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The veterinary quarterly2024; 44(1); 1-6; doi: 10.1080/01652176.2023.2288876

Investigation of the seroprevalence to equine coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in healthy adult horses recently imported to the United States.

Abstract: Adult horses are susceptible to equine coronavirus (ECoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), although, only ECoV has been linked to clinical disease. Little information is available regarding the seroprevalence against ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 in adult healthy horses. The goal of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence against two coronaviruses known to infect horses using convenience samples collected from horses recently imported from Europe to the United States from 2019 to 2023. A total of 385 banked serum samples were tested against ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 using previously validated ELISA assays. Prevalence factors including date of arrival in the United States, signalment and country of origin were available for the majority of the horses. A total of 9/385 (2.3%) and 4/385 (1.0%) horses tested seropositive for ECoV and SARS-CoV-2, respectively. The ECoV seropositive horses were all mares, ages 4 to 26 years (median 9 years) and originated from Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and Italy. These mares were predominantly imported during the summer and fall months. All SARS-CoV-2 seropositive horses were mares ages 5 to 10 years (median 7.5 years) imported from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The majority of the SARS-CoV-2 seropositive horses were imported during the colder months of the year. The study results support the presence of ECoV in Europe and report on the first SARS-CoV-2 seropositive healthy adult horses outside the United States. Commingling for movements by air and close contact to humans may predispose transmission with ECoV and SARS-CoV-2, respectively.
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Publication Date: 2024-03-18 PubMed ID: 38010292PubMed Central: PMC10949836DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2023.2288876Google 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 examines the prevalence of both equine coronavirus (ECoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adult horses that have been recently imported to the United States.

Overview

Adult horses can be infected by both equine coronavirus (ECoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, only ECoV has been associated with clinical disease in these animals. The researchers aimed to determine the prevalence of these infections in healthy adult horses that have been recently imported to the United States from Europe.

Method

  • The study was conducted on serum samples obtained from 385 horses imported from Europe to the United States between 2019 and 2023.
  • All samples were tested for signs of infection by both ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 using already validated ELISA testing.
  • Additional factors such as the horse’s date of arrival in the United States, country of origin, and signalment were considered.

Findings

  • Out of the 385 tested horses, 9 (2.3%) were found to be seropositive for ECoV, and 4 (1.0%) for SARS-CoV-2.
  • The ECoV positive horses were exclusively mares ranging from 4 to 26 years old, and they predominantly originated from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Italy. Most of these mares were imported during summer and fall months.
  • All the SARS-CoV-2 positive horses, similarly, were mares but between 5 to 10 years of age and they were imported from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Majority of these animals were imported during the colder months.

Conclusion

The findings from this study corroborate the presence of ECoV in Europe. It is also the first study to report SARS-CoV-2 in healthy adult horses outside of the United States. The researchers suggest that transmission of these viruses may occur due to close contact with humans and horse commingling during air transport.

Cite This Article

APA
Pusterla N, Lawton K, Barnum S. (2024). Investigation of the seroprevalence to equine coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 in healthy adult horses recently imported to the United States. Vet Q, 44(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2023.2288876

Publication

The veterinary quarterly
ISSN: 1875-5941
NlmUniqueID: 7909485
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 44
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-6

Researcher Affiliations

Pusterla, Nicola
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Lawton, Kaila
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Barnum, Samantha
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Female
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Betacoronavirus 1
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Kouadria W, Poder SL, van Maanen K, Seuberlich T, Dawson KLD, Zientara S, Laabassi F. First serological evidence of equine coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in horses in North Africa. Vet Res Commun 2025 Oct 4;49(6):347.
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  2. Haywood LMB, Sheahan BJ. A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Vet Sci 2024 Oct 7;11(10).
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