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Journal of the South African Veterinary Association2019; 90; e1-e5; doi: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1736

Failure to detect equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 DNA in placentae and healthy new-born Thoroughbred foals.

Abstract: Equid herpesvirus type 1 is primarily a respiratory tract virus associated with poor athletic performance that can also cause late gestation abortion, neonatal foal death and encephalomyelopathy. Horizontal transmission is well described, whereas evidence of vertical transmission of equid herpesvirus type 1 associated with the birth of a healthy foal has not been demonstrated. This study sampled a population of Thoroughbred mares (n = 71), and their healthy neonatal foals and foetal membranes, to test for the presence of both equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Foetal membrane swabs and tissue samples were taken immediately post-partum, and venous blood samples and nasal swabs were obtained from both mare and foal 8 h after birth. Neither equid herpesvirus type 1 nor equid herpesvirus type 4 nucleic acid was detected in any sample, and it was concluded that there was no active shedding of equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 at the time of sampling. Consequently, no evidence of vertical transmission of these viruses could be found on this stud farm during the sampling period.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-30 PubMed ID: 31170779PubMed Central: PMC6556910DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1736Google 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.

This study investigates whether the equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4, both of which can cause severe respiratory disease and other health issues in horses, can be vertically transmitted from a mare to its healthy newborn foal. The research team found no evidence of active shedding or vertical transmission of these viruses in their sample group of Thoroughbred mares and newborn foals.

Research Context and Objectives

  • This research aimed to examine the possibility of vertical transmission (from mother to offspring) of equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4, particularly in relation to the birth of a healthy foal.
  • Equid herpesvirus type 1 is mainly a respiratory virus which can cause suboptimal athletic performance, possible late-term abortion, neonatal foal death, and neural disorders. Horizontal transmission of this virus has been well-documented, but vertical transmission remains ambiguous.
  • The scientists tested Thoroughbred mares and their healthy neonatal foals, including the foetal membranes, for presence of these viruses through a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. This technique is used to amplify and simultaneously quantify a targeted DNA molecule and is so highly sensitive, it can detect even few copies of the viral DNA.

Methodology and Results

  • Tissue samples and swabs from the foetal membranes were collected promptly after birth, while both mare and foal provided venous blood samples and nasal swabs 8 hours after birth.
  • The collected samples were analyzed, the results showed that neither equid herpesvirus type 1 nor type 4 nucleic acid was detected in any of the samples.
  • The absence of viral DNA in these samples points to a lack of active viral shedding at the time of sampling, which means the animals were not actively infected and spreading the virus.

Conclusions

  • Considering the findings, the study concluded that there was no active shedding or vertical transmission of the two types of herpesviruses on the stud farm during the sampling time.
  • However, it’s important to notice the limited scope of the study and that this does not rule out the possibility that the transmission could occur under different conditions or with a different sample population.

Cite This Article

APA
Brown LJ, Brown G, Kydd J, Stout TAE, Schulman ML. (2019). Failure to detect equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 DNA in placentae and healthy new-born Thoroughbred foals. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 90, e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1736

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 2224-9435
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 90
Pages: e1-e5
PII: 1736

Researcher Affiliations

Brown, Lara J
  • Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria. larajeanbrown@gmail.com.
Brown, Geoff
    Kydd, Julia
      Stout, Tom A E
        Schulman, Martin L

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn / virology
          • Blood / virology
          • Female
          • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
          • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
          • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
          • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
          • Horse Diseases / transmission
          • Horse Diseases / virology
          • Horses
          • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / veterinary
          • Nasal Mucosa / virology
          • Placenta / virology
          • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
          • Pregnancy
          • South Africa / epidemiology

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 2 times.
          1. Li S, Li L, Sun Y, Khan MZ, Yu Y, Ruan L, Chen L, Zhao J, Jia J, Li Y, Wang C, Wang T. Protective Role of Cepharanthine Against Equid Herpesvirus Type 8 Through AMPK and Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Activation. Viruses 2024 Nov 12;16(11).
            doi: 10.3390/v16111765pubmed: 39599879google scholar: lookup
          2. Arroyo LG, Gomez DE, Moore A, Papapetrou M, Lillie BN. Molecular testing for equine herpesviruses 1 (EHV-1) in healthy postpartum broodmares. Can Vet J 2024 Aug;65(8):813-816.
            pubmed: 39091477
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