the NDA at 402-471-2351 before moving the animals to confirm whether additional requirements apply.

For horses leaving Nebraska to travel to other states, you must check the destination state’s requirements separately. Make sure you speak with your veterinarian early to identify destination state and origin state requirements during the time period you intend to travel. Nebraska participates in the EECVI program through GlobalVetLink, which allows veterinarians to issue six-month health certificates tied to a current Coggins, reducing paperwork for frequent travelers.

Important Note: The standard 30-day CVI is the most widely accepted travel document, but the EECVI offers a six-month alternative for horses that travel regularly. Always confirm that your destination venue or event accepts EECVIs before departing, as some facilities require traditional 30-day CVIs.

What Happens When a Horse Tests Positive in Nebraska

A positive EIA result triggers an immediate and serious regulatory response. Because there is no treatment and no cure, the options available to the owner are limited by both federal and state law.

Since there is no treatment for EIA, infected animals must be permanently isolated, quarantined, or euthanized. It may take 60 days or more for a horse to test positive after infection, which means contact tracing and retesting of exposed animals is a standard part of the response protocol.

Infected animals that survive the disease become virus carriers and can infect other equids for life. This is why regulators treat a positive result as a permanent status — there is no point at which a horse “recovers” and is no longer a risk to other animals.

When a positive result is confirmed, the NDA becomes involved immediately. The horses on the infected premises are quarantined and will be released after state regulations are met. The owner must work directly with the state veterinarian’s office to determine the disposition of the positive animal and the testing status of all exposed equines on the property.

EIA is a notifiable disease in all states. Individuals or practitioners who suspect or have concerns about EIA should contact the NDA at 402-471-2351. Prompt reporting is not just good practice — it is a legal requirement under Nebraska’s Animal Health and Disease Control Act. If you own horses of any breed, understanding these reporting obligations is part of responsible ownership in Nebraska.

Quarantine, Euthanasia, and Isolation Rules in Nebraska

The rules governing EIA-positive animals in Nebraska align with both USDA federal standards and the Nebraska Animal Health and Disease Control Act. The state veterinarian holds broad authority over how positive cases are managed.

Nebraska’s State Veterinarian may regulate or prohibit animal movement into, within, or through the state through quarantines, controlled movement orders, importation orders, or embargoes, and may require an affected animal to be euthanized, detained, slaughtered, or sold for immediate slaughter at a federally inspected slaughter establishment, or inspected, tested, treated, subjected to an epidemiological investigation, monitored, or vaccinated.

A horse diagnosed with EIA dies, is euthanized, or must be placed under extremely strict quarantine conditions — at least 200 yards away from unaffected equids — for the rest of its life. Owners who choose the quarantine route face significant ongoing management obligations.

• Owners who choose quarantine must post signs clearly stating: “Quarantined: Equine Infectious Anemia” or “Swamp Fever.”
• Horses must be quarantined at least 200 yards away from all other animals.
• Horses testing positive for EIA are required by law to be permanently identified via branding or tattooing and to be quarantined.
• Costs for confinement, restraint, and furnishing the necessary assistance and facilities for such activities are the responsibility of the owner or custodian of the animal.

The USDA and state animal health regulatory agencies require euthanasia or strict lifelong quarantine for horses testing positive for EIA. Federal and state health agencies, as well as the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), support euthanasia as the most prudent option. In practice, euthanasia is the outcome in the overwhelming majority of confirmed cases.

Exposed horses that have not yet tested positive are placed under a 60-day quarantine and retested. Three potentially exposed horses on a premises that initially tested negative for EIA are required to remain under quarantine until their 60-day retest per USDA program requirements. Quarantine on an affected premises is not lifted until the state veterinarian determines that all regulatory conditions have been satisfied.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Nebraska

Failing to comply with Nebraska’s EIA testing and movement requirements is not a minor administrative matter. The state has broad enforcement authority under the Animal Health and Disease Control Act, and violations can result in serious legal and financial consequences.

Under Nebraska law, any equine imported into the state in violation of animal health rules is subject to immediate quarantine upon arrival. The State Veterinarian may issue quarantines to any person or public or private premises within the state where an affected animal, suspected affected animal, or regulated article is or was located, and upon any animal imported into Nebraska in violation of the Animal Health and Disease Control Act.

Beyond quarantine, owners who move horses without proper Coggins documentation face the possibility of having their animals seized, tested at their own expense, and held until compliance is established. Costs for confinement, restraint, and furnishing the necessary assistance and facilities for such activities are the responsibility of the owner or custodian of the animal — meaning you pay for any corrective action required by the state.

Event organizers and show managers also carry responsibility. The American Association of Equine Practitioners encourages horse owners not to participate in events that do not require a negative EIA test. Venues that allow horses without verified Coggins documentation can face scrutiny from state animal health officials, particularly following a confirmed case in the region.

Important Note: Moving a horse across state lines without a current Coggins test and a valid CVI violates both Nebraska state law and federal USDA regulations under 9 CFR Part 75. Penalties can include fines, mandatory quarantine at owner expense, and seizure of animals. Always verify your paperwork is current before any interstate movement.

The simplest way to avoid penalties is to stay on an annual testing schedule. Many veterinarians recommend annual testing, even for horses that rarely leave the farm, to ensure peace of mind and compliance with regulations. Keep your Coggins certificates — digital or paper — accessible and check their expiration dates before any planned travel, sale, or event entry.

For questions about Nebraska’s EIA regulations, contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Protection division at nda.nebraska.gov or by phone at 402-471-2351. Nebraska horse owners interested in other state licensing and wildlife regulations can also review Nebraska fishing license requirements and Nebraska hunting license requirements for a fuller picture of the state’s animal-related regulatory framework.