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BMC veterinary research2021; 17(1); 168; doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02849-2

Identification and genetic characterization of equine infectious anemia virus in Western Balkans.

Abstract: Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease, caused by the Equine Infectious Anemia virus (EIAV) belonging to the Retroviridae family, genus Lentivirus. Horses (or equids) infected with EIAV are lifelong carriers and they remain contagious for other horses even in the absence of clinical signs. So far, EIAV infection has been reported among horses in North and South America, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary and Romania, with no publication regarding the presence of EIAV in horses in Serbia. To determine the circulation of EIAV among, approximately, the 5000 horses of the Vojvodina region, northern part of Serbia, 316 serum undergone serological testing for EIA. Then, identification and full genome sequencing using next generation sequencing was performed from one EIA positive horse. Results: the 316 sera were tested with 3 different commercial agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests and two different commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With the three AGID kits, 311 (98.4%) among the 316 tested sera were negative and only five (1.6%) sera were positive for EIA. Some discrepancies were seen for the two ELISA kits tested since one exhibited the same results as AGID test and the second gave 295 sera with negative results, five with a positive result and 16 with doubtful outcome. Phylogenetic analysis performed using the full genome sequence showed that EIAV characterized from a horse in Serbia is different from those identify so fare around the world and form a distinct and separate group together with another EIAV strain. Conclusions: This study demonstrate for the first time that EIAV is circulating at a low level in the horse population from the Northern part of Serbia. Interestingly, phylogenetic data indicates that this EIAV from the western Balkan region of Europe belongs to a new cluster.
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Publication Date: 2021-04-15 PubMed ID: 33858420PubMed Central: PMC8051041DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02849-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research aimed to determine the circulation of the Equine Infectious Anemia virus (EIAV) in the horse population in Vojvodina, Serbia. The study identified the presence of EIAV in this region’s horses and genetically characterized the virus, showing it differed from other known EIAV strains.

Overview of the Research Methodology

  • The study involved about 5000 horses in the northern part of Serbia, Vojvodina region. From these, 316 serum samples were selected for serological testing for EIA.
  • The samples were subjected to three different commercial Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) tests and two commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA).
  • After the serological testing, a full genome sequencing was performed using Next Generation Sequencing on one EIA positive horse.

Research Findings

  • Out of the 316 serum samples tested, five (1.6%) tested positive for EIA using the AGID kits while the rest (98.4%) were negative.
  • The ELISA kits showed discrepancies. One kit exhibited the same results as the AGID tests, while the second kit showed 295 negative results, five positive results, and 16 doubtful results.
  • The phylogenetic analysis showed that the EIAV strain from a horse in Serbia differed from other known EIAV strains. It also formed a distinct and separate group with another EIAV strain.

Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that for the first time, EIAV is shown to circulate at a low level in the horse population of the northern part of Serbia.
  • They also highlighted that the EIAV from the Western Balkan region of Europe, including the strain from Serbia, belongs to a new cluster, suggesting its genetic uniqueness compared to other EIAV strains identified globally.

This work provides an essential foundation for further studies on EIAV in Serbia and the broader Western Balkan region. It also raises awareness of the existence of the new EIAV strain and its possible implications in the transmission mechanism of the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
(2021). Identification and genetic characterization of equine infectious anemia virus in Western Balkans. BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 168. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02849-2

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 168
PII: 168

Researcher Affiliations

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Equine Infectious Anemia / epidemiology
  • Equine Infectious Anemia / virology
  • Genome, Viral
  • Horses
  • Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / classification
  • Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / genetics
  • Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / isolation & purification
  • Phylogeny
  • Serbia / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be considered as a potential conflict of interest.

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