Equine viral arteritis.
Abstract: Equine viral arteritis (EVA) can cause prominent economic losses for the equine industry. The purpose of this review is to provide the pathologist some familiarity with the clinical history, lesions, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of EVA. EVA is caused by an arterivirus (equine arteritis virus, EAV), and the vascular system is the principal but not unique viral target. EVA has variable presentations, including interstitial pneumonia, panvasculitis with edema, thrombosis and hemorrhage, lymphoid necrosis, renal tubular necrosis, abortion, and inflammation of male accessory genital glands. EAV antigen (EAVAg) can be demonstrated within the cytoplasm of epithelial cells such as alveolar pneumocytes, enterocytes, adrenal cortical cells, trophoblasts, thymus stroma, renal tubular cells, and male accessory genital gland cells. It can be also demonstrated within endothelia, in vascular, myometrial, and cardiac myocytes, macrophages, dendritelike cells of lymphoid organs, and chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells. In young and adult horses, following colonization of macrophages, the virus spreads systemically using circulating monocytes and enters the endothelium and tunica media of blood vessels, histiocytes, and dendritelike cells. Eventually, the virus multiplies within renal tubular cells. Lesions are uncommon in the aborted fetus; if present, they are mild, and EAVAg is frequently not detectable within fetal tissues and placenta. The clinical presentation and lesions of EVA may resemble those of other diseases. Complete pathologic examination associated with immunohistochemistry, virus isolation, and, especially in cases of abortion, serology will guarantee a directed and accurate diagnosis.
Publication Date: 2000-07-15 PubMed ID: 10896389DOI: 10.1354/vp.37-4-287Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a virus that affects horses and was recently isolated in Germany, even in the absence of acute clinical symptoms. The increase of this virus occurred despite a lack of clear symptoms and was identified through a series of serological and virological tests.
Findings on Equine Viral Arteritis
In the research, Equine viral arteritis (EVA) was identified to be caused by the equine arteritis virus which is a member of the genus arterivirus within the family of Togaviridae. It was isolated from the seminal plasma of two stallions indicating that the virus infection is prevalent in the Federal Republic of Germany. Despite the horses not showing any acute clinical symptoms, the virus was found to be present:
- The findings were supported by data from serological screenings, where 28 out of 739 horse sera were found to have EVA virus-specific antibodies with titers greater than or equal to 4.
- The researchers noted that the percentage of horses that were seropositive increased from 1.8% in 1987-1988 to 6.8% in 1989, suggesting a significant increase of the virus.
Recommendation and Future Prevention
The article proposes a voluntary prophylactic programme based on virological and serological tests in order to prevent the further spread of the EVA virus infection.
- This intervention involves tracking the presence of the virus and the response of the horses’ immune system to it, and then using the data to devise preventive methods.
Pathogenesis, Clinical Symptoms, and Diagnosis of EVA
The research also reviews the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms and diagnosis of EVA.
- Pathogenesis refers to the biological mechanism that leads to a diseased state. In this case, how the equine arteritis virus leads to EVA.
- The clinical symptoms would refer to the signs of the disease as observable in the horse population.
- The diagnosis involves the means and methods used to identify the presence of the virus in the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Del Piero F.
(2000).
Equine viral arteritis.
Vet Pathol, 37(4), 287-296.
https://doi.org/10.1354/vp.37-4-287 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square 19348-1692, USA. fdp@vet.upenn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arterivirus Infections / economics
- Arterivirus Infections / pathology
- Arterivirus Infections / veterinary
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Equartevirus
- Horse Diseases / economics
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Male
References
This article includes 61 references
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