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Transboundary and emerging diseases2021; 69(5); 2735-2746; doi: 10.1111/tbed.14425

First report of equine parvovirus-hepatitis and equine hepacivirus coinfection in horses in Korea.

Abstract: Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV) are etiologically associated with Theiler's disease (TD), causing fulminant equine hepatitis, but the transmission route and co-infection effect remain unclear. We determined EqPV-H and EqHV prevalence and coinfection rate in 160 serum and 114 faecal samples using nested polymerase chain reaction. Amino acid and nucleotide analyses were performed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. By measuring liver-specific parameters (AST, GGT, TBIL and A/G ratio), hepatopathological changes in viremia status were compared. We found a high prevalence (EqPV-H: 10.6% in serum, 5.3% in faeces; EqHV: 8.1% in serum) and coinfection rate (35.3% in EqPV-H) of TD-causing agents. The newly identified EqPV-H genomes showed high nucleotide and amino acid similarities with previously reported strains in the USA, China and Austria. In phylogenetic tree and recombination analysis, a natural recombination event was confirmed between Chinese and Korean strains. In the EqPV-H or EqHV viremic horses, AST was significantly elevated and at least two liver-specific parameters were outside the reference intervals in 43.5% (10/23) of horses. To our knowledge, this is the first prevalence field study of EqPV-H and EqHV using both serum and faeces, providing further evidence of faecal-oral transmission of TD. These epidemiologic and clinicopathologic analyses specify the risk factors of TD infection and promote disease prevention strategy.
© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2021-12-30 PubMed ID: 34919324DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14425Google 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 reported cases of a concomitant equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) and equine hepacivirus (EqHV) infection in horses in South Korea. The study also highlights the prevalence of these infections and the effect they have on liver function.

Research Method and Overview

  • The researchers sought to determine the prevalence and co-infection rate of EqPV-H and EqHV. They conducted tests on 160 serum samples and 114 faecal samples collected from horses.
  • Nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of these viruses.
  • Further, amino acid and nucleotide analyses were performed on these samples, and phylogenetic trees were constructed to study evolutionary relationships.
  • The researchers also aimed to compare changes in liver function by measuring liver-specific parameters such as aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL) and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio.

Findings and Implications

  • The research found a high prevalence of EqPV-H (10.6% in serum and 5.3% in faeces) and EqHV (8.1% in serum). The rate of co-infection was also high, with 35.3% of EqPV-H cases also reporting EqHV infection.
  • The newly identified EqPV-H genomes showed high similarities with those previously reported in USA, China, and Austria. This suggests a wide distribution of similar strains of the virus.
  • The study also found that a natural recombination event had occurred between the viral strains from China and Korea. This serves as evidence of geographic exchange of viral variants.
  • Further, it was observed in EqPV-H or EqHV viremic horses, the levels of AST (an enzyme indicating liver damage), were significantly elevated and at least two liver-specific parameters were outside the normal reference intervals in 43.5% of the horses.
  • In conclusion, this paper presents the first study of prevalence using both serum and faeces for EqPV-H and EqHV, further supporting the potential faecal-oral transmission route of Theiler’s disease (TD). The findings contribute to the understanding of these infections’ epidemiology and provide valuable input for disease prevention strategies.

Cite This Article

APA
Yoon J, Park T, Kim A, Song H, Park BJ, Ahn HS, Go HJ, Kim DH, Lee JB, Park SY, Song CS, Lee SW, Choi IS. (2021). First report of equine parvovirus-hepatitis and equine hepacivirus coinfection in horses in Korea. Transbound Emerg Dis, 69(5), 2735-2746. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14425

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 69
Issue: 5
Pages: 2735-2746

Researcher Affiliations

Yoon, Jungho
  • Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea.
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Park, Taemook
  • Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea.
Kim, Ahram
  • Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea.
Song, Heeeun
  • Equine Clinic, Jeju Stud Farm, Korea Racing Authority, Jeju, Korea.
Park, Byung-Joo
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Ahn, Hee-Seop
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Go, Hyeon-Jeong
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Kim, Dong-Hwi
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Lee, Joong-Bok
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Park, Seung-Yong
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Song, Chang-Seon
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Lee, Sang-Won
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Choi, In-Soo
  • Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Korea.

MeSH Terms

  • Amino Acids
  • Animals
  • Coinfection / epidemiology
  • Coinfection / veterinary
  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Nucleotides
  • Parvoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Parvovirinae
  • Parvovirus / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Viremia / epidemiology
  • Viremia / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • 2021-A019-0300 / Konkuk University Researcher

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This article has been cited 11 times.
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