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Viruses2023; 15(10); doi: 10.3390/v15102078

Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to use environmental sampling to determine the frequency of detection of selected equine respiratory viruses and bacteria in horses attending a multi-week equestrian show during the winter months. At four time points during showing, environmental sponge samples were collected from all stalls on the property and tested for the presence of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), EHV-2, EHV-4, equine influenza virus (EIV), equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV), Streptococcus equi ss. equi (S. equi), and S. equi ss. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) using real-time PCR (PCR). Environmental sponges were collected from all 53 barns by using one sponge for up to 10 stalls. Further, 2/53 barns were randomly selected for individual stall sampling in order to compare the results between individual and pooled stall samples. A total of 333/948 (35.13%, 95% CI 32.09-38.26%) pooled environmental stall sponges tested PCR-positive for at least one of the selected respiratory pathogens. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the most commonly detected pathogen in pooled samples (28.69%, 95% CI 25.83-31.69%), followed by EHV-2 (14.45%, 95% CI 12.27-16.85%), EHV-4 (1.37%, 95% CI 0.73-2.33%), and a very small percentage of pooled stall sponges tested PCR-positive for EHV-1, ERBV, EIV, and S. equi. In individual samples, 171/464 (36.85%, 95% CI 32.45-41.42%) environmental stall sponges tested PCR-positive for at least one of the selected pathogens, following a similar frequency of pathogen detection as pooled samples. The detection frequency of true respiratory pathogens from environmental samples was higher during the winter months compared to previous studies performed during spring and summer, and this testing highlights that such pathogens circulate with greater frequency during the colder months of the year. The strategy of monitoring environmental stall samples for respiratory pathogens circumvents the often labor-intensive collection of respiratory secretions from healthy horses and allows for a more efficient assessment of pathogen buildup over time. However, environmental stall testing for respiratory pathogens should not replace proper biosecurity protocols, but it should instead be considered as an additional tool to monitor the silent circulation of respiratory pathogens in at-risk horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-11 PubMed ID: 37896855PubMed Central: PMC10612055DOI: 10.3390/v15102078Google 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 study tests the frequency of certain respiratory pathogens in horses by examining samples collected from horse stalls at an equestrian show. The process allowed environmental factors to be monitored and assessed over a longer period, finding that these pathogens circulated more during winter months.

Methodology

  • The study included environmental sampling, which involved collecting samples from horse stalls at an equestrian event that took place over several weeks during winter.
  • The sampling was carried out at four different intervals during the event. Researchers used a sponge to collect samples from each of the stalls located on the property.
  • All the sponges collected were then tested for the presence of a number of targeted respiratory pathogens. This included equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), EHV-2, EHV-4, equine influenza virus (EIV), and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV), among others. The testing was performed using real-time PCR.
  • The samples were collected from all 53 barns involved in the event. Each sponge was used to collect samples from up to ten stalls.
  • In addition to this, two barns were picked at random and samples were collected from individual stalls. These individual samples were compared with the samples collected from multiple stalls.

Findings

  • Out of the 948 samples taken from multiple stalls, 333 tested positive for at least one of the targeted pathogens. This accounts for 35.13% of the samples, with a 95% confidence interval of 32.09-38.26%.
  • The most common pathogen detected was Streptococcus. This was followed by EHV-2 and EHV-4.
  • A significantly smaller percentage of the samples tested positive for EHV-1, ERBV, EIV, and other pathogens.
  • Upon evaluating the samples taken from individual stalls, it was found that out of 464 samples, 171 tested positive for at least one pathogen, amounting to 36.85% of samples with a 95% CI of 32.45-41.42%. This was generally similar to the frequency of pathogen detection observed in pooled samples.
  • The results showed that the detection of respiratory pathogens was higher during winter months compared to spring and summer. The testing underscores the fact that many pathogens circulate more during colder weather.

Implications

  • The method used bypassed the need for laborious collection of respiratory secretions from healthy horses, allowing for efficient monitoring of pathogen accumulation over time.
  • While the testing of stalls provides important data, it should not replace good biosecurity procedures. It should be used as a supplementary tool to track the unnoticeable circulation of respiratory pathogens among susceptible animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Lawton K, Runk D, Hankin S, Mendonsa E, Hull D, Barnum S, Pusterla N. (2023). Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months. Viruses, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/v15102078

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 10

Researcher Affiliations

Lawton, Kaila
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Runk, David
  • Desert International Horse Park, Thermal, CA 92274, USA.
Hankin, Steve
  • Desert International Horse Park, Thermal, CA 92274, USA.
Mendonsa, Eric
  • Fluxergy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
Hull, Dale
  • Fluxergy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
Barnum, Samantha
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Pusterla, Nicola
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Herpesvirus 1, Equid
  • Rhadinovirus
  • Influenza A virus
  • Herpesviridae Infections

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  2. Gonzalez-Obando J, Jaimes-Dueñez J, Zuluaga-Cabrera A, Forero JE, Diaz A, Rojas-Arbeláez C, Ruiz-Saenz J. Seroprevalence of Equine Influenza Virus Antibodies in Horses from Four Localities in Colombia. Viruses 2025 Jul 16;17(7).
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  3. Pusterla N, Lawton K, Barnum S, Flynn K, Hankin S, Runk D, Mendonsa E, Doherty T. Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event. Viruses 2025 Apr 24;17(5).
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  4. Pusterla N, Lawton K, Barnum S, Magdesian KG. Comparison of Nose Wipes, Stall Sponges, and Air Samples with Nasal Secretions for the Molecular Detection of Equine Influenza Virus in Clinically and Subclinically Infected Horses. Viruses 2025 Mar 20;17(3).
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  5. Pusterla N, Lawton K, Barnum S. Investigation of the Use of Environmental Samples for the Detection of EHV-1 in the Stalls of Subclinical Shedders. Viruses 2024 Jul 3;16(7).
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