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Veterinary microbiology2011; 152(1-2); 21-28; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.03.038

Equine alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4) differ in their efficiency to infect mononuclear cells during early steps of infection in nasal mucosal explants.

Abstract: Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) replicates extensively in the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, after which it can spread throughout the body via a cell-associated viremia in mononuclear leukocytes reaching the pregnant uterus and central nervous system. In a previous study, we were able to mimic the in vivo situation in an in vitro respiratory mucosal explant system. A plaquewise spread of EHV-1 was observed in the epithelial cells, whereas in the connective tissue below the basement membrane (BM), EHV-1-infected mononuclear leukocytes were noticed. Equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4), a close relative of EHV-1, can also cause mild respiratory disease, but a cell-associated viremia in leukocytes is scarce and secondary symptoms are rarely observed. Based on this striking difference in pathogenicity, we aimed to evaluate how EHV-4 behaves in equine mucosal explants. Upon inoculation of equine mucosal explants with the EHV-4 strains VLS 829, EQ(1) 012 and V01-3-13, replication of EHV-4 in epithelial cells was evidenced by the presence of viral plaques in the epithelium. Interestingly, EHV-4-infected mononuclear leukocytes in the connective tissue below the BM were extremely rare and were only present for one of the three strains. The inefficient capacity of EHV-4 to infect mononuclear cells explains in part the rarity of EHV-4-induced viremia, and subsequently, the rarity of EHV-4-induced abortion or EHM.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-04-12 PubMed ID: 21536394DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.03.038Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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.

The research examines how two types of horse alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4) infect mononuclear cells in the nasal mucosal tissue. It finds that EHV-1 tends to spread more extensively than EHV-4, which partly explains why EHV-4-related health complications are rarer in horses.

Overview and Purpose of the Study

  • The study focuses on two strains of equine alphaherpesviruses: EHV-1 and EHV-4. Both viruses have the capability to cause illness in horses, but EHV-1 is known to have a more extensive spread, leading to more serious conditions like inflammation of the nervous system and abortion.
  • The main purpose of this research is to investigate the different behaviors of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in equine nasal mucosal tissue – specifically, how these viruses infect mononuclear cells, which are a type of white blood cell crucial to the immune system’s defense against pathogens.

Methodology and Key Findings

  • The researchers used an in vitro respiratory mucosal explant system, which mimics the in vivo environment, to observe the spread and infection patterns of EHV-1 and EHV-4.
  • It was found that EHV-1 spread extensively to the epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract and could further propagate to other body parts via mononuclear leukocytes, reaching vital organs such as the pregnant uterus and central nervous system.
  • On the contrary, EHV-4 showed limited infection capacity. While it replicated in the epithelial cells similarly to EHV-1, it was largely unsuccessful in infecting mononuclear leukocytes in the tissue below the basement membrane. Infected cells were detected only in one of the three tested EHV-4 strains.

Implications and Conclusion

  • The research findings unveil a critical distinction in how EHV-1 and EHV-4 infect cells, which could help explain their different impacts on equine health.
  • The limited ability of EHV-4 to infect mononuclear cells can be linked to the rarity of serious EHV-4-induced complications, such as viremia (when the virus enters the bloodstream and spreads), abortion, or other neurological disorders in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Vandekerckhove AP, Glorieux S, Gryspeerdt AC, Steukers L, Van Doorsselaere J, Osterrieder N, Van de Walle GR, Nauwynck HJ. (2011). Equine alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4) differ in their efficiency to infect mononuclear cells during early steps of infection in nasal mucosal explants. Vet Microbiol, 152(1-2), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.03.038

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 152
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 21-28

Researcher Affiliations

Vandekerckhove, Annelies P
  • Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. annelies.vandekerckhove@UGent.be
Glorieux, S
    Gryspeerdt, A C
      Steukers, L
        Van Doorsselaere, J
          Osterrieder, N
            Van de Walle, G R
              Nauwynck, H J

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Epithelial Cells / virology
                • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
                • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
                • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / pathogenicity
                • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / physiology
                • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / pathogenicity
                • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / physiology
                • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                • Horse Diseases / virology
                • Horses / virology
                • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
                • Nasal Mucosa / virology
                • Tissue Culture Techniques
                • Viral Plaque Assay / veterinary
                • Viral Tropism
                • Viremia / veterinary
                • Viremia / virology
                • Virus Replication

                Citations

                This article has been cited 16 times.
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