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Viruses2019; 11(5); doi: 10.3390/v11050461

Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Frequently Detectable in Commercial Equine Serum Pools.

Abstract: An equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has been recently identified in association with equine serum hepatitis, also known as Theiler's disease. This disease was first described by Arnold Theiler in 1918 and is often observed after applications with blood products in equines. So far, the virus has only been described in the USA and China. In this study, we evaluated the presence of EqPV-H in several commercial serum samples to assess the potential risk of virus transmission by equine serum-based products for medical and research applications. In 11 out of 18 commercial serum samples, EqPV-H DNA was detectable with a viral load up to 105 copies/mL. The same serum batches as well as three additional samples were also positive for antibodies against the EqPV-H VP1 protein. The countries of origin with detectable viral genomes included the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, and Germany, suggesting a worldwide distribution of EqPV-H. Phylogenetic analysis of the EqPV-H NS1 sequence in commercial serum samples revealed high similarities in viral sequences from different geographical areas. As horse sera are commonly used for the production of anti-sera, which are included in human and veterinary medical products, these results implicate the requirement for diagnostic tests to prevent EqPV-H transmission.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-21 PubMed ID: 31117220PubMed Central: PMC6563276DOI: 10.3390/v11050461Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), linked to equine serum hepatitis or Theiler’s disease, is now shown to be commonly present in commercial serum samples from different countries, raising concern for the risk of virus transmission through equine serum-based products used in medicine and research.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • The researchers aimed to investigate the prevalence of EqPV-H in commercial equine serum samples and gauge the potential risk of virus transmission through equine serum-based products used in medical and research applications.
  • The team assessed 18 commercial serum samples for viral presence. Utilizing molecular diagnostics, DNA was isolated and amplified to detect the presence of EqPV-H viral DNA. Additionally, the samples were tested for antibodies against the EqPV-H VP1 protein, a demonstration of past infection and immune response. Phylogenetic analysis was also performed on the EqPV-H NS1 sequence to compare genetic similarities among viral sequences from different locations.

Study Findings and Implications

  • EqPV-H DNA was detected in 11 out of 18 commercial serum samples, a high prevalence that suggests wide distribution. The viral load was up to 10 copies/mL, indicating active infection.
  • The same 11 batches along with three more samples tested positive for antibodies against the EqPV-H VP1 protein. This shows that these samples had a previous infection, and an immune response was triggered against the virus.
  • Positive samples originated from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, and Germany, hinting at a global spread of the EqPV-H virus. Phylogenetic analysis further accentuated the high similarities in viral sequences from varied geographical locations, underlining this global distribution.
  • Consequently, these results raise significant concerns for the use of equine sera in medical products for both human and animal use. Given that horse sera are often used in the production of anti-sera, which are included in human medications and veterinary products, there’s a threat of transmitting the EqPV-H virus.
  • The findings from this study emphasize the need for diagnostic tests to reliably detect and prevent EqPV-H transmission in equine serum-based products.

Cite This Article

APA
Meister TL, Tegtmeyer B, Postel A, Cavalleri JV, Todt D, Stang A, Steinmann E. (2019). Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Frequently Detectable in Commercial Equine Serum Pools. Viruses, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/v11050461

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Meister, Toni Luise
  • Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Toni.meister@rub.de.
Tegtmeyer, Birthe
  • Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 30625 Hannover, Germany. birthe.tegtmeyer@twincore.de.
Postel, Alexander
  • University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Institute of Virology, 30559 Hannover, Germany. alexander.postel@tiho-hannover.de.
Cavalleri, Jessika-M V
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria. Jessika.Cavalleri@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Todt, Daniel
  • Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Daniel.todt@rub.de.
Stang, Alexander
  • Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany. Alexander.stang@rub.de.
Steinmann, Eike
  • Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany. eike.steinmann@rub.de.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Flaviviridae / classification
  • Flaviviridae / physiology
  • Genome, Viral
  • Geography, Medical
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / virology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serologic Tests
  • Viral Load
  • Virion

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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