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Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(2); 349-355; doi: 10.1111/evj.13313

Environmental persistence of equid herpesvirus type-1.

Abstract: Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is ubiquitous in equine populations causing respiratory disease, and complications including late-term abortion and neurological disease. Eradication of EHV-1 from housing environments that typically contain unsealed wood and porous bedding materials can be challenging. However, consideration should be given to take advantage of the viral envelope's susceptibility to environmental conditions. Objective: To determine environmental persistence of EHV-1 on materials and in environmental conditions commonly found in equine facilities. We hypothesised that environmental conditions and materials would limit environmental persistence of EHV-1 in horse housing environments. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Standard inoculum of EHV-1 strain OH03 was applied to leather, polyester-cotton fabric, two bedding materials (pinewood shavings and wheat straw) and polystyrene (plastic), and placed under three different environmental conditions (4°C, indoors and outdoors). Virus titration and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed at six time points between 0 and 48 hours and the number of plaque-forming units (PFUs) was determined. Results: Viable EHV-1 was recovered up to 48 hours from all material-environmental condition combinations, with persistence decreasing over time. In general, outdoor environment had the greatest impact, irrespective of material tested, followed by indoor environment and 4°C. On average, wood shavings had the greatest impact on persistence, followed by leather, straw, fabric and polystyrene. Conclusions: The inoculum used in this study was not in a milieu consistent with nasal secretions. As such, virus particles may have been more sensitive to the materials and/or environmental conditions evaluated. Conclusions: Environmental factors had variable effects on environmental persistence. Although there were significant reductions in PFUs within the first 3 hours, irrespective of environment-material evaluated, viable virus was still recovered at 48 hours likely representing a transmission risk. Barrier precautions should be used to prevent spread of EHV-1 from unrecognised environmental reservoirs.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-07 PubMed ID: 32557765DOI: 10.1111/evj.13313Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 researchers of this paper conducted a study on the survival rate of Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), a common virus in horses, under various environmental conditions and materials commonly found in equine facilities. The study found that viable virus could be recovered up to 48 hours from all tested conditions and suggests precautions to prevent the spread of EHV-1 from environmental sources.

Objectives and Hypothesis

This study sets out to measure how long EHV-1 can persist on materials commonly found in horse stables, and how environmental conditions can impact this. The researchers hypothesised that both the environmental conditions and the materials would limit the persistence of EHV-1 in horse housing environments.

Methods

  • The experiment involved applying a standard inoculum of EHV-1 strain OH03 to leather, polyester-cotton fabric, two bedding materials (pinewood shavings and wheat straw), and polystyrene (plastic).
  • These materials were then subjected to three different environmental conditions: 4°C, indoors, and outdoors.
  • The virus’s quantity and titration were measured using quantitative PCR (qPCR) at six time points between 0 and 48 hours.
  • The number of plaque-forming units (PFUs), indicating the amount of viable virus, was determined.

Results

  • The study found viable virus on all tested material-environment combinations up to 48 hours, with virus persistence decreasing over time.
  • The outdoor environment had the greatest impact on virus survival, followed by the indoor environment and 4°C.
  • Average material impact on virus persistence measured from most to least was: wood shavings, leather, straw, fabric, and polystyrene.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that virus particles may have been more sensitive to the materials and environmental conditions due to the inoculum not being in a milieu consistent with nasal secretions.
  • Environmental conditions had varying effects on virus persistence. Significant reductions in PFU were observed within the first 3 hours, but viable virus was still recoverable after 48 hours, suggesting a transmission risk.
  • The authors advised the use of barrier precautions to prevent EHV-1 spread from unrecognised environmental reservoirs.

Cite This Article

APA
Saklou NT, Burgess BA, Ashton LV, Morley PS, Goehring LS. (2020). Environmental persistence of equid herpesvirus type-1. Equine Vet J, 53(2), 349-355. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13313

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 349-355

Researcher Affiliations

Saklou, Nadia T
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Burgess, Brandy A
  • Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
Ashton, Laura V
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Morley, Paul S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Goehring, Lutz S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
  • Centre of Clinical Veterinary Medicine-Equine Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Pregnancy
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Colorado State University Center for Companion Animal Studies

References

This article includes 7 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. Pusterla N, Barnum S, Young A, Mendonsa E, Lee S, Hankin S, Brittner S, Finno CJ. Molecular Monitoring of EHV-1 in Silently Infected Performance Horses through Nasal and Environmental Sample Testing. Pathogens 2022 Jun 24;11(7).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens11070720pubmed: 35889966google scholar: lookup
  2. Price D, Barnum S, Mize J, Pusterla N. Investigation of the Use of Non-Invasive Samples for the Molecular Detection of EHV-1 in Horses with and without Clinical Infection. Pathogens 2022 May 13;11(5).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens11050574pubmed: 35631095google scholar: lookup
  3. Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Roberts HC, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Calvo AV, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Carvelli A, Paillot R, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Baldinelli F, Van der Stede Y. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): infection with Equine Herpesvirus-1. EFSA J 2022 Jan;20(1):e07036.
    doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7036pubmed: 35035581google scholar: lookup
  4. Vandenberghe E, Boshuizen B, Delesalle CJG, Goehring LS, Groome KA, van Maanen K, de Bruijn CM. New Insights into the Management of an EHV-1 (Equine Hospital) Outbreak. Viruses 2021 Jul 22;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/v13081429pubmed: 34452295google scholar: lookup
  5. Vissani MA, Damiani AM, Barrandeguy ME. Equine Coital Exanthema: New Insights on the Knowledge and Leading Perspectives for Treatment and Prevention. Pathogens 2021 Aug 20;10(8).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081055pubmed: 34451519google scholar: lookup
  6. Dayaram A, Seeber PA, Greenwood AD. Environmental Detection and Potential Transmission of Equine Herpesviruses. Pathogens 2021 Apr 1;10(4).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040423pubmed: 33916280google scholar: lookup
  7. Huang J, Kimbrell B, Yan R, Fraser AM, Jiang X. Efficacy of Antimicrobials Against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses on Porous Materials: A Review. Microorganisms 2025 Dec 12;13(12).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13122827pubmed: 41472030google scholar: lookup
  8. Khan A, Olajide E, Friedrich M, Holt A, Goehring LS. Evaluation of Non-Invasive Sampling Techniques for the Molecular Surveillance of Equid Herpesviruses in Yearling Horses. Viruses 2024 Jul 7;16(7).
    doi: 10.3390/v16071091pubmed: 39066254google scholar: lookup
  9. Debrincat S, Rejmanek D, Wünschmann A, Crossley BM, Jelinski J, Armién AG. Detection of macropodid alphaherpesvirus 2 infection and lesions in sudden death of a captive Virginia opossum and a water opossum. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024 Jul;36(4):515-521.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387241252635pubmed: 38721879google scholar: lookup
  10. 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.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17047pubmed: 38497217google scholar: lookup
  11. Lawton K, Runk D, Hankin S, Mendonsa E, Hull D, Barnum S, Pusterla N. Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months. Viruses 2023 Oct 11;15(10).
    doi: 10.3390/v15102078pubmed: 37896855google scholar: lookup
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