Equine rhinitis B viruses in horse fecal samples from the Middle East.
Abstract: Among all known picornaviruses, only two species, equine rhinitis A virus and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) are known to infect horses, causing respiratory infections. No reports have described the detection of ERBV in fecal samples of horses and no complete genome sequences of ERBV3 are available. Methods: We performed a molecular epidemiology study to detect ERBVs in horses from Dubai and Hong Kong. Complete genome sequencing of the ERBVs as well as viral loads and genome, phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis were performed on the positive samples. Results: ERBV was detected in four (13.8 %) of the 29 fecal samples in horses from Dubai, with viral loads 8.28 × 10(3) to 5.83 × 10(4) copies per ml, but none of the 47 fecal samples in horses from Hong Kong by RT-PCR. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that three of the four strains were ERBV3 and one was ERBV2. The major difference between the genomes of ERBV3 and those of ERBV1 and ERBV2 lied in the amino acid sequences of their VP1 proteins. The Ka/Ks ratios of all the coding regions in the ERBV3 genomes were all <0.1, suggesting that ERBV3 were stably evolving in horses. Using the uncorrelated lognormal distributed relaxed clock model on VP1 gene, the date of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of ERBV3 was estimated to be 1785 (HPDs, 1176 to 1937) and the MRCA dates of ERBV1 and ERBV2 were estimated to be 1848 (HPDs, 1466 to 1949) respectively. Conclusions: Both acid stable (ERBV3) and acid labile (ERBV2) ERBVs could be found in fecal samples of horses. Detection of ERBVs in fecal samples would have implications for their transmission and potential role in gastrointestinal diseases as well as fecal sampling as an alternative method of identifying infected horses.
Publication Date: 2016-06-07 PubMed ID: 27267372PubMed Central: PMC4897857DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0547-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 research examines the occurrence of equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) in horse fecal samples from Dubai and Hong Kong, providing new insights on the evolution, potential transmission, and peculiar role of ERBV in gastrointestinal diseases in horses.
Research Method
- The research was formulated as a molecular epidemiology study.
- It involved the analysis of 29 fecal samples of horses from Dubai and 47 samples from Hong Kong.
- The researchers conducted complete genome sequencing of the detected ERBVs, followed by measurement of viral loads in the positive samples, as well as genome, phylogenetic, and evolutionary analyses.
Research Findings
- The team discovered ERBV in four (approximately 13.8 %) of the 29 analyzed fecal samples from horses based in Dubai.
- Viral load in these samples ranged from 8.28 × 10(3) to 5.83 × 10(4) copies per ml.
- No ERBV was found in any of the 47 samples from horses in Hong Kong. The detection was facilitated by RT-PCR.
- The complete genome sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis revealed that three out of the four strains were ERBV3 and one was ERBV2.
- The primary difference between the genomes of ERBV3 and ERBV1 and ERBV2 was found in the amino acid sequences of their VP1 proteins.
- The Ka/Ks ratios of all the coding regions in the ERBV3 genomes were all less than 0.1, indicating that ERBV3 was evolving stably in horses.
Temporal Evolution of ERBVs
- Using a specific model known as the uncorrelated lognormal distributed relaxed clock model, the researchers estimated the date of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of ERBV3 to be around the year 1785.
- The MRCA dates of ERBV1 and ERBV2 were estimated to be around the year 1848.
Conclusion and Implications
- Both acid stable (ERBV3) and acid labile (ERBV2) ERBVs are present in the fecal samples of horses.
- The researchers hypothesize that the detection of ERBVs in fecal samples could serve as an indication of their potential transmission and role in gastrointestinal diseases in horses.
- The research further provides a compelling base for fecal sampling as an alternative method for identifying horses infected with ERBVs.
Cite This Article
APA
Woo PC, Lau SK, Choi GK, Huang Y, Wernery R, Joseph S, Wong EY, Elizabeth SK, Patteril NA, Li T, Wernery U, Yuen KY.
(2016).
Equine rhinitis B viruses in horse fecal samples from the Middle East.
Virol J, 13, 94.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-016-0547-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. pcywoo@hku.hk.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. pcywoo@hku.hk.
- Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. pcywoo@hku.hk.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. pcywoo@hku.hk.
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. cvrl@cvrl.ae.
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Erbovirus / classification
- Erbovirus / genetics
- Erbovirus / isolation & purification
- Feces / virology
- Genome, Viral
- Hong Kong / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Middle East / epidemiology
- Molecular Epidemiology
- Picornaviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Picornaviridae Infections / veterinary
- Picornaviridae Infections / virology
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
References
This article includes 56 references
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Stout AE, Hofmar-Glennon HG, André NM, Goodman LB, Anderson RR, Mitchell PK, Thompson BS, Lejeune M, Whittaker GR, Goodrich EL. Infectious disease surveillance of apparently healthy horses at a multi-day show using a novel nanoscale real-time PCR panel.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jan;33(1):80-86.
- Wernery U, Lau SK, Woo PC. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and dromedaries.. Vet J 2017 Feb;220:75-79.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
