Detection and management of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus type 1 infection and associated neurological disease in a veterinary teaching hospital.
Abstract: Because of the serious disease sequelae associated with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infections, awareness and control measures used to control outbreaks are important issues for all horse populations. Objective: Describe the occurrence and management of an outbreak of EHV-1 infection at a veterinary hospital. Methods: Horses hospitalized at a referral veterinary hospital. Methods: A horse with myeloencephalopathy associated with EHV-1 infection (EHM) was admitted for diagnostic evaluation and treatment under strict infection control procedures. We describe the occurrence and management of a nosocomial outbreak of EHV-1 infections associated with admission of this patient. Results: Despite institution of rigorous biosecurity precautions at the time of admission of the index case, EHV-1 infections spread to 6 other horses that were hospitalized at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hopsital, including 2 that served as sources of infection for horses on their home premises after discharge. Infection with EHV-1 was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by seroconversion documented by glycoprotein G ELISA. A voluntary quarantine was imposed and admissions were restricted to prevent additional horses from being exposed. Quarantine duration was abbreviated by serial testing of all horses with PCR. Conclusions: These findings illustrate the contagious disease risk that can accompany management of horses with EHM. Horses with active nasal EHV-1 shedding should be isolated in an airspace that is separate from other horses by strictly enforced biosecurity and isolation procedures. Serial testing with PCR may be a useful adjunct to determine when the risk of transmission has been minimized.
Copyright © 2010 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2010-06-24 PubMed ID: 20584137DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0558.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Biosecurity
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Equine Herpesvirus
- Herd Management
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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The research article discusses a case study of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) at a veterinary teaching hospital. Despite implementing stringent biosecurity measures, the virus spread to several other horses, highlighting the highly contagious nature of the disease and prompting a review of best practices for managing such outbreaks.
Context
- The study focuses on an outbreak of EHV-1, a serious disease often associated with severe consequences in horses, at a veterinary teaching hospital.
- EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus in equine populations and can cause severe problems like myeloencephalopathy
- Understanding and controlling outbreaks is crucial for protecting horse populations.
Methods
- The incident began with one horse with myeloencephalopathy associated with EHV-1, which was brought in for diagnostic evaluation and treatment.
- Rigorous biosecurity procedures were already in place, but the study outlines the further measures and responses following the outbreak.
Results
- Despite strict infection control procedures, the virus spread to six other hospitalized horses, and also infected some horses at their home premises after being discharged from the hospital.
- Infection with EHV-1 was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and seroconversion was documented using glycoprotein G ELISA, which are both standard tests for this virus.
- A voluntary quarantine was instituted and admissions were restricted to limit exposure.
- The duration of this quarantine period was shortened through serial PCR testing for all horses. By testing regularly and receiving continuous negative results, the researchers could safely conclude that the risk of transmission was diminishing.
Conclusions
- The study emphasizes that the management of horses with myeloencephalopathy due to EHV-1 presents a significant risk of transmission, even with stringent biosecurity measures.
- Recommendations are made for the isolation of horses actively shedding the EHV-1 virus.
- The use of continuous PCR testing can assist in determining when the risk of transmission has been minimized and normal operations can resume.
Cite This Article
APA
Goehring LS, Landolt GA, Morley PS.
(2010).
Detection and management of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus type 1 infection and associated neurological disease in a veterinary teaching hospital.
J Vet Intern Med, 24(5), 1176-1183.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0558.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. lutz.goehring@colostate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Acyclovir / analogs & derivatives
- Acyclovir / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
- Colorado / epidemiology
- Cross Infection / epidemiology
- Cross Infection / veterinary
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis / virology
- Female
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Infection Control
- Male
- Schools, Veterinary
- Valacyclovir
- Valine / analogs & derivatives
- Valine / therapeutic use
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