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Parasites & vectors2020; 13(1); 596; doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04481-9

Equine seroprevalence of West Nile virus antibodies in the UK in 2019.

Abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a single-stranded RNA virus that can cause neurological disease in both humans and horses. Due to the movement of competent vectors and viraemic hosts, WNV has repeatedly emerged globally and more recently in western Europe. Within the UK, WNV is a notifiable disease in horses, and vaccines against the virus are commercially available. However, there has been no investigation into the seroprevalence of WNV in the UK equine population to determine the extent of vaccination or to provide evidence of recent infection. Methods: Equine serum samples were obtained from the Animal and Plant Health Agency's equine testing service between August and November 2019. A total of 988 serum samples were selected for horses resident in South East England. WNV seroprevalence was determined using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to detect total flavivirus antibodies and WNV-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. Positive IgM results were investigated by contacting the submitting veterinarian to establish the clinical history or evidence of prior vaccination of the horses in question. Results: Within the cohort, 274 samples tested positive for flavivirus antibodies, of which two subsequently tested positive for WNV-specific IgM antibodies. The follow-up investigation established that both horses had been vaccinated prior to serum samples being drawn, which resulted in an IgM-positive response. All the samples that tested positive by competition ELISA were from horses set to be exported to countries where WNV is endemic. Consequently, the positive results were likely due to previous vaccination. In contrast, 714 samples were seronegative, indicating that the majority of the UK equine population may be susceptible to WNV infection. Conclusions: There was no evidence for cryptic WNV infection in a cohort of horses sampled in England in 2019. All IgM-seropositive cases were due to vaccination; this should be noted for future epidemiological surveys in the event of a disease outbreak, as it is not possible to distinguish vaccinated from infected horses without knowledge of their clinical histories.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-26 PubMed ID: 33243297PubMed Central: PMC7690108DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04481-9Google 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.

The research examines the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies in the UK horse population, concluding that the cases with positive results were due to previous vaccination rather than infection and the majority of horses might be susceptible to the virus.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers gathered equine serum samples from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s equine testing service, specifically selecting 988 samples from horses living in South East England. These samples were taken between August and November of 2019.
  • Two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to identify the presence of total flavivirus antibodies and West Nile virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies.
  • If the samples tested positive for IgM antibodies, the research team investigated further by reaching out to the submitting veterinarian for encompassing information about the horse. This information included clinical history and records of prior vaccinations.

Results of the Research

  • A total of 274 samples indicated the presence of flavivirus antibodies. Among these, two samples had positive results for WNV-specific IgM antibodies.
  • Investigation revealed that both horses with IgM positivity had been vaccinated before the samples were taken.
  • Interestingly, all positive results through the competition ELISA were found in horses intended for export to countries with a high prevalence of WNV. The positive results were therefore likely resulting from previous vaccinations rather than infection with the virus.
  • The majority of the samples, 714 out of 988, were found to be seronegative, which interprets the possibility of a large portion of the UK equine population being vulnerable to WNV infection.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The study confirmed no evidence of cryptic (hidden or unnoticed) WNV infection in the sampled UK horses in 2019.
  • It was found that IgM-seropositive cases were entirely due to vaccination, not infection. This provides crucial insights for future epidemiological surveys, especially in the events of disease outbreaks.
  • It also emphasizes the importance of maintaining records of each horse’s vaccination and clinical history for accurate monitoring and disease prevention.
  • Given the majority of the horse population demonstrated a lack of WNV antibodies, the research underscores the potential vulnerability of horses in the UK to WNV infection, which requires continuous monitoring and preventive measures.

Cite This Article

APA
Folly AJ, Waller ESL, McCracken F, McElhinney LM, Roberts H, Johnson N. (2020). Equine seroprevalence of West Nile virus antibodies in the UK in 2019. Parasit Vectors, 13(1), 596. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04481-9

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 596
PII: 596

Researcher Affiliations

Folly, Arran J
  • Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Surrey, UK. arran.folly@apha.gov.uk.
Waller, Elisabeth S L
  • Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Surrey, UK.
McCracken, Fiona
  • Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Surrey, UK.
McElhinney, Lorraine M
  • Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Surrey, UK.
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Roberts, Helen
  • Exotic Disease Control Team, Defra, 17 Smith Square, London, UK.
Johnson, Nicholas
  • Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Surrey, UK.
  • Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • United Kingdom
  • West Nile Fever / blood
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / veterinary
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / genetics
  • West Nile virus / immunology
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

Grant Funding

  • SE0555 / United Kingdom, Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

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