Foetal and neonatal foal losses on equine herpesvirus type 1(EHV-1) infected farms before and after EHV-1 vaccination was introduced.
Abstract: On 6 farms with a history of EHV-1 abortions the overall prevalence of losses due to abortion, stillbirth and neonatal foal mortality during 5 foaling seasons preceding the introduction of vaccination against EHV-1 were compared with corresponding data for 8 subsequent seasons in which all horses were immunized with a modified live EHV-1 vaccine. Although both sporadic and epizootic EHV-1 abortions occurred in immunized mares, the numbers of foetal and neonatal foal losses decreased significantly (chi 2 = 15.75; p less than 0.001) from 11.8% (343 of 2897 pregnancies) during the seasons 1969-1973 to 8.9% (334 of 3763 pregnancies) in the years 1975-1982 during which EHV-1 vaccinations had been carried out.
Publication Date: 1986-01-01 PubMed ID: 2830601
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study investigates the impact of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) vaccinations on the prevalence of horse abortions and deaths on farms with a history of EHV-1 infections. The study found a significant decrease in foetal and neonatal horse deaths following the introduction of EHV-1 vaccinations.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The research sought to analyse the effect of EHV-1 vaccination on the prevalence of foetal and neonatal horse deaths due to abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality. These farms had a history of EHV-1 abortions.
- The farm data before and after the introduction of EHV-1 vaccinations were compared. This comparison covered 5 foaling seasons (1969-1973) before vaccination was introduced and 8 seasons (1975-1982) post-vaccination.
- All horses on the studied farms were immunized with a modified live EHV-1 vaccine after its introduction.
Key Findings
- While the modified live EHV-1 vaccine did not completely prevent EHV-1 abortions, both sporadic and epidemic instances significantly decreased after vaccination.
- The prevalence of foetal and neonatal losses decreased from 11.8% (343 of 2897 pregnancies) in the five seasons before vaccination to 8.9% (334 of 3763 pregnancies) in the eight seasons after vaccination.
- This significant decrease (chi 2 = 15.75; p less than 0.001) indicates the efficacy of the EHV-1 vaccine in reducing the losses caused by the virus.
Implications of Research
- The findings demonstrate the efficacy of the EHV-1 vaccine in reducing foetal and neonatal horse deaths on farms with a history of EHV-1 abortions. This insight can contribute to future reproductive health management strategies for horses and supports the use of EHV-1 vaccinations.
- However, as EHV-1 abortions still occurred following vaccination, it indicates the vaccine’s limitation in providing complete protection against the virus and the need for further research or improved vaccines.
Cite This Article
APA
Frymus T, Kita J, Woyciechowska S, Ganowicz M.
(1986).
Foetal and neonatal foal losses on equine herpesvirus type 1(EHV-1) infected farms before and after EHV-1 vaccination was introduced.
Pol Arch Weter, 26(3-4), 7-14.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw Agricultural University.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / complications
- Herpesviridae Infections / mortality
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Poland
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Roberts HC, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Calvo AV, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Carvelli A, Paillot R, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Baldinelli F, Van der Stede Y. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): infection with Equine Herpesvirus-1. EFSA J 2022 Jan;20(1):e07036.
- Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Rola J. Outbreak of equid herpesvirus 1 abortions at the Arabian stud in Poland. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 6;16(1):374.
- Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Rola J. Prevalence and sequence analysis of equid herpesviruses from the respiratory tract of Polish horses. Virol J 2018 Jul 11;15(1):106.
- Stasiak K, Rola J, Ploszay G, Socha W, Zmudzinski JF. Detection of the neuropathogenic variant of equine herpesvirus 1 associated with abortions in mares in Poland. BMC Vet Res 2015 May 1;11:102.
- Cooper CJ, Arroyo LG, Hammermueller JD, Botts MM, Pearl DL, Wootton SK, Lillie BN. Molecular prevalence of equine alphaherpesvirus-1 shedding in healthy broodmares in Ontario. Can J Vet Res 2026 Jan;90(1):16-24.
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