Epidemiology of equine herpesvirus 2 (equine cytomegalovirus).
Abstract: The epidemiology of equine herpesvirus 2 was examined by using restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints to distinguish viruses isolated from two groups of horses. The first group consisted of three yearlings isolated from other horses but in contact with each other for 418 days, whereas the second comprised seven mares and their foals, which were sampled at monthly intervals from parturition until the foals were about 180 days old. There was a complex pattern of transmission, with 15 different viruses isolated from both groups. Four distinguishable viruses were isolated from the three yearlings by day 16 of quarantine, and by day 141 an additional two viruses were isolated. Up to five different viruses were isolated from one yearling. Although four repeat isolations of one virus from the nasal cavity of one yearling over 54 days indicated that equine herpesvirus 2 established persistent infection with constant shedding, most repeat isolations yielded distinguishable viruses. Identical viruses were isolated from the nasal cavity and leukocytes of one yearling and the nasal cavity and vagina of another, indicating that a particular equine herpesvirus 2 strain was not site specific. Although seven different viruses were isolated from the three yearlings throughout the quarantine period, two appeared to establish latent infections; one virus was not isolated until 141 days after quarantine, whereas the second was first isolated 16 days after quarantine and then for the second time, from the same horse, 402 days later. Multiple concurrent local infections were demonstrated by the isolation of two or more viruses from the same nasal swab.
Publication Date: 1987-01-01 PubMed ID: 3025249PubMed Central: PMC265802DOI: 10.1128/jcm.25.1.13-16.1987Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on the study of the spread and transmission patterns of Equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) among horses. The researchers use distinguishable strains of the virus for this study and reveal that EHV-2 infection can be persistent with regular shedding, and a single strain is not site-specific.
Methodology
- The study involved two distinct groups of horses. The first group had three yearlings that were kept in contact with each other for 418 days but isolated from other horses. The second group consisted of seven mares and their foals. These were regularly sampled every month right from the time of birth until they were about 180 days old.
- They used the method of restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints to distinguish between the viruses isolated from these groups. This method allows them to categorize the viruses based on their distinctive DNA patterns.
Findings
- The observations demonstrated a complex pattern of EHV-2 transmission, with fifteen different viruses isolated from both the horse groups.
- Four distinct viruses were isolated from the first group of yearlings by the 16th day of quarantine, and an additional two by the 141st day. One yearling was found to host five different viruses simultaneously.
- Interestingly, four repeat isolations of the same virus, EHV-2, from the nasal cavity of one yearling over 54 days revealed that this virus can establish a persistent infection, exhibiting consistent shedding. However, most repeat isolations yielded different viruses.
- It was also discovered that a particular EHV-2 strain is not site-specific. Identical viruses were isolated from different body parts of the horses, like the nasal cavity and leukocytes of one yearling and the nasal cavity and vagina of another.
- Throughout the quarantine period, seven different viruses were isolated from the three-yearlings group. Of these, two managed to establish latent infections; one virus was not isolated until 141 days post-quarantine, and the other was isolated for the second time from the same horse 402 days later.
- Moreover, the study also demonstrated instances of multiple concurrent local infections by isolating two or more viruses from the same nasal swab.
Cite This Article
APA
Browning GF, Studdert MJ.
(1987).
Epidemiology of equine herpesvirus 2 (equine cytomegalovirus).
J Clin Microbiol, 25(1), 13-16.
https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.25.1.13-16.1987 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
- DNA Restriction Enzymes
- DNA, Viral / analysis
- Deoxyribonuclease HindIII
- Female
- Herpesviridae / genetics
- Herpesviridae / isolation & purification
- Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Male
References
This article includes 20 references
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