Epizootiological aspects of type 1 and type 4 equine herpesvirus infections among horse populations.
Abstract: The dissemination of equine herpesvirus types 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) among various horse populations in Japan was investigated through the isolation and typing of virus strains from horses with respiratory diseases. Type specific monoclonal antibody pools were used for the typing of isolates. The 42 strains of EHV-1 and 64 strains of EHV-4 were isolated from 4593 nasal swabs and/or blood plasma samples collected from 3326 horses during a period from 1979 to 1990. All the strains of EHV-1 were isolated from racehorses only and during the winter season exclusively, when the epizootic of respiratory diseases occurred among racehorse populations at two Training Centers of the Japan Racing Association. In contrast, the strains of EHV-4 were isolated from horses irrespective of the season, facility, or horse population; foals and yearlings in breeding farms and our institute, rearing horses in rearing farms, and racehorses. Especially, 4 strains of EHV-4 were isolated from plasma samples containing buffy coat cells. We believe this is the first reported case of EHV-4 cell-associated viremia in the world. All 87 strains isolated from aborted fetuses were identified as EHV-1. The results suggest that EHV-1 is responsible for epizootic respiratory diseases in racehorses in the winter and abortion among mares at the late stage of gestation, and that EHV-4 causes respiratory diseases throughout the year among all horse populations.
Publication Date: 1992-04-01 PubMed ID: 1318750DOI: 10.1292/jvms.54.207Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Equine Herpesvirus
- Horses
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Respiratory Disease
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Virology
- Virus
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 focuses on the investigation of equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4 infections in various horse populations in Japan. The study found that type 1 causes outbreaks of respiratory diseases in racehorses during winter and also leads to abortion in mares, while type 4 causes respiratory diseases in horses throughout the year.
Methodology
- The study observed the pattern of dissemination of equine herpesvirus types 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) in varying horse populations in Japan over an 11 year period from 1979 to 1990.
- The research team isolated and typed virus strains from horses with respiratory disorders. They employed type-specific monoclonal antibody pools to facilitate the typing of isolates.
- A total of 4593 nasal swabs and/or blood plasma samples were tested. These samples were collected from 3326 horses.
Findings
- From the samples, 42 strains of EHV-1 and 64 strains of EHV-4 were successfully isolated.
- EHV-1 was discovered solely among racehorses and exclusively during the winter season, which coincides with the epidemic of respiratory diseases among racehorse populations at two Training Centers of the Japan Racing Association.
- Conversely, EHV-4 strains were isolated from horses throughout the year, independent of the facility or horse population. Infections were found among a diverse array of horses including foals, yearlings in breeding farms, horses in rearing farms, and racehorses.
- The detection of 4 strains of EHV-4 from plasma samples that contain buffy coat cells is hailed as the first reported case of EHV-4 cell-associated viremia worldwide.
- All 87 strains isolated from aborted fetuses were identified as EHV-1.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that EHV-1 is likely responsible for the outbreak of respiratory diseases among racehorses during the winter, in addition to causing abortions in mares in late pregnancy stages.
- The results also imply that EHV-4 could be the cause of year-round respiratory diseases among all horse populations.
Cite This Article
APA
Matsumura T, Sugiura T, Imagawa H, Fukunaga Y, Kamada M.
(1992).
Epizootiological aspects of type 1 and type 4 equine herpesvirus infections among horse populations.
J Vet Med Sci, 54(2), 207-211.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.54.207 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Epizootic Research Station, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Herpesviridae / classification
- Herpesviridae / isolation & purification
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Immunodiffusion
- Japan / epidemiology
- Pregnancy
- Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Seasons
- Viremia / epidemiology
- Viremia / microbiology
- Viremia / veterinary
Citations
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