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Equine veterinary journal2021; 53(5); 886-894; doi: 10.1111/evj.13477

Equine parvovirus hepatitis.

Abstract: Equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H) was first described in 2018 in a fatal case of Theiler's disease which followed the administration of an equine-origin biological product. The virus has since been frequently identified in serum and liver tissue of horses affected by Theiler's disease-an acute, severe hepatitis characterised by fulminant hepatic necrosis with a fatal outcome in most cases. EqPV-H is hepatotropic, appears to be associated with subclinical to severe hepatitis in horses, and is a likely cause of Theiler's disease. Although this disease is most frequently reported following the administration of equine-origin biological products, it can also occur among in-contact horses. Horizontal transmission may be iatrogenic, via contaminated equine-origin biological products such as equine serum, botulism or tetanus antitoxin, and mesenchymal stem cells or by means of the oral route of infection. Other horizontal transmission routes, for example, arthropod vectors, warrant further investigation. A worldwide prevalence of EqPV-H antibodies and DNA has been reported in asymptomatic horses. EqPV-H-positive horses suffering from acute, severe hepatitis have reportedly developed clinical signs including icterus, lethargy, inappetence, and neurological abnormalities and have had increased liver-associated biochemistry parameters recorded. The most common histopathological abnormalities of the liver have been hepatocellular necrosis, collapse of the lobular architecture, and lymphocytic infiltration. Most horses infected experimentally with EqPV-H have developed subclinical hepatitis, and close temporal associations between peak viraemia, seroconversion, and the onset of hepatitis have been observed. Based on strong evidence indicating that EqPV-H causes hepatitis in horses, veterinarians should consider this virus an important differential diagnosis in such cases. Potential risks associated with the administration of equine-origin biological products must be emphasised.
© 2021 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-04 PubMed ID: 34101906PubMed Central: PMC8457058DOI: 10.1111/evj.13477Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study discusses Equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H), a recently discovered virus that affects horses’ liver and is a probable cause of a severe disease known as Theiler’s disease. The virus has been found in horses affected by this disease and has been spread through tainted equine-origin biological products or possibly through other methods still under investigation.

Introduction to Equine Parvovirus Hepatitis (EqPV-H)

  • EqPV-H is a newly identified virus that affects horses, first described in 2018. It was discovered in a fatal case of Theiler’s disease that occurred after a horse received an equine-origin biological product.
  • The virus has frequently been found in the serum and liver tissue of horses affected by Theiler’s disease, which is an acute, severe type of hepatitis, characterized by fulminant hepatic necrosis.
  • EqPV-H is hepatotropic, meaning it specifically targets the liver, and is thought to be responsible for both subclinical and severe forms of hepatitis in horses.
  • The virus is now widely accepted as a likely cause of Theiler’s disease.

Transmission of EqPV-H

  • While the disease is most commonly reported following the administration of equine-origin biological products, it can also occur among horses that are kept in close contact.
  • The virus may be transmitted horizontally, either through iatrogenic means (i.e., it is accidentally introduced into the horse as a result of medical procedures), via contaminated equine-origin biological products – such as equine serum, botulism or tetanus antitoxin, and mesenchymal stem cells, or through ingestion of the virus.
  • Other potential methods of horizontal transmission, such as through arthropod vectors (disease-carrying insects), are currently under review.

Impact and Diagnosis of EqPV-H

  • EqPV-H infection has been reported worldwide in horses showing no symptoms.
  • Severely ill horses infested with EqPV-H have presented clinical symptoms including jaundice (icterus), sleepiness (lethargy), loss of appetite (inappetence), and neurological abnormalities, and have exhibited unusually high liver-related biochemical parameters.
  • The most frequent abnormalities observed in the liver tissue of EqPV-H-positive horses include necrosis, collapse of the lobular architecture, and infiltration of the liver by lymphocytes.

Significance of the Study

  • Most horses that have been intentionally infected in experimental conditions have developed a form of hepatitis that doesn’t show any symptoms.
  • There’s been a noted close temporal correlation between peak viremia (presence of virus in the blood), seroconversion (the time period during which a specific antibody develops and becomes detectable in the blood), and the onset of hepatitis.
  • Veterinarians are advised to consider EqPV-H in differential diagnoses for liver diseases in horses due to substantial evidence suggesting that EqPV-H leads to hepatitis in horses.
  • The study emphasizes the risks associated with administering equine-origin biological products and the need for improved monitoring and regulation of these products.

Cite This Article

APA
Ramsauer AS, Badenhorst M, Cavalleri JV. (2021). Equine parvovirus hepatitis. Equine Vet J, 53(5), 886-894. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13477

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 5
Pages: 886-894

Researcher Affiliations

Ramsauer, Anna Sophie
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University Equine Clinic - Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Badenhorst, Marcha
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University Equine Clinic - Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Cavalleri, Jessika-M V
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University Equine Clinic - Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Hepatitis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Parvovirus

Conflict of Interest Statement

No competing interests have been declared.

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