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Abortion of virologically negative foetuses following experimental challenge of pregnant pony mares with equid herpesvirus 1.
Abstract: From 1988 to 1991, 51 pregnant pony mares were challenged intranasally or by aerosol with an isolate of EHV-1 (AB4) originally recovered from a quadriplegic mare. This resulted in 32 abortions, occurring from 9 to 29 days after infection. In 14 of the early abortions (Days 9-14), EHV-1 was not demonstrated in the foetal tissues by virus isolation or immunostaining despite no other non-viral cause for the abortion being evident. Application of the polymerase chain reaction to foetal tissues from 9 of these cases also proved negative. One of the 14 mares was destroyed immediately after abortion, and post-mortem examination revealed severe and widespread vasculitis, thrombosis and secondary ischaemic damage in the endometrium with replication of EHV-1 in endothelial cells. These findings suggest that EHV-1 abortion can occur due to endometrial damage without the establishment of a foetal infection.
Publication Date: 1992-07-01 PubMed ID: 1323457DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02830.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- 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.
The research investigates the occurrence of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) induced abortions in pregnant pony mares. It suggests that EHV-1 can cause abortion through endometrial damage, without establishing a foetal infection.
Research Overview
Between 1988 and 1991, the researchers conducted an experimental challenge with EHV-1 on 51 pregnant pony mares. This virus was intranasally applied or given by aerosol, using the AB4 isolate recovered initially from a quadriplegic mare.
- The challenge led to 32 abortions, which happened between 9 and 29 days after the onset of infection.
- Early abortions (those occurring between Day 9 and Day 14) were of particular interest. In 14 such cases, the aborted foetal tissues showed no trace of EHV-1 when examined with virus isolation or immunostaining techniques.
- 9 of these 14 cases were further evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the foetal tissues, which also turned out to be negative for the virus. That means, even in the absence of the virus in the foetus, abortion occurred.
- One mare was euthanized immediately following an abortion. Autopsy of this mare revealed severe vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), thrombosis (blood clot formation), and secondary ischemic damage (tissue damage due to poor blood supply) in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). The presence of EHV-1 was demonstrated in the endothelial cells, which suggests infection in the mare but not in the foetus.
A New Understanding of EHV-1 Induced Abortion
The key observation from the research was the occurrence of abortions in the absence of any demonstrable foetal infection. This led the researchers to propose that EHV-1 may cause abortion through a different pathway – by causing severe endometrial damage.
- This study, therefore, presents a novel mechanism of EHV-1 induced abortion, suggesting that it isn’t always necessary for the virus to infect the foetus to cause abortion.
- The infection and resulting inflammation and damage at the endometrial level may be sufficient in disrupting the pregnancy and leading to an abortion.
Implications of the Findings
Insights from this research have significant implications for understanding and managing EHV-1 induced abortions in mares.
- If confirmed in further studies, the findings would lead to a better understanding of the factors and conditions under which EHV-1 causes abortions.
- This, in turn, could inform more effective preventive and treatment strategies, potentially targeting the preservation and health of the endometrium in addition to managing the viral infection itself.
Cite This Article
APA
Smith KC, Whitwell KE, Binns MM, Dolby CA, Hannant D, Mumford JA.
(1992).
Abortion of virologically negative foetuses following experimental challenge of pregnant pony mares with equid herpesvirus 1.
Equine Vet J, 24(4), 256-259.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02830.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Complement Fixation Tests
- Endometrium / blood supply
- Endometrium / microbiology
- Endometrium / pathology
- Endothelium / microbiology
- Female
- Fetus / microbiology
- Fetus / pathology
- Fever / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / physiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Pregnancy
- Viremia / veterinary
- Virus Replication
Grant Funding
- Wellcome Trust
Citations
This article has been cited 19 times.- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Roberts HC, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Calvo AV, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Carvelli A, Paillot R, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Baldinelli F, Van der Stede Y. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): infection with Equine Herpesvirus-1. EFSA J 2022 Jan;20(1):e07036.
- Agerholm JS, Klas EM, Damborg P, Borel N, Pedersen HG, Christoffersen M. A Diagnostic Survey of Aborted Equine Fetuses and Stillborn Premature Foals in Denmark. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:740621.
- Laval K, Poelaert KCK, Van Cleemput J, Zhao J, Vandekerckhove AP, Gryspeerdt AC, Garré B, van der Meulen K, Baghi HB, Dubale HN, Zarak I, Van Crombrugge E, Nauwynck HJ. The Pathogenesis and Immune Evasive Mechanisms of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1. Front Microbiol 2021;12:662686.
- Abas O, Abdo W, Kasem S, Alwazzan A, Saleh AG, Saleh IG, Fukushi H, Yanai T, Haridy M. Time Course-Dependent Study on Equine Herpes Virus 9-Induced Abortion in Syrian Hamsters. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 7;10(8).
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- Brown LJ, Brown G, Kydd J, Stout TAE, Schulman ML. Failure to detect equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 DNA in placentae and healthy new-born Thoroughbred foals. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2019 May 30;90(0):e1-e5.
- Holz CL, Sledge DG, Kiupel M, Nelli RK, Goehring LS, Soboll Hussey G. Histopathologic Findings Following Experimental Equine Herpesvirus 1 Infection of Horses. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:59.
- Garvey M, Lyons R, Hector RD, Walsh C, Arkins S, Cullinane A. Molecular Characterisation of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Isolates from Cases of Abortion, Respiratory and Neurological Disease in Ireland between 1990 and 2017. Pathogens 2019 Jan 15;8(1).
- Tallmadge RL, Žygelytė E, Van de Walle GR, Kristie TM, Felippe MJB. Effect of a Histone Demethylase Inhibitor on Equine Herpesvirus-1 Activity In Vitro. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:34.
- Bryant NA, Wilkie GS, Russell CA, Compston L, Grafham D, Clissold L, McLay K, Medcalf L, Newton R, Davison AJ, Elton DM. Genetic diversity of equine herpesvirus 1 isolated from neurological, abortigenic and respiratory disease outbreaks. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018 Jun;65(3):817-832.
- Stokol T, Serpa PBS, Zahid MN, Brooks MB. Unfractionated and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin and the Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors, IBMX and Cilostazol, Block Ex Vivo Equid Herpesvirus Type-1-Induced Platelet Activation. Front Vet Sci 2016;3:99.
- Laval K, Favoreel HW, Poelaert KC, Van Cleemput J, Nauwynck HJ. Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Enhances Viral Replication in CD172a+ Monocytic Cells upon Adhesion to Endothelial Cells. J Virol 2015 Nov;89(21):10912-23.
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- Molinková D, Celer V Jr, Jahn P. Isolation and partial characterization of equine herpesvirus type 1 in Czechia. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2004;49(5):605-11.
- Bryant NA, Davis-Poynter N, Vanderplasschen A, Alcami A. Glycoprotein G isoforms from some alphaherpesviruses function as broad-spectrum chemokine binding proteins. EMBO J 2003 Feb 17;22(4):833-46.
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- Arroyo LG, Gomez DE, Moore A, Papapetrou M, Lillie BN. Molecular testing for equine herpesviruses 1 (EHV-1) in healthy postpartum broodmares. Can Vet J 2024 Aug;65(8):813-816.
- Schramm A, Ackermann M, Eichwald C, Aguilar C, Fraefel C, Lechmann J. Antibody reactions of horses against various domains of the EHV-1 receptor-binding protein gD1. PLoS One 2024;19(7):e0301987.
- Soboll-Hussey G, Dorman DC, Burgess BA, Goehring L, Gross P, Neinast C, Osterrieder K, Pusterla N, Lunn DP. Relationship between equine herpesvirus-1 viremia and abortion or equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy in domesticated horses: A systematic review. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1872-1891.
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