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BMC veterinary research2016; 12; 98; doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0741-5

A 2015 outbreak of Getah virus infection occurring among Japanese racehorses sequentially to an outbreak in 2014 at the same site.

Abstract: As we reported previously, Getah virus infection occurred in horses at the Miho training center of the Japan Racing Association in 2014. This was the first outbreak after a 31-year absence in Japan. Here, we report a recurrent outbreak of Getah virus infection in 2015, sequential to the 2014 one at the same site, and we summarize its epizootiological aspects to estimate the risk of further outbreaks in upcoming years. Results: The outbreak occurred from mid-August to late October 2015, affecting 30 racehorses with a prevalence of 1.5% of the whole population (1992 horses). Twenty-seven (90.0%) of the 30 affected horses were 2-year-olds, and the prevalence in 2-year-olds (27/613 [4.4%]) was significantly higher than that in horses aged 3 years or older (3/1379 [0.2%], P < 0.01). Therefore, the horses newly introduced from other areas at this age were susceptible, whereas most horses aged 3 years or older, which had experienced the previous outbreak in 2014, were resistant. Among the 2-year-olds, the prevalence in horses that had been vaccinated once (10/45 [22.2%]) was significantly higher than that in horses vaccinated twice or more (17/568 [3.0 %], P < 0.01). Horse anti-sera raised against an isolate in 2014 neutralized both the homologous strain and a 2015 isolate at almost the same titers (256 to 512), suggesting that these viruses were antigenically similar. Among horses entering the training center from private surrounding farms in 2015, the seropositivity rate to Getah virus increased gradually (11.8% in August, 21.7% in September, and 34.9% in October). Thus, increased virus exposure due to the regional epizootic probably allowed the virus to spread in the center, similarly to the outbreak in 2014. Conclusions: The 2015 outbreak was caused by a virus which was antigenically close to the 2014 isolate, affecting mostly 2-year-old susceptible horses under epizootiological circumstances similar to those in 2014. The existence of 2-year-olds introduced from regions free from Getah virus could continue to pose a potential risk of additional outbreaks in upcoming years. Vaccination on private farms and breeding farms would help to minimize the risk of outbreaks.
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Publication Date: 2016-06-10 PubMed ID: 27286658PubMed Central: PMC4902926DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0741-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research looks into the recurrence of Getah virus infection among Japanese racehorses at the Miho training center. It studies the 2015 outbreak, which followed a previous one in 2014, and assesses the risk of future outbreaks.

Study Context

  • The research focuses on a recurrence of the Getah virus infection that hit the Miho training center in Japan in 2015. This outbreak came right after another outbreak the previous year, 2014, at the same racehorse training center. This was notable as it marked the end of a 31-year period without any outbreaks of this virus in Japan.

Study Findings

  • The 2015 outbreak occurred from mid-August to late October. It affected 30 racehorses, which represents a prevalence of 1.5% of the entire population of 1,992 horses at the center.
  • Most affected horses were 2-years-old (90%) and their prevalence rate was significantly higher than that of horses aged 3 years or older (4.4% vs 0.2%, respectively).
  • Hence, it was concluded that newly introduced 2-year-old horses were more susceptible to the virus whereas most horses aged 3 years or older, likely having been exposed to the 2014 outbreak, were resistant.
  • Furthermore, among the 2-year-olds, the prevalence of Getah virus in horses vaccinated once was significantly higher than in horses vaccinated two or more times (22.2% vs 3.0%).
  • Importantly, the 2014 and 2015 viruses were antigenically similar. This was confirmed by the horse anti-sera raised against an isolate in 2014 which neutralized both the homologous strain and a 2015 isolate at almost same titers.
  • Throughout 2015, the rate of horses entering the training center from private surrounding farms already presenting seropositivity to the Getah virus increased gradually each month (11.8% in August, 21.7% in September, and 34.9% in October).
  • The researchers believe the increase in virus exposure due to a regional epidemic allowed the virus to spread in the training center, similarly to the 2014 outbreak.

Study Conclusions

  • The recurrence of the Getah virus outbreak in 2015 resulted from a virus strain that was antigenically similar to the one that caused the outbreak in 2014. Younger, 2-year old horses were identified as particularly susceptible, especially under the same epizootiological circumstances as those that prevailed in 2014 during the first outbreak.
  • The study concluded that the continued introduction of 2-year olds from regions free from the Getah virus could pose a potential risk of additional outbreaks in future years.
  • Finally, the research recommends that vaccination on private farms and breeding farms could help to reduce the risk of future outbreaks of the virus.

Cite This Article

APA
Bannai H, Ochi A, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K, Yamanaka T, Kondo T. (2016). A 2015 outbreak of Getah virus infection occurring among Japanese racehorses sequentially to an outbreak in 2014 at the same site. BMC Vet Res, 12, 98. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0741-5

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 98
PII: 98

Researcher Affiliations

Bannai, Hiroshi
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan. bannai@equinst.go.jp.
Ochi, Akihiro
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
Nemoto, Manabu
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
Tsujimura, Koji
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
Yamanaka, Takashi
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.
Kondo, Takashi
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Alphavirus / isolation & purification
  • Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Alphavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Disease Susceptibility / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Risk Factors
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage

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