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Veterinary pathology2023; 61(3); 442-452; doi: 10.1177/03009858231214024

Naturally acquired equine parvovirus-hepatitis is associated with a wide range of hepatic lesions in horses.

Abstract: Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) is the causative agent of Theiler's disease, or severe acute hepatic necrosis, in horses. However, it is poorly understood whether EqPV-H is associated with other histologic findings in horses with clinical liver disease. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and severity of EqPV-H infections in diagnostic liver samples. Archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) liver samples (n = 98) from Cornell University and University of California, Davis, collected between 2007 and 2022 were evaluated for 15 individual histologic features and by EqPV-H in situ hybridization. EqPV-H was detected in 48% (n = 47) of samples. The most common histologic features of EqPV-H-positive samples included individual hepatocyte death (n = 40, 85%), lobular infiltrates (n = 38, 80%), portal infiltrates (n = 35, 74%), and ductular reaction (n = 33, 70%). Centrilobular necrosis, portal infiltrate, and individual hepatocyte death were positively associated with high viral load. Neutrophil infiltrates, bridging fibrosis, and portal edema were negatively associated with a high viral load. Only 4 of 49 tested samples were positive for equine hepacivirus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but the PCR assay was unreliable for FFPE tissues. In summary, this study demonstrates that EqPV-H is common in a variety of liver pathologies and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of hepatitis other than Theiler's disease.
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Publication Date: 2023-11-29 PubMed ID: 38018088PubMed Central: PMC11068485DOI: 10.1177/03009858231214024Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural

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 research explores the link between equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), particularly its prevalence and severity, and various liver conditions in horses, since EqPV-H has been identified as causing Theiler’s disease – a severe liver condition in horses.

Overview of the Study

  • The main objective of the research was to determine the prevalence and intensity of EqPV-H infections from a range of liver samples received for diagnostic studies.
  • The samples evaluated for this study were older liver samples preserved through formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) methods, collected between the years 2007 and 2022 by Cornell University and University of California, Davis.
  • All samples were evaluated regarding 15 individual histologic features and also examined by EqPV-H hybridization.

Key Findings

  • EqPV-H was detected in approximately half of the samples, indicating a high prevalence.
  • Most of the EqPV-H-positive samples exhibited several common histologic features such as death of individual hepatocytes, lobular infiltrates, portal infiltrates, and ductular reaction.
  • There were some specific histologic features like centrilobular necrosis, portal infiltrate and individual hepatocyte death which were linked to high viral load.
  • Other features like neutrophil infiltrates, bridging fibrosis, and portal edema have a negative association with a high viral load.
  • Testing was done for equine hepacivirus using PCR, another potential cause of hepatitis in horses, only very few samples were positive for it, suggesting that the effectiveness of this method of testing for FFPE tissues is questionable.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the study suggests that EqPV-H infection is common across different kinds of liver pathologies in horses.
  • Therefore, EqPV-H should be considered as a potential cause of other forms of hepatitis, beyond just Theiler’s disease in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Jager MC, Choi E, Tomlinson JE, Van de Walle G. (2023). Naturally acquired equine parvovirus-hepatitis is associated with a wide range of hepatic lesions in horses. Vet Pathol, 61(3), 442-452. https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231214024

Publication

Veterinary pathology
ISSN: 1544-2217
NlmUniqueID: 0312020
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 3
Pages: 442-452

Researcher Affiliations

Jager, Mason C
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Choi, Eunju
  • University of California, Davis, Davis, CA.
Tomlinson, Joy E
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Van de Walle, Gerlinde
  • Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Parvoviridae Infections / virology
  • Parvoviridae Infections / pathology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / virology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / pathology
  • Parvovirus / isolation & purification
  • Viral Load / veterinary
  • In Situ Hybridization / veterinary
  • Male
  • Female

Grant Funding

  • K08 AI141767 / NIAID NIH HHS
  • K08 AI163401 / NIAID NIH HHS
  • T32 OD011000 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Jager MC, Luethy D, Shallop S, Cathcart J, Divers TJ, Tan JY, Beasley EM, Johnson P, Leduc L, Smith C, Jamieson CA, Magdesian KG, Van de Walle GR, Tomlinson JE. Chronic hepatitis in horses with persistent equine hepacivirus infection. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):444-457.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.70124pubmed: 41448947google scholar: lookup
  2. Scupham AJ. Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Population Dynamics in a Single Horse over 16 Years. Viruses 2025 Jul 4;17(7).
    doi: 10.3390/v17070947pubmed: 40733563google scholar: lookup
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