An immunohistological study of the uterus of mares following experimental infection by equid herpesvirus 1.
Abstract: Twelve Welsh Mountain pony mares in late gestation were infected intranasally with EHV-1 (AB4 isolate) at dose rates from 10(3) to 10(7.3) TCID50. This resulted in 3 cases of paresis, at Days 9, 10 and 12 after inoculation, and 5 abortions, at Days 6, 9, 18, 19 and 20. Euthanasia was performed between Days 6 and 21, with collection of uterine specimens for histopathology, virus isolation and immunoperoxidase staining from the pregnant horn, non-pregnant horn and body. EHV-1 replication in endometrial vessels was detected as early as Day 6 and was maximal at Days 9-11, when widespread thromboischaemic damage was present. By Days 15-19 in mares remaining pregnant, EHV-1 antigen expression in the endometrium was sparse, despite residual lesions but little associated thrombosis. Endometrial vascular pathology varied considerably in degree and extent, and no consistent predilection sites for replication within the uterus were apparent.
Publication Date: 1993-01-01 PubMed ID: 8380768DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02898.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the effect of Equid Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) on the uterine health of pregnant mares. The research reveals that the virus, when introduced through the nose, can lead to paralysis and abortion, with varying degrees of damage to uterine tissues.
Methodology
- The team used 12 Welsh Mountain pony mares in the late stages of pregnancy to conduct the experiment. The mares were infected with EHV-1 through the nostrils.
- The virus dosage ranged from 10(3) to 10(7.3) TCID50 units, a common measure of infectious virus titer.
- Euthanasia was performed at various stages between 6 and 21 days post-inoculation to collect uterine specimens for further testing.
Results
- The researchers observed signs of paresis (partial paralysis) in 3 of the mares on the 9th, 10th and 12th days after infection, and 5 cases of abortion between the 6th and 20th days.
- The researchers noted EHV-1 replication in the endometrial vessels of the uterus as early as day 6 post-infection, with the highest rates recorded between days 9 and 11. This period corresponded with a significant presence of thromboischaemic (blood clot-related) damage in the uterus.
- Researchers also noted that EHV-1 antigen remained present in the endometrium even though there was minimal thrombosis and the mares were still pregnant at days 15-19.
- The endometrial vascular pathology or the disease affecting the blood vessels within the uterus showed a lot of variance in terms of severity and spread.
- No consistent hotspots for virus replication within the uterus were identified.
Significance
- This study adds to the understanding of the impact of EHV-1 infection on the reproductive health of mares.
- The variations in endometrial vascular damage observed underscore the complexity of the disease and highlight the need for individualized treatment approaches.
Cite This Article
APA
Smith KC, Whitwell KE, Mumford JA, Gower SM, Hannant D, Tearle JP.
(1993).
An immunohistological study of the uterus of mares following experimental infection by equid herpesvirus 1.
Equine Vet J, 25(1), 36-40.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02898.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / pathology
- Animals
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Puerperal Infection / pathology
- Puerperal Infection / veterinary
- Uterus / chemistry
- Uterus / pathology
Grant Funding
- Wellcome Trust
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Anderson C, Baha H, Boghdeh N, Barrera M, Alem F, Narayanan A. Interactions of Equine Viruses with the Host Kinase Machinery and Implications for One Health and Human Disease. Viruses 2023 May 13;15(5).
- Hu Y, Jia Q, Liu J, Sun W, Bao Z, Che C, Wu G, Fan B, Jarhen, Ran D. Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity of an equid alphaherpesvirus 1 strain isolated in China. Virus Genes 2022 Aug;58(4):284-293.
- 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).
- Oladunni FS, Horohov DW, Chambers TM. EHV-1: A Constant Threat to the Horse Industry. Front Microbiol 2019;10:2668.
- Poelaert KCK, Van Cleemput J, Laval K, Favoreel HW, Soboll Hussey G, Maes RK, Nauwynck HJ. Abortigenic but Not Neurotropic Equine Herpes Virus 1 Modulates the Interferon Antiviral Defense. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018;8:312.
- 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.
- Stokol T, Yeo WM, Burnett D, DeAngelis N, Huang T, Osterrieder N, Catalfamo J. Equid herpesvirus type 1 activates platelets. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122640.
- Allen G, Yeargan M, Costa LR, Cross R. Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in horses infected with equine herpesvirus 1. J Virol 1995 Jan;69(1):606-12.
- Tsujimura K, Bannai H, Kambayashi Y, Nemoto M, Ohta M. Detection of equid alphaherpesvirus 1 in serum samples collected from infected horses. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 May;37(3):495-498.
- 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.
- 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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