Molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of some equine herpesvirus type 1 (equine abortion virus) and type 4 (equine rhinopneumonitis virus) isolates.
Abstract: Representative strains of EHV isolated from an aborted foetus and from a horse with rhinopneumonitis in New Zealand had restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints typical of those usually associated with these syndromes elsewhere and now designated EHV1 and 4 respectively. EHV1 was isolated from the brain and spinal cord of a 4-year-old gelding that died of myeloencephalitis. A mare on the same farm, at about the same time as the gelding developed myeloencephalitis, aborted and EHV1 was isolated from the tissues of the aborted foetus. Restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints of the viruses isolated from myeloencephalitis and abortion were indistinguishable by Bam HI but were distinguishable using Bgl I, Pvu II, Xho I and Hind III. The restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints of 3 EHV1 strains known to cause myeloencephalitis were compared with each other and with EHV1 strains not known to be associated with myeloencephalitis. The Bgl I Pvu II and Hind III DNA fingerprints of the 3 myeloencephalogenic strains appear distinguishable from non-myeloencephalogenic strains. Abortion was induced in a mare by intrauterine inoculation of EHV4. The Bam HI, Bgl I, Pvu II, Xho I and Hind III restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints of the inoculum virus were indistinguishable from virus recovered from the foetus. It was concluded that passage of the virus through the foetus did not detectably alter the restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprint.
Publication Date: 1984-11-01 PubMed ID: 6099117DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1984.tb07152.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the molecular characteristics and pathogenesis of two types of equine herpesvirus (EHV1 and EHV4) that cause abortion and respiratory illnesses in horses, respectively. Researchers analyzed the DNA fingerprints of these viruses isolated from affected horses and found unique traits linked with the diseases they cause.
Overview of the Study
- The authors collected strains of EHV1 and EHV4 from a diseased foetus and a horse suffering from a respiratory infection, rhinopneumonitis, respectively.
- They isolated EHV1 from a horse that had succumbed to myeloencephalitis (a nervous system inflammatory condition), providing a compelling link between the virus and the disease.
- Notably, EHV1 was also isolated from a mare that had aborted a foetus around the same time – underscoring the virus’ implications in equine abortions.
DNA Fingerprint Analysis
- Researchers analyzed the “restriction endonuclease DNA fingerprints” of the EHV1 and EHV4 viruses, which is a kind of DNA profile created using specific enzymes (restriction endonucleases). This technique helps identify differences and similarities across different virus strains.
- The DNA fingerprint of each virus strain was found to be typical of the disease they were associated with, thereby corroborating earlier findings, and supporting the idea that different equine health problems can be linked to specific EHV types.
Differences in EHV1 Strains
- The EHV1 strain found in the horse with inflammation of the nervous system (myeloencephalitis) was compared to EHV1 strains not known to be involved in this disease.
- The DNA fingerprints of the myeloencephalitis-causing EHV1 strains were distinct from the other EHV1 viruses, suggesting there could be multiple strains of EHV1 with different disease-causing potentials.
EHV4 and Horse Abortion
- The researchers induced abortion in a horse using EHV4 and compared the DNA fingerprint of this virus with the virus recovered from the aborted foetus.
- Their results showed no noticeable differences, indicating that virus passage through the foetus did not impact the DNA fingerprint of the virus, potentially suggesting the stability of EHV4.
This research offers valuable insights into understanding the pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology of equine herpesviruses, ultimately aiding in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases caused by these viruses in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Studdert MJ, Fitzpatrick DR, Horner GW, Westbury HA, Gleeson LJ.
(1984).
Molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of some equine herpesvirus type 1 (equine abortion virus) and type 4 (equine rhinopneumonitis virus) isolates.
Aust Vet J, 61(11), 345-348.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1984.tb07152.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Animals
- Australia
- DNA Restriction Enzymes / metabolism
- DNA, Viral / analysis
- Female
- Herpesviridae / analysis
- Herpesviridae Infections / microbiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / analysis
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- New Zealand
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Oladunni FS, Horohov DW, Chambers TM. EHV-1: A Constant Threat to the Horse Industry.. Front Microbiol 2019;10:2668.
- Vaz PK, Horsington J, Hartley CA, Browning GF, Ficorilli NP, Studdert MJ, Gilkerson JR, Devlin JM. Evidence of widespread natural recombination among field isolates of equine herpesvirus 4 but not among field isolates of equine herpesvirus 1.. J Gen Virol 2016 Mar;97(3):747-755.
- Kirisawa R, Ohmori H, Iwai H, Kawakami Y. The genomic diversity among equine herpesvirus-1 strains isolated in Japan.. Arch Virol 1993;129(1-4):11-22.
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