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Equine veterinary education2015; 28(4); 216-223; doi: 10.1111/eve.12453

Equine coronavirus: An emerging enteric virus of adult horses.

Abstract: Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is an emerging virus associated clinically and epidemiologically with fever, depression, anorexia and less frequently colic and diarrhoea in adult horses. Sporadic cases and outbreaks have been reported with increased frequency since 2010 from Japan, the USA and more recently from Europe. A faeco-oral transmission route is suspected and clinical or asymptomatic infected horses appear to be responsible for direct and indirect transmission of ECoV. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of ECoV infection may be suggested by clinical presentation, haematological abnormalities such as leucopenia due to lymphopenia and/or neutropenia. Confirmation of ECoV infection is provided by specific ECoV nucleic acid detection in faeces by quantitative PCR (qPCR) or demonstration of coronavirus antigen by immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy in intestinal biopsy material obtained or . The disease is generally self-limiting and horses typically recover with symptomatic supportive care. Complications associated with disruption of the gastrointestinal barrier have been reported in some infected horses and include endotoxaemia, septicaemia and hyperammonaemia-associated encephalopathy. Although specific immunoprophylactic measures have been shown to be effective in disease prevention for closely-related coronaviruses such as bovine coronavirus (BCoV), such strategies have yet not been investigated for horses and disease prevention is limited to basic biosecurity protocols. This article reviews current knowledge concerning the aetiology, epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, pathology, treatment and prevention of ECoV infection in adult horses.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-25 PubMed ID: 32313392PubMed Central: PMC7163714DOI: 10.1111/eve.12453Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article discusses the Equine Coronavirus (ECoV), a developing virus in adult horses that is frequently associated with symptoms like fever, anorexia, depression and less commonly colic and diarrhea. The study further discusses the transmission route, diagnostic methods, treatment and prevention strategies for this disease.

Aetiology and Epidemiology

  • The disease is caused by the Equine coronavirus (ECoV), which is an emerging virus in the world of veterinary virology, particularly affecting adult horses. Etymologically, the virus is related and has been reported increasingly since 2010 from places such as the USA, Japan, and parts of Europe.
  • Transmission of this virus is thought to occur through the feco-oral route, with horses that show symptoms or are asymptomatic carriers being directly or indirectly responsible for its spread.

Clinical Signs and Diagnosis

  • Common symptoms associated with ECoV include fever, depression, anorexia and, less frequently, loosening of bowels and colic. Haematological irregularities, such as leucopenia from lymphopenia and/or neutropenia, may suggest a presumptive clinical diagnosis of ECoV infection.
  • A confirmed diagnosis of ECoV is made through the accurate identification of ECoV nucleic acid in the stool of the infected horse through a process called quantitative PCR (qPCR), or through the detection of the coronavirus antigen using methods such as immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy.

Disease Management and Treatment

  • The course of ECoV is usually self-resolving, and horses typically recover with the right supportive care. However, complications arising from a disrupted gastrointestinal barrier in some infected horses have been reported. These complications include endotoxaemia, septicaemia and an encephalopathy linked to high levels of ammonia.
  • Currently, there are no specific immunoprophylactic measures for ECoV as have been identified for similar coronaviruses, such as the Bovine coronavirus (BCoV). Disease prevention, therefore, at this stage is limited to basic biosecurity protocols.

Conclusion

  • This research-based article reviews current knowledge concerning the ECoV infection in adult horses, particularly focusing on aspects such as causes, clinical signs, diagnosis methods, pathology, treatment and disease prevention strategies. The specific aetiology, spread, and management of ECoV infection in adult horses require further research for effective diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Pusterla N, Vin R, Leutenegger C, Mittel LD, Divers TJ. (2015). Equine coronavirus: An emerging enteric virus of adult horses. Equine Vet Educ, 28(4), 216-223. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12453

Publication

Equine veterinary education
ISSN: 0957-7734
NlmUniqueID: 9885274
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 4
Pages: 216-223

Researcher Affiliations

Pusterla, N
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis USA.
Vin, R
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. West Sacramento California USA.
Leutenegger, C
  • IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. West Sacramento California USA.
Mittel, L D
  • The Animal Health Diagnostic Center Cornell University Ithaca New York USA.
Divers, T J
  • College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell University Ithaca New York USA.

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