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Epidemiological studies of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) in Thoroughbred foals: a review of studies conducted in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales between 1995 and 1997.
Abstract: Sero-epidemiological studies conducted between 1995 and 1997 on two large Thoroughbred stud farms in the Hunter Valley of NSW showed clear evidence of EHV-1 infection in foals as young as 30 days of age. Similarly, serological evidence suggested that these foals were infected with EHV-1 from their dams or from other lactating mares in the group, with subsequent foal to foal spread of infection prior to weaning. These studies also provided evidence of EHV-1 infection of foals at and subsequent to weaning, with foal to foal spread of EHV-1 amongst the weanlings. These data indicated that the mare and foal population was a reservoir of EHV-1, from which new cases of infection propagated through the foal population both before and after weaning. The results of these studies support the long standing management practices of separating pregnant mares from other groups of horses to reduce the incidence of EHV-1 abortion. Also, these results have important implications for currently recommended vaccination regimens, as the efficacy of vaccination in already latently infected horses is unknown.
Publication Date: 1999-09-29 PubMed ID: 10501158DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(99)00057-7Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
This research explores the spread and frequency of the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection in Thoroughbred foals within large stud farms in the Hunter Valley of NSW from 1995 to 1997. The study found evidence of infections in young foals, and its spread from mares to foals and amongst foals, both pre and post-weaning, indicating a reservoir of infection in the mare and foal population.
Research Methodology and Findings
- The paper reviewed sero-epidemiological studies conducted between 1995 and 1997 on two large Thoroughbred stud farms situated in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
- Evidence showed that EHV-1 infections occurred in foals as young as 30 days old. The findings suggest these foals contracted this virus from their dams (mothers) or other lactating mares within the group.
- Foal-to-foal transmission was also observed before weaning. This phenomenon implies that the virus quickly spreads within groups of foals through proximity or direct interaction.
- In addition to pre-weaning infection, foals were found to contract EHV-1 at and after weaning period. This occurrence once again underlines the tendency of the virus to spread amongst foals.
- Both these observations indicate that the mare and foal population on these farms acted as a reservoir for EHV-1, with new infection cases propagating among the foal population before and after the weaning process.
Implications of the Study
- The findings validate the widespread practice of isolating pregnant mares from other horse groups to reduce the chances of EHV-1 abortion. The separation prevents possible EHV-1 transmission from infected mares to their foals and ultimately helps manage the overall outbreak of the virus on the farms.
- This study poses a concern for current vaccination schedules because it is unclear how effective vaccines are on horses already harbouring a latent infection. The widespread infection amongst mares and foals indicates that many might already be carrying the virus at a non-symptomatic, latent stage at the time of vaccination.
Cite This Article
APA
Gilkerson JR, Whalley JM, Drummer HE, Studdert MJ, Love DN.
(1999).
Epidemiological studies of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) in Thoroughbred foals: a review of studies conducted in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales between 1995 and 1997.
Vet Microbiol, 68(1-2), 15-25.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1135(99)00057-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Animals, Suckling
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Colostrum / immunology
- Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / pathogenicity
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Immunity, Maternally-Acquired
- Incidence
- Lactation / immunology
- New South Wales / epidemiology
- Pregnancy
- Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / transmission
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Weaning
Citations
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- Zarski LM, Giessler KS, Jacob SI, Weber PSD, McCauley AG, Lee Y, Soboll Hussey G. Identification of Host Factors Associated with the Development of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy by Transcriptomic Analysis of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Horses. Viruses 2021 Feb 24;13(3).
- Zarski LM, Weber PSD, Lee Y, Soboll Hussey G. Transcriptomic Profiling of Equine and Viral Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Horses during Equine Herpesvirus 1 Infection. Pathogens 2021 Jan 7;10(1).
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- Wagner B, Schnabel CL, Rollins A. Increase in Virus-Specific Mucosal Antibodies in the Upper Respiratory Tract Following Intramuscular Vaccination of Previously Exposed Horses Against Equine Herpesvirus Type-1/4. Vaccines (Basel) 2025 Mar 10;13(3).
- Holmes CM, Babasyan S, Eady N, Schnabel CL, Wagner B. Immune horses rapidly increase antileukoproteinase and lack type I interferon secretion during mucosal innate immune responses against equine herpesvirus type 1. Microbiol Spectr 2024 Oct 3;12(10):e0109224.
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