Neonatal equine herpesvirus type 1 infection on a thoroughbred breeding farm.

This research article illustrates the adverse effects of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection on newborn thoroughbred foals, with 3 out of 5 infected foals losing their lives.

Study Background

• The research revolves around the impact of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection on newborn thoroughbred foals on a breeding farm.
• The study began in March and ended in April 1995, observing a total of 17 newborn foals.
• It aimed at understanding the influence of the virus on neonatal morbidity and death in foals in a breeding farm setting.

Results of the Research

• Out of the 17 observed foals, five were found to be infected with EHV-1.
• The morbidity in these infected foals was associated with pulmonary inflammation.
• Three out of these five infected foals eventually died or were euthanized.
• The EHV-1 virus was particularly identified in the lungs of the three foals that did not survive.
• All infected foals were found to belong to mares that were housed in the same pasture and barn.

Other Relevant Findings

• The research highlighted that during the outbreak, no other clinical effects of EHV-1 infection, such as abortion, respiratory disease, or neurological disease, were identified.
• It was observed that three infected foals were treated with acyclovir, an antiviral medication. This treatment may have contributed to the survival of two out of these three foals.

Conclusion

• The research paper underscores the severity of EHV-1 infections in neonatal thoroughbred foals, which resulted in increased morbidity and fatality in the observed population.
• The presence of the virus in the lungs of the dead foals and absence of any other clinical symptoms suggest that EHV-1 majorly impacts the respiratory system of the infected foal.
• The research also provides some insight towards a possible treatment method using acyclovir, which was found to have potentially improved survival outcomes in some of the treated foals.