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Home / Equine Research Bank / N Z Vet J / Equine respiratory viruses in foals in New Zealand.
New Zealand veterinary journal2005; 50(4); 140-147; doi: 10.1080/00480169.2002.36300

Equine respiratory viruses in foals in New Zealand.

Abstract: To identify the respiratory viruses that are present among foals in New Zealand and to establish the age at which foals first become infected with these viruses. Methods: Foals were recruited to the study in October/ November 1995 at the age of 1 month (Group A) or in March/ April 1996 at the age of 4-6 months (Groups B and C). Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected at monthly intervals. Nasal swabs and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) harvested from heparinised blood samples were used for virus isolation; serum harvested from whole-blood samples was used for serological testing for the presence of antibodies against equine herpesvirus (EHV)-1 or -4, equine rhinitis-A virus (ERAV), equine rhinitis-B virus (ERBV), equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV-1), equine arteritis virus (EAV), reovirus 3 and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3). Twelve foals were sampled until December 1996; the remaining 19 foals were lost from the study at various times prior to this date. Results: The only viruses isolated were EHV-2 and EHV-5. EHV-2 was isolated from 155/157 PBL samples collected during the period of study and from 40/172 nasal swabs collected from 18 foals. All isolations from nasal swabs, except one, were made over a period of 2-4 months from January to April (Group A), March to April (Group B) or May to July (Group C). EHV-5 was isolated from either PBL, nasal swabs, or both, from 15 foals on 32 occasions. All foals were positive for antibodies to EHV-1 or EHV-4, as tested by serum neutralisation (SN), on at least one sampling occasion and all but one were positive for EHV-1 antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on at least one sampling occasion. Recent EHV-1 infection was evident at least once during the period of study in 18/23 (78%) foals for which at least two samples were collected. SN antibodies to ERBV were evident in 19/23 (83%) foals on at least one sampling occasion and 15/23 foals showed evidence of seroconversion to ERBV. Antibodies to ERAV were only detected in serum samples collected from foals in Group A and probably represented maternally-derived antibodies. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres 1:10 to EAdV-1were evident in 21/23 (91%) foals on at least one sampling occasion and 16/23 foals showed serological evidence of recent EAdV-1 infection. None of the 67 serum samples tested were positive for antibodies to EAV, reovirus 3 or PIV3. There was no clear association between infection with any of the viruses isolated or tested for and the presence of overt clinical signs of respiratory disease. Conclusions: There was serological and/or virological evidence that EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-5, EAdV-1 and ERBV infections were present among foals in New Zealand. EHV-2 infection was first detected in foals as young as 3 months of age. The isolation of EHV-2 from nasal swabs preceded serological evidence of infection with other respiratory viruses, suggesting that EHV-2 may predispose foals to other viral infections.
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Publication Date: 2005-07-21 PubMed ID: 16032260DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2002.36300Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates the respiratory viruses prevalent among foals in New Zealand and the age at which these foals first contract these viruses. The study found Equine herpesvirus (EHV)-1, EHV-2, EHV-5, equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV-1), and equine rhinitis-B virus (ERBV) among the foals with EHV-2 detected as early as 3 months of age.

Research Methodology

  • The study was carried out on foals in October/November 1995 at 1 month of age (Group A), or in March/April 1996 at the age of 4-6 months (Groups B and C).
  • Nasal swabs, blood samples and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) harvested from heparinised blood samples were taken for virus isolation.
  • Serum harvested from whole-blood samples was used for serological testing against various viruses.
  • Twelve foals were observed until December 1996; 19 foals dropped out of the study before this date.

Results

  • The only viruses isolated were EHV-2 and EHV-5, with EHV-2 found in most PBL samples and several nasal swabs collected.
  • Most isolations from nasal swabs occurred over a period of 2-4 months from January to April (Group A), March to April (Group B) or May to July (Group C).
  • All the foals tested positive for antibodies to EHV-1 or EHV-4 on at least one sampling occasion and almost all were positive for EHV-1 antibodies measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on at least one sampling occasion.
  • Most foals showed serological evidence of recent EHV-1 infection. Antibodies to equine rhinitis-A virus (ERAV) were only detected in the foals in Group A and are likely maternally-derived antibodies.
  • Antibodies to EAdV-1 were evident in most foals, and many showed serological evidence of recent EAdV-1 infection.
  • No serum sample tested positive for antibodies to equine arteritis virus (EAV), reovirus 3 or parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3).
  • No clear link was established between the detected viral infection and overt clinical signs of respiratory disease.

Conclusion

  • The study found serological or virological evidence of EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-5, EAdV-1 and ERBV infections among foals in New Zealand.
  • EHV-2 infection was first detected in foals as young as 3 months of age.
  • The isolation of EHV-2 from nasal swabs occurred before serological evidence of infection with other respiratory viruses, suggesting that EHV-2 may predispose foals to other viral infections.

Cite This Article

APA
Dunowska M, Wilks CR, Studdert MJ, Meers J. (2005). Equine respiratory viruses in foals in New Zealand. N Z Vet J, 50(4), 140-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2002.36300

Publication

New Zealand veterinary journal
ISSN: 0048-0169
NlmUniqueID: 0021406
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 4
Pages: 140-147

Researcher Affiliations

Dunowska, M
  • Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. mdunowsk@lamat.colostate.edu
Wilks, C R
    Studdert, M J
      Meers, J

        Citations

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