European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement on equine flaviviridae infections in Europe.
Abstract: Horses and other equids can be infected with several viruses of the family Flaviviridae, belonging to the genus Flavivirus and Hepacivirus. This consensus statement focuses on viruses with known occurrence in Europe, with the objective to summarize the current literature and formulate clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations regarding clinical disease, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The viruses circulating in Europe include West Nile virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Usutu virus, Louping ill virus and the equine hepacivirus. West Nile virus and Usutu virus are mosquito-borne, while tick-borne encephalitis virus and Louping ill virus are tick-borne. The natural route of transmission for equine hepacivirus remains speculative. West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus can induce encephalitis in infected horses. In the British Isle, rare equine cases of encephalitis associated with Louping ill virus are reported. In contrast, equine hepacivirus infections are associated with mild acute hepatitis and possibly chronic hepatitis. Diagnosis of flavivirus infections is made primarily by serology, although cross-reactivity occurs. Virus neutralization testing is considered the gold standard to differentiate between flavivirus infections in horses. Hepacivirus infection is detected by serum or liver RT-PCR. No direct antiviral treatment against flavi- or hepacivirus infections in horses is currently available and thus, treatment is supportive. Three vaccines against West Nile virus are licensed in the European Union. Geographic expansion of flaviviruses pathogenic for equids should always be considered a realistic threat, and it would be beneficial if their detection was included in surveillance programs.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2022-11-11 PubMed ID: 36367340PubMed Central: PMC9708432DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16581Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study is about the infections caused by the family Flaviviridae, more specifically the Flavivirus and Hepacivirus, in horses across Europe. The focus of the research is on the identifying, diagnosing, treating, and preventing such viral infections, with an exploration of West Nile virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Usutu virus, Louping ill virus, and equine hepacivirus.
Viruses Focus of the Study
- Various viruses in the Flaviviridae family, and more specifically, the Flavivirus and Hepacivirus genera, can infect equids, which include horses, donkeys, and zebras.
- The study focuses on viral infections found in Europe – West Nile virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Usutu virus, Louping ill virus, and the equine hepacivirus.
- Among these, West Nile virus and the Usutu virus are spread through mosquitoes, while tick-borne encephalitis virus and Louping ill virus are tick-borne. The transmission method for equine hepacivirus still remains unknown.
Flaviviridae Infections in Equids
- West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, in horses.
- Rare equine cases of encephalitis associated with Louping ill virus are reported in the British Isle.
- On the other hand, infections from the equine hepacivirus are associated with acute and possibly chronic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver.
Diagnostic Tests for Flaviviridae Infections
- Diagnosis of flavivirus infection in horses is primarily made through serology, a diagnostic test of fluids from the body. However, this has issues with cross-reactivity where a test designed to detect one antigen might detect another related antigen instead.
- Virus neutralization testing, a method to measure the ability of a virus to grow in certain conditions, is considered the gold standard to differentiate between flavivirus infections in horses.
- Hepacivirus infection is detected by serum or liver RT-PCR, a precise diagnostic testing method.
Treatment and Prevention of Flaviviridae Infections
- There is currently no direct antiviral treatment for either flavi- or hepacivirus infections in horses, with treatment being limited to supportive measures.
- However, three vaccines against West Nile virus have been approved in the European Union for prevention.
Future Considerations
- The researchers advise that the geographic expansion of flaviviruses harmful to equids should be considered a valid threat.
- They also state that it would be helpful to include the detection of these viruses in surveillance programs aimed at monitoring and controlling animal diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Cavalleri JV, Korbacska-Kutasi O, Leblond A, Paillot R, Pusterla N, Steinmann E, Tomlinson J.
(2022).
European College of Equine Internal Medicine consensus statement on equine flaviviridae infections in Europe.
J Vet Intern Med, 36(6), 1858-1871.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16581 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Department for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences-Szent Istvan University (MTA-SZIE) Large Animal Clinical Research Group, Üllő, Dóra major, Hungary.
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
- School of Equine and Veterinary Physiotherapy, Writtle University College, Chelmsford, UK.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Europe / epidemiology
- Flavivirus
- West Nile virus
- Encephalitis / veterinary
- Horses
- Flavivirus Infections / diagnosis
- Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
- Flavivirus Infections / prevention & control
- Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
- Animals
- Flaviviridae Infections / veterinary
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
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