Herpesvirus-associated neurological disease in a donkey.
Abstract: A 4-year-old donkey was evaluated for progressive neurological abnormalities consisting of depression, stupor, weakness, and recumbency. Diagnostic evaluation for viral involvement identified an asinine herpesvirus in DNA extracted from deep pharyngeal swabs. Specific primers were designed based on comparison with equine herpesviral DNA polymerase sequences and yielded an 875-base pair product from the donkey. This sequence had complete identity with short sequences of asinine herpesvirus previously identified in donkeys with interstitial pneumonia. Amino acid analysis of the entire sequence indicated high similarity with Equid herpesvirus 7 (91%), Zebra herpesvirus 1 (90%), and Equid herpesvirus 2 (89%). With supportive treatment and physical therapy, the donkey gradually recovered over 5 days of hospitalization and returned to normal function. The current case illustrates the potential of a novel asinine herpesvirus to induce neurological disease in donkeys and provides a large viral sequence allowing confident assignment of this virus to the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae.
Publication Date: 2008-11-07 PubMed ID: 18987238DOI: 10.1177/104063870802000620Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- 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.
A donkey showed significant neurological symptoms which were found to be due to a herpesvirus. With treatments, the donkey got better, and the virus’s DNA information helped to classify the virus in the herpesvirus family.
Introduction and Donkey’s Symptoms
- The study talks about a 4-year-old donkey that demonstrated severe neurological symptoms. These symptoms included depression, stupor, weakness, and recumbency, or lying down. The severity of the symptoms led the researchers to conduct a diagnostic evaluation of the animal.
Diagnostic Evaluation and Discovery of Herpesvirus
- Through their evaluation, the researchers found a specific type of herpesvirus, called the asinine herpesvirus, in the donkey’s DNA taken from deep pharyngeal swabs.
- To be specific, researchers identified this virus by designing specific primers that would react with sequences in the viral DNA.
- The primers were designed based on the comparison with equine herpesviral DNA polymerase sequences and produced an 875-base pair segment from the donkey’s virus. This was a strong indication of a herpes virus infection.
Sequence Analysis and Comparison
- The researchers noted that the sequence of the virus was completely identical with short sequences of herpesvirus previously found in donkeys with interstitial pneumonia, another condition with a significant impact on health.
- They also compared the sequence with other herpesviruses found in equines (including zebra), finding high similarities. Specifically, there was 91% similarity with Equid herpesvirus 7, 90% with Zebra herpesvirus 1, and 89% with Equid herpesvirus 2.
Treatment and Recovery of the Donkey
- After being diagnosed, the donkey received supportive treatment and physical therapy. Over a period of 5 days, the donkey gradually recovered and regained its normal functional status.
Contribution to Science
- The successful treatment and recovery of the donkey, along with the DNA sequence identification, highlight the potential of this newly discovered asinine herpesvirus as a cause of neurological diseases in donkeys.
- Furthermore, the researchers assert that the DNA sequence data is significant enough to confidently classify this virus as a member of the sub-family Gammaherpesvirinae, a sub-type of the herpesvirus.
Cite This Article
APA
Vengust M, Wen X, Bienzle D.
(2008).
Herpesvirus-associated neurological disease in a donkey.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 20(6), 820-823.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104063870802000620 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Composition
- Conserved Sequence
- DNA, Viral / chemistry
- DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / chemistry
- DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / genetics
- Equidae
- Female
- Herpesviridae / classification
- Herpesviridae / genetics
- Herpesviridae / isolation & purification
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 3, Equid / classification
- Herpesvirus 3, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 3, Equid / isolation & purification
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Sequence Alignment
- Viral Proteins / chemistry
- Viral Proteins / genetics
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Wang T, Xi C, Yu Y, Liu W, Akhtar MF, Li Y, Wang C, Li L. Characteristics and epidemiological investigation of equid herpesvirus 8 in donkeys in Shandong, China. Arch Virol 2023 Mar 4;168(3):99.
- 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.
- Maboni G, Kelly EJ, Clancy CS, De Luca E, Baldwin TJ, Van Wettere AJ, Kane AJ, Peterson S, Warr VG, Bastian DA, Sanchez S. Detection of asinine gammaherpesviruses in association with pulmonary fibrosis in free-ranging donkeys. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Jan;34(1):167-171.
- Scheurer L, Bachofen C, Hardmeier I, Lechmann J, Schoster A. Prevalence of Nasal Shedding of Equid Gammaherpesviruses in Healthy Swiss Horses. Viruses 2021 Aug 25;13(9).
- Mira F, Canuti M, Di Bella S, Puleio R, Lavazza A, Lelli D, Vicari D, Purpari G, Cannella V, Chiaramonte G, Schirò G, Castronovo C, Guercio A. Detection and Molecular Characterization of Two Gammaherpesviruses from Pantesco Breed Donkeys during an Outbreak of Mild Respiratory Disease. Viruses 2021 Aug 2;13(8).
- Câmara RJF, Bueno BL, Resende CF, Balasuriya UBR, Sakamoto SM, Reis JKPD. Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 25;10(12).
- Jerele S, Davis E, Mapes S, Pusterla N, Navas González FJ, Iglesias Pastrana C, Abdelfattah EM, McLean A. Survey of Serum Amyloid A and Bacterial and Viral Frequency Using qPCR Levels in Recently Captured Feral Donkeys from Death Valley National Park (California). Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 23;10(6).
- Marenzoni ML, Stefanetti V, Danzetta ML, Timoney PJ. Gammaherpesvirus infections in equids: a review. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:91-101.
- LeCuyer TE, Rink A, Bradway DS, Evermann JF, Nicola AV, Baszler T, Haldorson GJ. Abortion in a Mediterranean miniature donkey (Equus asinus) associated with a gammaherpesvirus similar to Equid herpesvirus 7. J Vet Diagn Invest 2015 Nov;27(6):749-53.
- Back H, Kendall A, Grandón R, Ullman K, Treiberg-Berndtsson L, Ståhl K, Pringle J. Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in association with asinine herpesvirus type 5 and equine herpesvirus type 5: a case report. Acta Vet Scand 2012 Sep 25;54(1):57.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
