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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Clinical observations and management of a severe equine herp...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2013; 55(1); 19; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-19

Clinical observations and management of a severe equine herpesvirus type 1 outbreak with abortion and encephalomyelitis.

Abstract: Latent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection is common in horse populations worldwide and estimated to reach a prevalence nearing 90% in some areas. The virus causes acute outbreaks of disease that are characterized by abortion and sporadic cases of myeloencephalopathy (EHM), both severe threats to equine facilities. Different strains vary in their abortigenic and neuropathogenic potential and the simultaneous occurrence of EHM and abortion is rare. In this report, we present clinical observations collected during an EHV-1 outbreak caused by a so-called "neuropathogenic" EHV-1 G(2254)/D(752) polymerase (Pol) variant, which has become more prevalent in recent years and is less frequently associated with abortions. In this outbreak with 61 clinically affected horses, 6/7 pregnant mares aborted and 8 horses developed EHM. Three abortions occurred after development of EHM symptoms. Virus detection was performed by nested PCR targeting gB from nasal swabs (11 positive), blood serum (6 positive) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (9 positive) of a total of 42 horses sampled. All 6 fetuses tested positive for EHV-1 by PCR and 4 by virus isolation. Paired serum neutralization test (SNT) on day 12 and 28 after the index case showed a significant (≥ 4-fold) increase in twelve horses (n = 42; 28.6%). This outbreak with abortions and EHM cases on a single equine facility provided a unique opportunity for the documentation of clinical disease progression as well as diagnostic procedures.
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Publication Date: 2013-03-05 PubMed ID: 23497661PubMed Central: PMC3630004DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-19Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article details the observations and management of a severe outbreak of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in a horse population, which led to instances of abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) – a rare event. This outbreak was caused by a strain of EHV-1 that’s gradually becoming more prevalent and is typically less associated with causing abortions.

Clinical Observations and Outcomes

  • The outbreak of the EHV-1 affected 61 horses in total. This was characterised by symptoms typical of the disease.
  • Out of the 7 pregnant mares affected by the disease within this population, 6 of them unfortunately aborted.
  • 8 of the 61 affected horses developed myeloencephalopathy (EHM), a serious condition that affects the horse’s nervous system.
  • Interestingly, 3 of the abortions occurred after the horses had developed symptoms of EHM.

Virus Detection and Sampling

  • The researchers used a technique known as nested PCR, which amplifies and isolates specific sections of DNA, to detect the presence of EHV-1. They targeted the gB, which is a glycoprotein on the virus that is implicated in viral entry into cells.
  • Out of a total of 42 horses which were sampled, the virus was detected in nasal swabs from 11 horses, in blood serum of 6 horses, and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 9 horses.
  • All 6 tested fetuses also came back positive for EHV-1, with 4 of them successfully isolated for virus.

Serum Neutralization Test (SNT)

  • The researchers conducted a serum neutralization test on day 12 and day 28 after the first case of EHV-1 was identified in the horse population.
  • A significant increase (at least 4-fold) in serum neutralizing antibodies against EHV-1 was observed in twelve horses out of the 42 sampled. This shows that these horses were responding to the viral infection by producing specific antibodies against EHV-1, which should help to neutralize the virus.

Study Significance

  • This research is significant because the simultaneous occurrence of abortion and EHM in a horse infected with EHV-1 is rare. This unique outbreak presented an opportunity for the researchers to document the progression of the disease and the diagnostic procedures related to this specific strain of EHV-1.
  • The research also presents valuable data for understanding how the EHV-1 virus progresses and affects horses, particularly pregnant mares, shedding light on how to detect the virus and manage outbreaks in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Walter J, Seeh C, Fey K, Bleul U, Osterrieder N. (2013). Clinical observations and management of a severe equine herpesvirus type 1 outbreak with abortion and encephalomyelitis. Acta Vet Scand, 55(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-55-19

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 1
Pages: 19

Researcher Affiliations

Walter, Jasmin
  • Klinik für Reproduktionsmedizin, Vetsuisse-Fakultät Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. jwalter@vetclinics.uzh.ch
Seeh, Christoph
    Fey, Kerstin
      Bleul, Ulrich
        Osterrieder, Nikolaus

          MeSH Terms

          • Abortion, Veterinary / virology
          • Animals
          • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
          • Encephalomyelitis / epidemiology
          • Encephalomyelitis / pathology
          • Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
          • Encephalomyelitis / virology
          • Female
          • Germany / epidemiology
          • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horse Diseases / virology
          • Horses
          • Pregnancy

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          This article has been cited 17 times.
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