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Veterinary microbiology1999; 68(1-2); 27-34; doi: 10.1016/s0378-1135(99)00058-9

Epidemiology of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in the mare and foal populations on a Hunter Valley stud farm: are mares the source of EHV-1 for unweaned foals.

Abstract: The prevalence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 antibody-positive horses was determined using a type specific ELISA on serum samples collected from 229 mares and their foals resident on a large Thoroughbred stud farm in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales in February 1995. More than 99% of all mares and foals tested were EHV-4 antibody positive, while the prevalence of EHV-1 antibody positive mares and foals were 26.2 and 11.4%, respectively. Examination of the ELISA absorbance data for the individual mares and foals suggested that the EHV-1 antibody positive foals had been infected recently with EHV-1 and that a sub-group of the mare population was the likely source of infectious virus for the unweaned foals.
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Publication Date: 1999-09-29 PubMed ID: 10501159DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(99)00058-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 prevalence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 antibodies in horses living on a stud farm in Australia, revealing that a majority of mares and foals tested positive for EHV-4, and a significant percentage were positive for EHV-1. It also suggests that the source of EHV-1 in foals might be a subgroup of the mare population.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • This research aimed to understand the epidemiology of Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) in the population of horses (specifically mares and their foals) in a Thoroughbred stud farm.
  • Type-specific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to determine the prevalence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in serum samples collected from these horses.
  • The study took place on a large Thoroughbred stud farm in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia, in February 1995 and involved 229 mares and their foals.

Findings

  • The results showed a high prevalence of EHV-4 antibody-positive horses with over 99% of all mares and foals tested. This indicates that most, if not all, of the horses on the stud farm had been exposed to EHV-4.
  • The incidence of EHV-1 antibody-positive horses was lesser with 26.2% in mares and 11.4% in foals. The presence of EHV-1 antibodies suggests that these horses were previously or recently infected with EHV-1.
  • Moreover, through the examination of ELISA absorbance data, it was suggested that the EHV-1 antibody-positive foals were recently infected. This shows that EHV-1 infections may be acquired from the mother to the foal.

Conclusion

  • The research concludes that a subgroup of the mare population was likely the source of infectious EHV-1 virus for the unweaned foals.
  • This understanding of the epidemiology of EHV-1 and EHV-4 can contribute to better disease prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of this virus in horse populations.

Cite This Article

APA
Gilkerson JR, Whalley JM, Drummer HE, Studdert MJ, Love DN. (1999). Epidemiology of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in the mare and foal populations on a Hunter Valley stud farm: are mares the source of EHV-1 for unweaned foals. Vet Microbiol, 68(1-2), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1135(99)00058-9

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 0378-1135
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 27-34

Researcher Affiliations

Gilkerson, J R
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Whalley, J M
    Drummer, H E
      Studdert, M J
        Love, D N

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Animals, Suckling
          • Antibodies, Viral / blood
          • Cross-Sectional Studies
          • 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
          • Horses
          • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / veterinary
          • Male
          • New South Wales / epidemiology
          • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
          • Respiratory Tract Infections / transmission
          • Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
          • Sensitivity and Specificity
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies
          • Varicellovirus / immunology
          • Varicellovirus / pathogenicity

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          This article has been cited 21 times.
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