This is just the best news. Made my whole week. I hope waffles is enjoying his new kid and loads of turnout!m and cookies!
1 Like
I almost didn’t open this thread because I was afraid it would be about poor Waffles being euthanized. I’m glad it’s not. That positive WB is weird though. I hope when they get him vetted they can get to the bottom of what he’s had that’s been causing the test results.
3 Likes
OK, so to my understanding
The horse never had glanders in the first place
It was all false positives
All of a sudden on the same test that had been giving false positives he tested clear, right before the euthanize date.
the USDA admits the horse never had glanders
USDA releases horse into gen pop but wants to test him in 30 days
6 Likes
This reminded me of when I got a blood sample from a pre labor patient for rapid HIV. It tested positive and I called the results in and to get more blood to do a confirmatory. The doctor couldn’t get it because when the patient was told the results, she just got up and left. The next day they were able to get her in and she tested negative.
There are some conditions the can cause a false positive. Drugs, other infections or auto immune disease can cause a false positive I’ve tested pregnant women for syphilis and they are weakly positive because they are pregnant. It’s very rare, but it does happen.
Perhaps Waffles had a infection caused by a different bacteria that caused a false positive in his test. It does happen and this is why the USDA wants to do a follow up and research. This is for a better understanding what went wrong and helps improve testing and development of new kits.
16 Likes
I dont believe any of the USDA vets thought he actually had glanders, ever. If they did they would have pushed euthanasia a lot more strongly. But they could not dismiss protocol with the potential he was a subclinical carrier.
The tone of your comment makes it seem like you think this was a big conspiracy against this horse/these people and the USDA was falsifying the data until oh well let’s give them a negative one.
1 Like
If the USDA seriously believed he had glanders he wouldn’t have been released.
But policy is policy. The rules say he must test negative on this specific test. Once he met the entry criteria, he was allowed out of quarantine.
The CFT does cross-react with a few organisms other than the bacteria that causes glanders. Most likely Waffles had something like that going on, a consistent cross-reactivity as opposed to a “random” false positive (since he kept testing positive time after time, and all the other horses in quarantine with him, tested using the same test by the same lab, tested negative).
11 Likes
Agree. I was just answering in regards to the one off with the WB in this case, where he had been negative for 7 and they saw a slight band on the 8th or whatever the number was. Someone asked why that would be and then the next was negative again.
I am guessing your tests are ELISAs, that are quicker turn arounds and cheaper than WB. Typically ELISAs are the first test and WB confirmatory, at least in HIV.
1 Like
Have there been any more updates since they brought him home? I hope everything is going well! 
1 Like
The trainer has not posted anything that is public since the day of pick-up.
I too am hoping things are going well. I hope Waffles has settled in and is enjoying his new life with his own kid.
3 Likes
When I saw this thread had rolled up, I immediately checked, hoping for an update. I am sure many of COTH’s readers will join me in wishing Gabby and Waffles well. If Gabby and her family would grant permission for OP to post a short video of the new team, I sense it would bring great joy to many people. Best wishes for a great show season.
13 Likes
Waffles is doing great. He’s enjoying long grooming sessions, hand walks and turnouts in the sun. He’s a very sweet boy and is adjusting very well. The vet is coming out in the next day or two to give him a thorough check up and then they will be starting him slowly back to work. I’ll update again once he starts back under saddle. He loves his kid!
72 Likes
Yay! That is wonderful news. Thanks for the happy update!
Any more Waffles updates? I am hoping Gabby is enjoying him, and he has a long enjoyable life!
2 Likes
Great update! Congrats to Waffles and his new girl!
So exciting that they are enjoying each other so much!
Yay! Thanks for the update and pics!!
That makes me happy to see!
This is the BEST news!! I am so thrilled for them, they make a lovely pair! Send them a big hug from NY!!
May all her dreams come true. Thanks for the pictures.
1 Like
Hopefully there will be an update soon on the blood sample, interested to see what it shows this time after 30 days
1 Like
