Clinical, serological and molecular investigations of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in 15 unweaned thoroughbred foals.
Abstract: Fifteen unweaned thoroughbred foals, born on a stud farm to vaccinated mares, were clinically monitored during their first six months of life and repeatedly tested for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4). Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples were collected and screened respectively by PCR and seroneutralisation to detect the presence of the virus, explore its role as a possible cause of respiratory disease, and to assess the efficiency of the pcr for the diagnosis of this disease. The foals were divided into three groups on the basis of their clinical signs and whether they had seroconverted to EHV-1 and/or EHV-4: first, foals with no clinical signs of disease that had not seroconverted; secondly, foals with clinical signs that had seroconverted, and thirdly, foals with clinical signs that had not seroconverted. The results indicated that the viruses circulated on the stud farm despite stringent vaccination regimens against them, and confirmed their association with respiratory disease. The absence of significantly different pcr results among the three groups of foals showed that the pcr was effective in confirming the circulation of the viruses on the premises without being particularly helpful as a diagnostic tool.
Publication Date: 2008-03-18 PubMed ID: 18344498DOI: 10.1136/vr.162.11.337Google 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
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 study monitors and tests fifteen foals for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and type 4 (EHV-4) to determine the presence and impact of these viruses, despite the mares’ prior vaccination. The tests also aim to validate the effectiveness of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tool in detecting these diseases.
Methodology
- Fifteen unweaned thoroughbred foals, born to mares previously vaccinated against EHV-1 and EHV-4, were enlisted for the study.
- The foals were constantly monitored for clinical symptoms during their first six months of life.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples were collected from the foals and subjected to PCR and seroneutralisation tests respectively, to detect virus presence and seroconversion.
- Based on clinicial symptoms and seroconversion to either or both viruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4), the foals were categorised into three groups.
Results and Analysis
- Despite stringent vaccination regimens, the viruses were found to circulate among the foals on the stud farm.
- The study confirmed the association of EHV-1 and EHV-4 with respiratory diseases in horses.
- There was no significant difference in PCR results amongst the three groups of foals. This confirmed the circulation of viruses on the farm but also indicated that PCR testing was not particularly useful as a diagnostic tool for individual foals.
Conclusion
- This study provides evidence that even under strict vaccination regimes, EHV-1 and EHV-4 can circulate among horse populations, causing respiratory disease.
- The researchers concluded that while PCR testing could conclusively ascertain the presence of the viruses within a population, it was not highly effective for diagnosing individual animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Marenzoni ML, Passamonti F, Cappelli K, Veronesi F, Capomaccio S, Supplizi AV, Valente C, Autorino G, Coletti M.
(2008).
Clinical, serological and molecular investigations of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in 15 unweaned thoroughbred foals.
Vet Rec, 162(11), 337-341.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.162.11.337 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Animals, Suckling
- DNA, Viral
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
- Herpesviridae Infections / prevention & control
- Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 4, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus Vaccines / administration & dosage
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
- Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / veterinary
- Male
- Nasal Mucosa / virology
- Neutralization Tests / veterinary
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Weaning
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Al-Ebshahy E, Badr Y, El-Ansary RE, Alajmi R, El-Ashram S, Rady A, Elgendy E. Molecular Detection and Genetic Characteristics of Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 4 in Egypt. Vet Med Int 2025;2025:9719058.
- El Brini Z, Cullinane A, Garvey M, Fassi Fihri O, Fellahi S, Amraoui F, Loutfi C, Sebbar G, Paillot R, Piro M. First Molecular and Phylogenetic Characterization of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and Equine Herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4) in Morocco. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 5;15(1).
- Lunn DP, Burgess BA, Dorman DC, Goehring LS, Gross P, Osterrieder K, Pusterla N, Soboll Hussey G. Updated ACVIM consensus statement on equine herpesvirus-1. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1290-1299.
- Pusterla N, Dorman DC, Burgess BA, Goehring L, Gross M, Osterrieder K, Soboll Hussey G, Lunn DP. Viremia and nasal shedding for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus-1 infection in domesticated horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1765-1791.
- Ohta M, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T. Evaluation of the usefulness of a PCR assay performed at a clinical laboratory for the diagnosis of respiratory disease induced by equine herpesvirus type 1 in the field. J Equine Sci 2011;22(3):53-6.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
