Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy: a case report.
Abstract: An outbreak of neurological disease occurred in a well-managed riding school. Ataxia and paresis were observed in several horses, five of which became recumbent and were euthanized. Post-mortem analysis revealed scattered haemorrhages along the spinal cord, that were reflected by multiple haemorrhagic foci on formalin-fixed sections, with the thoracic and lumbar segments being the most affected. Pathohistologically, perivascular mononuclear cuffing and axonal swelling, especially in the white matter, were evident. Parallel to the course of disease, alterations in myelin sheets and activation of astrocytes and microglial cells were also observed. Virological findings confirmed an acute equine herpesvirus type 1 infection and virus was isolated from the spinal cord of a 26-year-old mare.
Publication Date: 2002-03-26 PubMed ID: 11911591DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0450.2002.00537.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article describes an outbreak of neurological disease in a riding school where several horses exhibited symptoms of ataxia and paresis, prompting the euthanization of five horses. A post-mortem analysis uncovered haemorrhages along the spinal cord and virological findings confirmed an equine herpesvirus type 1 infection.
Outbreak Overview
- The study reports an outbreak of neurological disease. It took place in a well-managed riding school, and several horses began to exhibit ataxia and paresis, two symptoms indicative of neurological disorders.
- Due to the severity of the condition, five horses ended up recumbent, a state where they are unable to stand up, and had to be euthanized eventually for their welfare.
Post-mortem Analysis
- The researchers performed a post-mortem analysis on the deceased horses to identify the cause of the condition. They found scattered haemorrhages along the spinal cord manifested by multiple haemorrhagic foci on formalin-fixed sections.
- The thoracic and lumbar segments were the most affected, presenting a clear physical correlation to the observed neurological symptoms.
Pathohistological Findings
- Upon pathohistological examination, more insights were discovered. There was evidence of perivascular mononuclear cuffing, a condition usually found in diseases with inflammatory response, and axonal swelling especially in the white matter.
- Concurrent with the progression of the disease, alterations in myelin sheets and activation of astrocytes and microglial cells were also observed, marking significant neurological changes.
Virological Findings
- A significant breakthrough was made with the virological findings. The results confirmed an acute equine herpesvirus type 1 infection, a virus responsible for causing neurological issues in horses.
- Further evidence of this infection was found when the virus was successfully isolated from the spinal cord of a 26-year-old mare, solidifying the conclusion that equine herpesvirus type 1 was the main cause of the outbreak.
Cite This Article
APA
Stierstorfer B, Eichhorn W, Schmahl W, Brandmüller C, Kaaden OR, Neubauer A.
(2002).
Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy: a case report.
J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health, 49(1), 37-41.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0450.2002.00537.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Infectious and Epidemic Diseases, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brain / virology
- DNA, Viral / genetics
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis / complications
- Encephalomyelitis / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique / veterinary
- Gait Ataxia / etiology
- Gait Ataxia / veterinary
- Germany / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / complications
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Spinal Cord / virology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Samoilowa S, Giessler KS, Torres CEM, Hussey GS, Allum A, Fux R, Jerke C, Kiupel M, Matiasek K, Sledge DG, Goehring LS. Equid herpesvirus-1 Distribution in Equine Lymphoid and Neural Tissues 70 Days Post Infection.. Pathogens 2021 Jun 5;10(6).
- Holz CL, Sledge DG, Kiupel M, Nelli RK, Goehring LS, Soboll Hussey G. Histopathologic Findings Following Experimental Equine Herpesvirus 1 Infection of Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:59.
- Laval K, Favoreel HW, Poelaert KC, Van Cleemput J, Nauwynck HJ. Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Enhances Viral Replication in CD172a+ Monocytic Cells upon Adhesion to Endothelial Cells.. J Virol 2015 Nov;89(21):10912-23.
- Sasaki M, Kim E, Igarashi M, Ito K, Hasebe R, Fukushi H, Sawa H, Kimura T. Single amino acid residue in the A2 domain of major histocompatibility complex class I is involved in the efficiency of equine herpesvirus-1 entry.. J Biol Chem 2011 Nov 11;286(45):39370-8.
- Sasaki M, Hasebe R, Makino Y, Suzuki T, Fukushi H, Okamoto M, Matsuda K, Taniyama H, Sawa H, Kimura T. Equine major histocompatibility complex class I molecules act as entry receptors that bind to equine herpesvirus-1 glycoprotein D.. Genes Cells 2011 Apr;16(4):343-57.
- Heerkens TM. Equine herpesvirus-1, non-neurogenic pathotype, in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred with neurological signs.. Can Vet J 2009 Mar;50(3):297-300.
- Goodman LB, Loregian A, Perkins GA, Nugent J, Buckles EL, Mercorelli B, Kydd JH, Palù G, Smith KC, Osterrieder N, Davis-Poynter N. A point mutation in a herpesvirus polymerase determines neuropathogenicity.. PLoS Pathog 2007 Nov;3(11):e160.
- Garré B, Shebany K, Gryspeerdt A, Baert K, van der Meulen K, Nauwynck H, Deprez P, De Backer P, Croubels S. Pharmacokinetics of acyclovir after intravenous infusion of acyclovir and after oral administration of acyclovir and its prodrug valacyclovir in healthy adult horses.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007 Dec;51(12):4308-14.
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