[Concomitant activity of 2 bunyaviruses in horses in Argentina].

This research article presents a study conducted in Argentina between 1983 and 1984 which analysed the prevalence and activity of two Bunyaviruses, Kairi (KRI) and Cache Valley (CV), in horses. It was found that both viruses exhibited high activity and infection rates, but did not result in observable illness or death during the study period.

Overview of the Research

• The researchers carried out a serologic survey investigating the prevalence of Kairi (KRI) and Cache Valley (CV) Bunyaviruses in horses across Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces in Argentina.
• The study was conducted in the latter parts of 1983 and throughout 1984.
• The objective was to understand the activity, infection rates, and potential disease association of these viruses in equine populations.

Key Findings of the Study

• Using neutralizing antibodies as an indicator, the prevalence for KRI was 13.3% while for CV, it was 40%.
• When total positive serum for both KRI and CV was taken into consideration, the prevalence figures increased to 48.3% and 75.0% respectively.
• The study found a higher prevalence of CV than KRI in Cordoba, but similar figures for both viruses in Santa Fe.
• There was evidence of seroconversion in horses across both provinces, indicating that both viruses were simultaneously active.
• The infection rate (calculated as number of infections per 100 horse-months) was high in Cordoba (4.4 for KRI and 7.1 for CV) as well as in Santa Fe (2.9 and 9.5 for KRI and CV respectively), with no significant difference within each province.

Implication and Significance of Findings

• Despite the high activity and infection rates, there were no recorded signs of illness or death attributed to the viruses during the observation period.
• This lack of observable illness may result from low or null virus pathogenicity, or it could stem from potential underrecognition or underreporting of clinical cases.
• The simultaneous activity of both viruses in equine populations is a significant finding with possible implications on horse management and disease control measures in these regions. It calls for further investigation and monitoring to unravel the exact potential risks and implications.