Equine rotavirus infection.
Abstract: This review briefly describes the virus classification, clinical signs, epidemiology, diagnosis, disinfection, and vaccines related equine group A rotavirus (RVA) infection. Equine RVA is one of the most important pathogens causing diarrhoea in foals. The main transmission route is faecal-oral, and the clinical signs are diarrhoea, fever, lethargy, and anorexia (decreased suckling). Some human RVA rapid antigen detection kits based on the principles of the immunochromatographic assay are useful for the diagnosis of equine RVA infection. The kits are used in daily clinical practice because of their rapidity and ease of handling. Equine RVA is a non-enveloped virus and is more resistant to disinfectants than enveloped viruses such as equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus. Although amphoteric soaps and quaternary ammonium compounds are commonly used in veterinary hygiene, they are generally ineffective against equine RVA. Alcohol products, aldehydes, and chlorine- and iodine-based compounds are effective against equine RVA. Inactivated vaccines have been used for equine RVA infection in some countries. Pregnant mares are intramuscularly inoculated with a vaccine, and thus their colostrum has abundant antibodies against RVA at the time of birth. According to G and P classification defined in accordance with the VP7 and VP4 genes, respectively, the predominant equine RVAs circulating in horse populations globally are G3P[12] and G14P[12] equine RVAs, but the vaccines contain only the G3P[12] equine RVA strain. Ideally, a G14P[12] equine RVA should be added as a vaccine strain to obtain a better vaccine effect.
©2021 The Japanese Society of Equine Science.
Publication Date: 2021-03-16 PubMed ID: 33776534PubMed Central: PMC7984913DOI: 10.1294/jes.32.1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the characteristics, symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, disinfection methods, and vaccines associated with equine group A rotavirus (RVA) infection, highlighting it as a primary causative agents of diarrhea in foals.
Understanding Equine Rotavirus A (RVA)
- The study elaborately discusses equine RVA, a major pathogen that induces diarrhea in young horses or foals. Its primary mode of transmission has been identified as the faecal-oral route.
- Besides diarrhea, the other clinical manifestations of the disease include fever, decreased energy or lethargy, and anorexia or decreased suckling.
Diagnosing Equine RVA and the Role of Human RVA Kits
- Equine RVA infection can effectively be diagnosed using certain human RVA rapid antigen detection kits. These kits work on the principles of immunochromatographic assay. They are particularly appreciated in clinical practice due to their quick results and easy handling.
Disinfection against Equine RVA
- Equine RVA is a non-enveloped virus, making it more resistant to disinfectants compared to enveloped viruses like equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus.
- Common veterinary hygiene substances, such as amphoteric soaps and quaternary ammonium compounds, are reported to be ineffective against equine RVA. On the other hand, alcohol products, aldehydes, as well as chlorine- and iodine-based compounds demonstrate efficacy in combating the virus.
Vaccination for Equine RVA
- The study sheds light on the use of inactivated vaccines in some countries for combating equine RVA infection. Pregnant mares are intramuscularly vaccinated, resulting in colostrum rich in anti-RVA antibodies at the time of birth.
- Equine RVAs predominant in horse populations across the globe are namely G3P[12] and G14P[12], derived based on the G and P classifications defined by the VP7 and VP4 genes, respectively. However, current vaccines contain only the G3P[12] equine RVA strain, and thus, for better vaccination effect, it has been suggested to include the G14P[12] equine RVA strain as an additional vaccine strain.
Cite This Article
APA
Nemoto M, Matsumura T.
(2021).
Equine rotavirus infection.
J Equine Sci, 32(1), 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.32.1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Carossino M, Balasuriya UBR, Thieulent CJ, Barrandeguy ME, Vissani MA, Parreño V. Quadruplex Real-Time TaqMan(®) RT-qPCR Assay for Differentiation of Equine Group A and B Rotaviruses and Identification of Group A G3 and G14 Genotypes. Viruses 2023 Jul 26;15(8).
- Anderson C, Baha H, Boghdeh N, Barrera M, Alem F, Narayanan A. Interactions of Equine Viruses with the Host Kinase Machinery and Implications for One Health and Human Disease. Viruses 2023 May 13;15(5).
- Uprety T, Soni S, Sreenivasan C, Hause BM, Naveed A, Ni S, Graves AJ, Morrow JK, Meade N, Mellits KH, Adam E, Kennedy MA, Wang D, Li F. Genetic and antigenic characterization of two diarrhoeicdominant rotavirus A genotypes G3P[12] and G14P[12] circulating in the global equine population. J Gen Virol 2024 Aug;105(8).
- Carossino M, Vissani MA, Barrandeguy ME, Balasuriya UBR, Parreño V. Equine Rotavirus A under the One Health Lens: Potential Impacts on Public Health. Viruses 2024 Jan 16;16(1).
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