Equine viral arteritis control scheme: a brief review with emphasis on laboratory aspects of the scheme in New Zealand.

The research article reviews the laboratory aspects of the control scheme for equine viral arteritis (EVA) in New Zealand from 1989 to 2002, pointing out a significant decrease in antibody prevalence and suggesting a possible eradication of the disease in the near future.

Methods

• The researchers evaluated the optimization and performance of the virus neutralisation test (VNT) for detecting equine arteritis virus (EAV) antibodies.
• They used the cell culture test to identify EAV in horse semen.
• In addition to these lab methodologies, they conducted an extensive review of the laboratory data and results of the control scheme implemented.

Results

• The results showed a steady decrease in the prevalence of EAV antibodies in Standardbred horses, from 54% to less than 20%.
• In Thoroughbred horses, the EAV antibody prevalence remained low, at around 3% throughout the time frame of the study.
• Furthermore, the number of horses shedding the EAV, all of which were Standardbreds, decreased from a high of 20 to just three horses.

Conclusions

• Based on the results achieved through the intently optimized tests and the control scheme implementation, the authors concluded that the eradication of EVA from the New Zealand horse population is a feasible goal in the near future.
• This signals a substantial advance in the control and prevention of this disease, having potentially wide-ranging positive impacts on equine health and the equestrian industry in general.