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Home / Equine Research Bank / Pathogens / Apparent Breed Predilection for Equid Herpesvirus-1-Associat...
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 10(5); 537; doi: 10.3390/pathogens10050537

Apparent Breed Predilection for Equid Herpesvirus-1-Associated Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a Multiple-Breed Herd.

Abstract: Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) causes several outbreaks of abortion and/or equid herpesvirus-associated myeloencephalopathy (EHM) worldwide each year. EHM is of great concern, as permanent neurological gait anomalies can leave a horse unfit for future use. The study assesses the risk factors associated with the occurrence of EHM. During an unmitigated outbreak, 141 adult horses/ponies of several distinct breeds were evaluated-using multiple Bayesian logistic regression calculating the odds ratios for breed, age, and sex. In total, 33 of the 141 horses showed signs of EHM. Fjord horses and warmblood horses were overrepresented among those developing EHM. The pony breeds, Welsh and Shetland ponies, were underrepresented. In addition, age and sex were not associated with the risk for EHM. The main limitation was that it was a retrospective analysis with some flaws of documentation. It can be concluded that breed was a significant risk factor for developing EHM during this outbreak.
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Publication Date: 2021-04-29 PubMed ID: 33947126PubMed Central: PMC8145278DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10050537Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 studies the factors contributing to the occurrence of Equid Herpesvirus-1-Associated Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses, revealing that breed holds significance, whereas age and sex do not.

Understanding Equid Herpesvirus-1

  • Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is an infectious virus causing multiple outbreaks every year among equine populations.
  • Evidence of this virus often consists of instances of abortion or neurologic disease, known as Equid Herpesvirus-associated myeloencephalopathy (EHM).
  • EHM poses a significant threat because it can cause lasting alterations in a horse’s gait—often leaving them unfit for future use.

Purpose of the Study

  • The purpose of this research was to identify the risk factors associated with the development of EHM.
  • The researchers wanted to understand whether variables like breed, age, and sex could impact a horse’s susceptibility to EHM.

Research Methods

  • This study’s process involved an examination of 141 adult horses/ponies of various distinct breeds during an active outbreak.
  • Breed, age, and sex were analyzed via Bayesian logistic regression to compute the odds ratios and identify potential correlating factors with the occurrence of EHM.

Findings

  • Of the total 141 horses examined, 33 showed signs of EHM.
  • The results pointed to breed as a significant factor linked to developing EHM, with Fjord horses and warmblood horses being overrepresented.
  • Similarly, the study found Welsh and Shetland pony breeds to be underrepresented among the afflicted, further suggesting a link between breed and disease susceptibility.
  • On the contrary, the study found no substantial correlation between a horse’s age or sex and the risk of developing EHM.

Limitations and Conclusion

  • One of the main limitations highlighted in the study was its retrospective nature, which might have led to certain flaws in documentation.
  • Despite this, the study concluded that breed presents a significant risk factor in the emergence of EHM during outbreaks of EHV-1.

Cite This Article

APA
Klouth E, Zablotski Y, Goehring LS. (2021). Apparent Breed Predilection for Equid Herpesvirus-1-Associated Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a Multiple-Breed Herd. Pathogens, 10(5), 537. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10050537

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
PII: 537

Researcher Affiliations

Klouth, Eva
  • Equine Hospital Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Zablotski, Yury
  • Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Goehring, Lutz S
  • Equine Hospital Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ludwig-Maximilians University, 80539 Munich, Germany.

Grant Funding

  • LMU-54772-2 / Dechra Veterinary Products

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Klouth E, Zablotski Y, Petersen JL, de Bruijn M, Gröndahl G, Müller S, Goehring LS. Epidemiological Aspects of Equid Herpesvirus-Associated Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) Outbreaks.. Viruses 2022 Nov 21;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/v14112576pubmed: 36423188google scholar: lookup
  2. Thieulent CJ, Sutton G, Toquet MP, Fremaux S, Hue E, Fortier C, Pléau A, Deslis A, Abrioux S, Guitton E, Pronost S, Paillot R. Oral Administration of Valganciclovir Reduces Clinical Signs, Virus Shedding and Cell-Associated Viremia in Ponies Experimentally Infected with the Equid Herpesvirus-1 C(2254) Variant.. Pathogens 2022 May 4;11(5).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens11050539pubmed: 35631060google scholar: lookup
  3. 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.
    doi: 10.1007/s11262-022-01910-ypubmed: 35567668google scholar: lookup
  4. 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.
    doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7036pubmed: 35035581google scholar: lookup
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