Equine viral arteritis: further characterization of the carrier state in stallions.
Abstract: Further characterization of the carrier state in stallions infected with equine arteritis virus revealed that there is considerable variation in the frequency of its occurrence among breeds. The frequency ranged from 12.5% (Holsteiner stallions) to 72.7% (Dutch Warmblood stallions), with a mean occurrence of 40.8% in the seropositive stallions (n=561) examined. More than 70% of the virus shedders were Standardbred stallions. The carrier state was not confirmed in any of the stallions that had been vaccinated against equine viral arteritis nor was there any evidence of intermittent virus shedding by carrier stallions. Most (98.2%) of the semen isolates of equine arteritis virus were obtained on first passage in RK-13 cell culture and most of the samples had very high virus infectivity titres. Intermediate term (3.5-7.0 months) and long-term (> or =1 year) carrier states were confirmed in various horse breeds. Long-term persistence of equine arteritis virus in individual stallions was common, and some animals continued to shed the virus in semen for 4-12 years. Spontaneous clearance of the carrier state was observed in 27 stallions after periods ranging from several months to many years. There was a considerable difference in the rate of clearance of the carrier state between Standardbred (4.3%) and Thoroughbred (42.3%) stallions. Reduction and eventual elimination of the carrier stallion reservoir of equine arteritis virus is the key to the success of any control programme for this disease.
Publication Date: 2000-01-01 PubMed ID: 20681110
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the nature and occurrence of equine viral arteritis among different breeds of stallions. With frequencies varying across breeds, the study concludes the importance of eliminating the carrier state in controlling the disease.
Investigation into the Carrier State of Equine Viral Arteritis
- The research places a particular emphasis on equine arteritis virus (EAV), a disease common in horses, and aims to further understand the carrier state within stallions of different breeds.
- The stallions included in the study were infected with EAV to better understand the prevalence and peculiarity of the disease among various breeds.
- The occurrence of the carrier state varied significantly with the breed, with frequencies ranging from 12.5% in Holsteiner stallions to 72.7% in Dutch Warmblood stallions and an average occurrence of 40.8% in seropositive stallions.
- Interestingly, over 70% of the stallions shedding the virus were Standardbred.
Further Observations in the Study
- The researchers found no evidence of the carrier state in stallions that had been vaccinated against EAV, nor was there any evidence of the virus being shed intermittently by carrier horses.
- Most of the equine arteritis virus isolates were obtained from the first passage in the RK-13 cell culture, presenting high virus infectivity.
- The carrier state persisted both in the intermediate term (3.5-7.0 months) and in the long term (≥1 year) across different stallion breeds.
- The virus was found to persist in individual stallions for a long duration, with some animals continuing to shed the virus through their semen for 4-12 years.
Spontaneous Clearance of the Carrier State
- The study also brings to light the phenomena of spontaneous clearance of the carrier state in certain stallions after various periods stretching from several months to many years.
- A noteworthy difference was observed in the clearance rates between Standardbred (4.3%) and Thoroughbred (42.3%) stallions.
Importance of this Research
- The findings of this research shed critical light on the persistence of equine viral arteritis in various bred stallions.
- Understanding the mechanics of the carrier state, shedding frequencies, and clearance rates is integral in developing an effective disease control program.
- To successfully control the disease, the reduction and complete elimination of the carrier stallion reservoir of equine arteritis virus is crucial.
Cite This Article
APA
Timoney PJ, McCollum WH.
(2000).
Equine viral arteritis: further characterization of the carrier state in stallions.
J Reprod Fertil Suppl(56), 3-11.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Kentucky, Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arterivirus Infections / epidemiology
- Arterivirus Infections / prevention & control
- Arterivirus Infections / transmission
- Arterivirus Infections / veterinary
- Carrier State
- Equartevirus
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Male
- Semen / virology
- Viral Vaccines / immunology
- Virus Shedding
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Carossino M, Dini P, Kalbfleisch TS, Loynachan AT, Canisso IF, Cook RF, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UBR. Equine arteritis virus long-term persistence is orchestrated by CD8+ T lymphocyte transcription factors, inhibitory receptors, and the CXCL16/CXCR6 axis. PLoS Pathog 2019 Jul;15(7):e1007950.
- Nam B, Mekuria Z, Carossino M, Li G, Zheng Y, Zhang J, Cook RF, Shuck KM, Campos JR, Squires EL, Troedsson MHT, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UBR. Intrahost Selection Pressure Drives Equine Arteritis Virus Evolution during Persistent Infection in the Stallion Reproductive Tract. J Virol 2019 Jun 15;93(12).
- Carossino M, Dini P, Kalbfleisch TS, Loynachan AT, Canisso IF, Shuck KM, Timoney PJ, Cook RF, Balasuriya UBR. Downregulation of MicroRNA eca-mir-128 in Seminal Exosomes and Enhanced Expression of CXCL16 in the Stallion Reproductive Tract Are Associated with Long-Term Persistence of Equine Arteritis Virus. J Virol 2018 May 1;92(9).
- Lazić S, Lupulović D, Gaudaire D, Petrovic T, Lazić G, Hans A. Serological evidence of equine arteritis virus infection and phylogenetic analysis of viral isolates in semen of stallions from Serbia. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 7;13(1):316.
- Carossino M, Wagner B, Loynachan AT, Cook RF, Canisso IF, Chelvarajan L, Edwards CL, Nam B, Timoney JF, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UBR. Equine Arteritis Virus Elicits a Mucosal Antibody Response in the Reproductive Tract of Persistently Infected Stallions. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2017 Oct;24(10).
- Carossino M, Loynachan AT, Canisso IF, Cook RF, Campos JR, Nam B, Go YY, Squires EL, Troedsson MHT, Swerczek T, Del Piero F, Bailey E, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UBR. Equine Arteritis Virus Has Specific Tropism for Stromal Cells and CD8(+) T and CD21(+) B Lymphocytes but Not for Glandular Epithelium at the Primary Site of Persistent Infection in the Stallion Reproductive Tract. J Virol 2017 Jul 1;91(13).
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