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Veterinary record open2015; 2(1); e000074; doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000074

Freedom from equine infectious anaemia virus infection in Spanish Purebred horses.

Abstract: No cases of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) have been reported in Spain since 1983. Factors that could increase the risk of reintroducing equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) into Spain include the recent occurrence of the disease in Europe and the absence of compulsory serological testing before importation into Spain. Objective: Given the importance of the Spanish Purebred (SP) horse breeding industry in Spain, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to provide evidence of freedom from EIAV in SP stud farms in Central Spain. Methods: Serum samples from 555 SP horses, collected between September 2011 and November 2013, were tested using a commercially available EIAV ELISA with a published sensitivity of 100 per cent. Results: All 555 samples were negative for antibody to EIAV, providing evidence of a true EIAV seroprevalence between 0 per cent and 0.53 per cent (95% CIs of the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA technique used Q10 were 100 per cent and 99.3 per cent, respectively) among the SP breeding population in Central Spain. Conclusions: These findings should serve to increase confidence when exporting SP horses to other countries.
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Publication Date: 2015-02-07 PubMed ID: 26392894PubMed Central: PMC4567151DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000074Google 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.

This research paper investigates the prevalence of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) among Spanish Purebred (SP) horses in central Spain. The study, done from 2011 to 2013, found that none of the horses tested were carriers of the virus, a significant result considering that no compulsory testing is required for importing horses into Spain.

Objectives and Methods

  • The primary purpose of the research was to demonstrate the absence of EIAV in SP stud farms. This is in light of certain factors that could potentially introduce the virus to the horse community in Spain, such as the recent EIAV outbreaks in Europe and the lack of mandatory serological testing for importing horses. The continual freedom from EIAV would be beneficial for the horse breeding industry in Spain, particularly for Spanish Purebred horses.
  • The study utilized serum samples from 555 SP horses collected over a two-year period. To detect the presence of EIAV, these samples were tested using an EIAV ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test that has a sensitivity rating of 100 percent.

Results

  • All of the 555 serum samples tested negative for EIAV antibodies. This implies a true seroprevalence between 0 percent and 0.53 percent, suggesting that EIAV is practically non-existent among the SP horse population in central Spain.
  • Statistical confidence intervals for the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA technique used were found to be 100 percent and 99.3 percent, respectively. This indicates high reliability in the results of the study.

Conclusion

  • The findings of the study corroborate Spain’s continued EIAV-free status since 1983, providing confidence that SP horses from central Spain are safe for export without posing a risk of EIAV transmission.

Cite This Article

APA
Cruz F, Fores P, Ireland J, Moreno MA, Newton R. (2015). Freedom from equine infectious anaemia virus infection in Spanish Purebred horses. Vet Rec Open, 2(1), e000074. https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2014-000074

Publication

Veterinary record open
ISSN: 2052-6113
NlmUniqueID: 101653671
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Pages: e000074
PII: e000074

Researcher Affiliations

Cruz, Fatima
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria , Universidad Complutense , Madrid , Spain.
Fores, Paloma
  • Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria , Universidad Complutense , Madrid , Spain.
Ireland, Joanne
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust , Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk , UK.
Moreno, Miguel A
  • Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense , Madrid , Spain ; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria , Universidad Complutense , Madrid , Spain.
Newton, Richard
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust , Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk , UK.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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