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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec / First recorded outbreak of equine viral arteritis in the Uni...
The Veterinary record1995; 136(15); 381-385; doi: 10.1136/vr.136.15.381

First recorded outbreak of equine viral arteritis in the United Kingdom.

Abstract: Equine viral arteritis was diagnosed for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1993. The outbreak began on a non-thoroughbred stud in south Nottinghamshire and spread to five other premises through chilled semen used for artificial insemination and from acutely and subclinically infected mares returning home. The outbreak was contained on these six premises by means of voluntary movement restrictions. The most commonly observed clinical signs were typical: pyrexia with depression, and conjunctivitis with periorbital oedema; nasal discharge, and oedema of the distal limbs, prepuce and mammary glands were less common. The first mare to be covered by a recently imported stallion was the first animal to be affected. The mare was resident and no new mares had arrived on the stud during the previous five months. About 100 animals became infected during the outbreak, including three indigenous stallions. Equine arteritis virus was isolated from semen and heparinised blood samples and seroconversions were demonstrated by using the equine arteritis virus neutralisation test. Although the outbreak was contained, the free movement of animals within the European Union increases the possibility of infected stallions being introduced into the UK.
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Publication Date: 1995-04-15 PubMed ID: 7604517DOI: 10.1136/vr.136.15.381Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article discusses the first known outbreak of equine viral arteritis (EVA) in the UK, which occurred in 1993. The disease spread to several other locations via chilled semen used for artificial insemination and infected mares returning home.

Outbreak Origin and Spread

  • The source of the EVA outbreak was a non-thoroughbred stud farm in south Nottinghamshire.
  • The virus spread to five additional locations from this original site. The methods of transmission included chilled semen used for artificial insemination and by mares that had been infected either acutely or without apparent symptoms (subclinically), which were then transported to their home locations.
  • The outbreak was successfully contained within these six premises through the application of voluntary movement restrictions.

Clinical Signs and Diagnosis

  • The most commonly observed symptoms of the virus in the horses were typical of EVA. These symptoms included fever with depression, and conjunctivitis with swelling around the eyes (periorbital oedema). Less common symptoms were a nasal discharge, and swelling of the distal limbs, prepuce, and mammary glands.
  • The first mare to be covered by a recently imported stallion was the first to show symptoms. This mare was a resident of the stud farm and no new mares had been introduced onto the premises for the preceding five months.
  • The equine arteritis virus was confirmed as the cause of the outbreak by isolating it from semen and heparinised blood samples. The neutralising antibodies generated in response to the virus (seroconversions) were identified using the equine arteritis virus neutralisation test.
  • Approximately 100 horses became infected during this outbreak, including three local stallions.

Implications for Future Outbreaks

  • Although the outbreak was successfully controlled, the unrestricted movement of horses within the European Union could increase the risk of EVA-infected stallions being introduced into the UK, leading to future outbreaks.

Cite This Article

APA
Wood JL, Chirnside ED, Mumford JA, Higgins AJ. (1995). First recorded outbreak of equine viral arteritis in the United Kingdom. Vet Rec, 136(15), 381-385. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.136.15.381

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 0042-4900
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 136
Issue: 15
Pages: 381-385

Researcher Affiliations

Wood, J L
  • Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk.
Chirnside, E D
    Mumford, J A
      Higgins, A J

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Arterivirus Infections / epidemiology
        • Arterivirus Infections / veterinary
        • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
        • Equartevirus / isolation & purification
        • Equartevirus / pathogenicity
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
        • Horse Diseases / virology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Neutralization Tests / veterinary
        • Semen / virology
        • United Kingdom / epidemiology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 7 times.
        1. Bhat S, Karunakaran S, Frossard JP, Choudhury B, Steinbach F. Genetic characterization of equine arteritis virus associated with outbreaks in the UK, 2019. J Gen Virol 2025 Dec;106(12).
          doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002181pubmed: 41334982google scholar: lookup
        2. Moyo NA, Westcott D, Simmonds R, Steinbach F. Equine Arteritis Virus in Monocytic Cells Suppresses Differentiation and Function of Dendritic Cells. Viruses 2023 Jan 16;15(1).
          doi: 10.3390/v15010255pubmed: 36680295google scholar: lookup
        3. Steinbach F, Westcott DG, McGowan SL, Grierson SS, Frossard JP, Choudhury B. Re-emergence of a genetic outlier strain of equine arteritis virus: Impact on phylogeny. Virus Res 2015 Apr 16;202:144-50.
          doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.12.009pubmed: 25527462google scholar: lookup
        4. Glaser AL, Chirnside ED, Horzinek MC, de Vries AA. Equine arteritis virus. Theriogenology 1997 Apr 15;47(6):1275-95.
          doi: 10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00107-6pubmed: 16728076google scholar: lookup
        5. Castillo-Olivares J, Wieringa R, Bakonyi T, de Vries AA, Davis-Poynter NJ, Rottier PJ. Generation of a candidate live marker vaccine for equine arteritis virus by deletion of the major virus neutralization domain. J Virol 2003 Aug;77(15):8470-80.
          doi: 10.1128/jvi.77.15.8470-8480.2003pubmed: 12857916google scholar: lookup
        6. Paweska JT, Volkmann DH, Barnard BJ, Chirnside ED. Sexual and in-contact transmission of asinine strain of equine arteritis virus among donkeys. J Clin Microbiol 1995 Dec;33(12):3296-9.
          doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.12.3296-3299.1995pubmed: 8586720google scholar: lookup
        7. Chirnside ED, Francis PM, de Vries AA, Sinclair R, Mumford JA. Development and evaluation of an ELISA using recombinant fusion protein to detect the presence of host antibody to equine arteritis virus. J Virol Methods 1995 Jul;54(1):1-13.
          doi: 10.1016/0166-0934(95)00020-upubmed: 7559853google scholar: lookup
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