Detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in placental sections of naturally occurring EHV-1- and EHV-4-related abortions in the UK: use of the placenta in diagnosis.
Abstract: EHV-1 and EHV-4 abortion diagnosis is based upon detailed examination of the aborted fetus. However, in some cases, only the placenta is available for examination. Furthermore, the contribution of lesions in the placenta to pathogenesis and diagnosis of EHV-1 and EHV-4 abortion has been neglected. Objective: To assess the utility of placental examination in equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 abortion diagnosis. Methods: Sections of allantochorion from 49 herpesvirus abortions were analysed by PCR, in situ hybridisation and immunostaining. Results: Virus-specific nested PCR confirmed the presence of viral DNA in 46 cases; 41 cases were EHV-1-positive and 5 EHV-4-positive. Microscopic changes were nonspecific. Examination of the PCR-positive sections of allantochorion revealed EHV-1 DNA by in situ hybridisation (ISH) in 21 cases and EHV-4 in 4 cases. In 2 samples, DNA of both viruses was present on PCR and ISH. Viral antigen was found by immunohistology in 15 cases. Regarding the localisation of virus in the placentae, both viral DNA and antigen of EHV-1 and EHV-4 were found in endothelial cells of chorionic villi and, occasionally, in trophoblast epithelium. In the stromal endothelium, only EHV-1 was found. Conclusions: The data indicate that examination of placentae is a useful diagnostic aid in EHV-1 and EHV-4 abortion diagnosis. Conclusions: Virological examination of the placenta should become standard practice in equine abortion investigations, particularly in those cases where the fetus is not available for examination.
Publication Date: 2003-07-24 PubMed ID: 12875318DOI: 10.2746/042516403775600451Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article focuses on diagnosing equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 related abortion in horses using placental examination, demonstrating that such examinations can provide valuable information, especially when the fetus is not available for analysis.
Research Objective
The primary goal of this study was to assess the reliability of placental examinations in diagnosing equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 related abortions.
Methodology
- The researchers analyzed sections of the placenta, specifically the allantochorion, from 49 cases of herpesvirus-related abortions.
- They implemented various techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), in situ hybridization (ISH), and immunostaining in their analysis.
Results
- They used virus-specific nested PCR to confirm the presence of viral DNA in 46 out of the 49 cases, with 41 being EHV-1 positive and 5 EHV-4 positive.
- Further examination of the PCR-positive placenta sections displayed EHV-1 DNA in 21 cases and EHV-4 DNA in 4 cases upon applying in situ hybridization (ISH).
- In two of the samples, DNA from both the EHV-1 and EHV-4 viruses were detected through PCR and ISH.
- Immunohistological analysis revealed presence of viral antigens in 15 cases.
- The analysis showed that both EHV-1 and EHV-4 viral DNA, and antigens were found in endothelial cells of the chorionic villi and occasionally in the trophoblast epithelium of the placenta.
- In the endothelial stroma region of the placenta, only EHV-1 was found.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that placental examination is a useful diagnostic tool in identifying EHV-1 and EHV-4 related abortions.
- They recommended that virological examination of the placenta should be considered standard practice in horse abortion investigations, particularly when the fetus is not available for examination.
Cite This Article
APA
Gerst S, Borchers K, Gower SM, Smith KC.
(2003).
Detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in placental sections of naturally occurring EHV-1- and EHV-4-related abortions in the UK: use of the placenta in diagnosis.
Equine Vet J, 35(5), 430-433.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516403775600451 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Virology, Free University of Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 49, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / virology
- Animals
- Antigens, Viral / analysis
- DNA, Viral / analysis
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 4, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- In Situ Hybridization / veterinary
- Placenta / pathology
- Placenta / virology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Wang T, Hu L, Wang Y, Liu W, Liu G, Zhu M, Zhang W, Wang C, Ren H, Li L. Identification of equine herpesvirus 8 in donkey abortion: a case report. Virol J 2022 Jan 6;19(1):10.
- Schulman M, Becker A, Ganswindt S, Guthrie A, Stout T, Ganswindt A. The effect of consignment to broodmare sales on physiological stress measured by faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in pregnant Thoroughbred mares. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jan 17;10:25.
- 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.
- Manikandan R, Rajagunalan S, Malmarugan S, Gupta C. First report on whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics of Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusequi isolated from Donkey in India. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 8;14(1):23455.
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