FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary pathology1997; 34(4); 312-322; doi: 10.1177/030098589703400407

Lesions of experimental equine morbillivirus pneumonia in horses.

Abstract: Laboratory examinations of equine morbillivirus included experimental reproductions of the disease caused by the virus by transmission of mixed lung and spleen taken from two field equine cases into two horses and by inoculating tissue culture virus into a further two horses. The most distinctive gross lesions of the diseases that developed in three of the horses was that of pulmonary edema characterized by gelatinous distension of subpleural lymphatics. Histologically, the lesions in the lungs were those of serofibrinous alveolar edema, alveolar macrophages, hemorrhage, thrombosis of capillaries, and syncytial cells. Clearly defined vascular lesions in three horses that became clinically affected within 8 days of inoculation of virus included intramural hemorrhage, edema, and necrosis and syncytial cells in the endothelium of pulmonary vessels (approximately 40-70 microm in diameter). Vascular lesions accompanied by parenchymal degeneration were also seen in the heart, kidney, brain, spleen, lymph node, and stomach. A fourth horse, which survived for 12 days, had detectable lesions only in the lungs, which were more chronic than those in the other three horses, a greater degree of cellular infiltration, and fewer well-defined vascular lesions. Sections stained by an indirect immunocytochemical method showed equine morbillivirus antigen was present in the vascular lesions and along alveolar walls. When endothelial cells were examined by electron microscope, cytoplasmic virus inclusion bodies containing filamentous structures were seen that reacted to an immunogold test to equine morbillivirus antigen. The presence of the syncytia in the small blood vessels in the lungs and other organs was interpreted as an important characteristic of the disease and consistent with a reaction to a morbillivirus.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1997-07-01 PubMed ID: 9240840DOI: 10.1177/030098589703400407Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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.

The study examines the characteristics of the lesions caused by the equine morbillivirus in horses, specifically the distinct features visible in the lungs and other organs of affected animals. The findings provide important insights about the development and severity of the disease over time.

Methods and Procedures

  • The researchers recreated the equine morbillivirus disease under controlled laboratory conditions using tissue samples (mixed lung and spleen) from horses that were naturally affected by the virus.
  • The disease was transmitted into two healthy horses for observation, and virus sampled from tissue culture was inoculated into two more horses.

Findings: Lesions and Disease Symptoms

  • Three of the four horses developed severe symptoms of the disease within 8 days of virus inoculation.
  • The horses displayed prominent gross lesions, particularly pulmonary edema, manifested as gelatinous swelling of the lymphatic network found beneath the lung surface.
  • At a microscopic level, the lung lesions were characterized by alveolar edema (fluid leakage into the air sacs), immune cells (macrophages), bleeding (hemorrhage), blood clot formation (thrombosis) in capillaries, and formation of multinucleated giant cells (syncytia).
  • Vascular damage was also seen in other organs including the heart, kidney, brain, spleen, lymph nodes, and stomach. This was characterized by hemorrhage, swelling (edema), cell death (necrosis), and syncytial cells in the blood vessel lining.

Virus Detection and Localization

  • Immunocytochemistry showed the presence of the equine morbillivirus antigen in the vascular lesions and along the alveolar walls.
  • Examining the infected endothelial cells under electron microscope revealed virus inclusion bodies (structures containing virus particles) that reacted positively to an immunogold test for the equine morbillivirus antigen.
  • These findings confirmed the presence of the virus in the affected blood vessels and lung tissues.

Significance of Observations

  • The researchers identified the presence of syncytia (multi-nucleated cells that result from the fusion of several cells together) in the smaller blood vessels of the lungs and other organs as a key characteristic of this disease.
  • This specific observation points towards the disease being a reaction to a morbillivirus like the equine morbillivirus.

Case of Delayed Disease Progression

  • The fourth horse, which survived for 12 days post-inoculation, showed less severe and more chronic lesions, predominantly only in the lungs.
  • There were fewer well-defined vascular lesions, and a greater degree of cellular infiltration, suggesting a slower or less aggressive disease development in this case.

Cite This Article

APA
Hooper PT, Ketterer PJ, Hyatt AD, Russell GM. (1997). Lesions of experimental equine morbillivirus pneumonia in horses. Vet Pathol, 34(4), 312-322. https://doi.org/10.1177/030098589703400407

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 0300-9858
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 4
Pages: 312-322

Researcher Affiliations

Hooper, P T
  • CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong. peterh@aahl.dah.csiro.gov.au
Ketterer, P J
    Hyatt, A D
      Russell, G M

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Kidney / pathology
        • Lung / pathology
        • Lung / ultrastructure
        • Male
        • Microscopy, Electron
        • Morbillivirus / pathogenicity
        • Morbillivirus Infections / pathology
        • Morbillivirus Infections / veterinary
        • Myocardium / pathology
        • Pneumonia / pathology
        • Pneumonia / veterinary
        • Pneumonia / virology

        Citations

        This article has been cited 21 times.
        1. Lawrence P, Escudero-Pérez B. Henipavirus Immune Evasion and Pathogenesis Mechanisms: Lessons Learnt from Natural Infection and Animal Models. Viruses 2022 Apr 29;14(5).
          doi: 10.3390/v14050936pubmed: 35632678google scholar: lookup
        2. Gamble A, Yeo YY, Butler AA, Tang H, Snedden CE, Mason CT, Buchholz DW, Bingham J, Aguilar HC, Lloyd-Smith JO. Drivers and Distribution of Henipavirus-Induced Syncytia: What Do We Know?. Viruses 2021 Sep 2;13(9).
          doi: 10.3390/v13091755pubmed: 34578336google scholar: lookup
        3. Ranadheera C, Proulx R, Chaiyakul M, Jones S, Grolla A, Leung A, Rutherford J, Kobasa D, Carpenter M, Czub M. The interaction between the Nipah virus nucleocapsid protein and phosphoprotein regulates virus replication. Sci Rep 2018 Oct 30;8(1):15994.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34484-7pubmed: 30375468google scholar: lookup
        4. Weatherman S, Feldmann H, de Wit E. Transmission of henipaviruses. Curr Opin Virol 2018 Feb;28:7-11.
          doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.09.004pubmed: 29035743google scholar: lookup
        5. Broder CC, Weir DL, Reid PA. Hendra virus and Nipah virus animal vaccines. Vaccine 2016 Jun 24;34(30):3525-34.
          doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.075pubmed: 27154393google scholar: lookup
        6. Field H, Jordan D, Edson D, Morris S, Melville D, Parry-Jones K, Broos A, Divljan A, McMichael L, Davis R, Kung N, Kirkland P, Smith C. Spatiotemporal Aspects of Hendra Virus Infection in Pteropid Bats (Flying-Foxes) in Eastern Australia. PLoS One 2015;10(12):e0144055.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144055pubmed: 26625128google scholar: lookup
        7. Middleton D. Hendra virus. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2014 Dec;30(3):579-89.
          doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.08.004pubmed: 25281398google scholar: lookup
        8. Pernet O, Wang YE, Lee B. Henipavirus receptor usage and tropism. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2012;359:59-78.
          doi: 10.1007/82_2012_222pubmed: 22695915google scholar: lookup
        9. Broder CC, Geisbert TW, Xu K, Nikolov DB, Wang LF, Middleton D, Pallister J, Bossart KN. Immunization strategies against henipaviruses. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2012;359:197-223.
          doi: 10.1007/82_2012_213pubmed: 22481140google scholar: lookup
        10. Geisbert TW, Feldmann H, Broder CC. Animal challenge models of henipavirus infection and pathogenesis. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2012;359:153-77.
          doi: 10.1007/82_2012_208pubmed: 22476556google scholar: lookup
        11. Marsh GA, Haining J, Hancock TJ, Robinson R, Foord AJ, Barr JA, Riddell S, Heine HG, White JR, Crameri G, Field HE, Wang LF, Middleton D. Experimental infection of horses with Hendra virus/Australia/horse/2008/Redlands. Emerg Infect Dis 2011 Dec;17(12):2232-8.
          doi: 10.3201/eid1712.111162pubmed: 22172152google scholar: lookup
        12. Wong KT, Ong KC. Pathology of acute henipavirus infection in humans and animals. Patholog Res Int 2011;2011:567248.
          doi: 10.4061/2011/567248pubmed: 21961078google scholar: lookup
        13. Tulsiani SM, Graham GC, Moore PR, Jansen CC, Van Den Hurk AF, Moore FA, Simmons RJ, Craig SB. Emerging tropical diseases in Australia. Part 5. Hendra virus. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2011 Jan;105(1):1-11.
          doi: 10.1179/136485911X12899838413547pubmed: 21294944google scholar: lookup
        14. Marsh GA, Todd S, Foord A, Hansson E, Davies K, Wright L, Morrissy C, Halpin K, Middleton D, Field HE, Daniels P, Wang LF. Genome sequence conservation of Hendra virus isolates during spillover to horses, Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Nov;16(11):1767-9.
          doi: 10.3201/eid1611.100501pubmed: 21029540google scholar: lookup
        15. Bossart KN, Bingham J, Middleton D. Targeted strategies for henipavirus therapeutics. Open Virol J 2007;1:14-25.
          doi: 10.2174/1874357900701010014pubmed: 19440455google scholar: lookup
        16. Lee B. Envelope-receptor interactions in Nipah virus pathobiology. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007 Apr;1102(1):51-65.
          doi: 10.1196/annals.1408.004pubmed: 17470911google scholar: lookup
        17. Eaton BT, Broder CC, Middleton D, Wang LF. Hendra and Nipah viruses: different and dangerous. Nat Rev Microbiol 2006 Jan;4(1):23-35.
          doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1323pubmed: 16357858google scholar: lookup
        18. Hedges JF, Demaula CD, Moore BD, McLaughlin BE, Simon SI, MacLachlan NJ. Characterization of equine E-selectin. Immunology 2001 Aug;103(4):498-504.
          doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2001.01262.xpubmed: 11529941google scholar: lookup
        19. Caplan CE. New virus emerges in Malaysia. CMAJ 1999 Jun 1;160(11):1607.
          pubmed: 10374006
        20. Pöpperl P, Stoff M, Beineke A. Alveolar Macrophages in Viral Respiratory Infections: Sentinels and Saboteurs of Lung Defense. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Jan 5;26(1).
          doi: 10.3390/ijms26010407pubmed: 39796262google scholar: lookup
        21. Pigeaud DD, Geisbert TW, Woolsey C. Animal Models for Henipavirus Research. Viruses 2023 Sep 22;15(10).
          doi: 10.3390/v15101980pubmed: 37896758google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 100,151 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.