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The Journal of veterinary medical science2017; 79(3); 632-635; doi: 10.1292/jvms.16-0511

Occurrence of equine coital exanthema (ECE) in stallions in Japan and effectiveness of treatment with valacyclovir for ECE.

Abstract: Equine coital exanthema (ECE) has been reported in many countries, but equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) has been isolated only once in Japan. In 2015, symptoms of ECE were found, and EHV-3 was isolated in two stallions. Valacyclovir, an anti-herpesvirus agent, was administered orally. The stallions rested from mating for more than two weeks, causing enormous financial losses because of their high fees. This is the first study in which valacyclovir was administered for ECE. Though valacyclovir treatment did not shorten the duration of healing, the affected area did not expand after administration of valacyclovir. Valacyclovir therefore seems to be effective for suppression of EHV-3 infection. Further investigation about the administration protocol might be required.
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Publication Date: 2017-01-26 PubMed ID: 28123140PubMed Central: PMC5383189DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0511Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research examines the occurrence of equine coital exanthema (ECE) in stallions in Japan and studies the effectiveness of treatment with an anti-herpes virus agent, valacyclovir. It explores the economic implications hold up of mating stallions due to ECE and suggests that valacyclovir may suppress the further spread of the infection but does not necessarily expedite healing.

Understanding Equine Coital Exanthema (ECE) and EHV-3

  • Equine coital exanthema (ECE) is an equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) sexually transmitted disease prevalent among horses.
  • The presence of EHV-3, causative of ECE, has been reportedly isolated only once in Japan before 2015.
  • In 2015, however, two stallions in Japan showed symptoms of ECE and EHV-3 was isolated in them.

Treatment with Valacyclovir

  • Valacyclovir, an anti-herpesvirus agent, was administered orally to the affected stallions as part of the treatment procedure.
  • Despite the treatment, the stallions had to be kept from mating for over two weeks. This stall in mating caused considerable financial losses owing to their high mating fees.
  • This study stands as the first where valacyclovir was administered for ECE.

Effectiveness and Limitations of Valacyclovir Treatment for ECE

  • Although the application of valacyclovir did not reduce the period for healing, the affected area did not expand post-administration of the medication. This suggests that valacyclovir could assist in suppressing EHV-3 infection.
  • However, given that it did not particularly expedite the healing process, further investigation is required about the application protocol to improve its effectiveness in toning down the overall impact of ECE.

Cite This Article

APA
Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Kirisawa R. (2017). Occurrence of equine coital exanthema (ECE) in stallions in Japan and effectiveness of treatment with valacyclovir for ECE. J Vet Med Sci, 79(3), 632-635. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.16-0511

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 79
Issue: 3
Pages: 632-635

Researcher Affiliations

Toishi, Yuko
  • Shadai Stallion Station, 275 Hayakita-Genbu, Abira-cho, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido 059-1501, Japan.
Tsunoda, Nobuo
    Kirisawa, Rikio

      MeSH Terms

      • Acyclovir / analogs & derivatives
      • Acyclovir / therapeutic use
      • Animals
      • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
      • Exanthema / drug therapy
      • Exanthema / epidemiology
      • Exanthema / veterinary
      • Exanthema / virology
      • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy
      • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
      • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
      • Herpesvirus 3, Equid / isolation & purification
      • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horse Diseases / virology
      • Horses
      • Japan
      • Male
      • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / drug therapy
      • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / epidemiology
      • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / veterinary
      • Valacyclovir
      • Valine / analogs & derivatives
      • Valine / therapeutic use

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 5 times.
      1. Troncoso I, Calvanese R, Saravia F, Muñoz-Leal S, Zegpi NA, Ortega R. First molecular detection of Equine Herpesvirus type 3 (EHV-3) in Chile. Vet Med Sci 2023 Mar;9(2):717-720.
        doi: 10.1002/vms3.976pubmed: 36253808google scholar: lookup
      2. Vissani MA, Damiani AM, Barrandeguy ME. Equine Coital Exanthema: New Insights on the Knowledge and Leading Perspectives for Treatment and Prevention. Pathogens 2021 Aug 20;10(8).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081055pubmed: 34451519google scholar: lookup
      3. Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Kirisawa R. Period of excretion of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) from a stallion before showing clinical signs of equine coital exanthema and the effect of acyclovir treatment on the duration of EHV-3 excretion. J Vet Med Sci 2020 Sep 24;82(9):1299-1305.
        doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0056pubmed: 32684614google scholar: lookup
      4. Kirisawa R, Toishi Y, Akamatsu A, Soejima K, Miyashita T, Tsunoda N. Isolation of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) from equine coital exanthema of two stallions and sero-epidemiology of EHV-3 infection in Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Mar 23;79(3):636-643.
        doi: 10.1292/jvms.16-0518pubmed: 28132964google scholar: lookup
      5. Atay YE, Ekinci G, Öztürk AE, Timur MC, Mete A, Altınbay K, Derelli FM, Akar Y, Keleş İ. Clinical Prevalence of Equine Coital Exanthema in a Thoroughbred Covering Station in Türkiye (2021-2024). Reprod Domest Anim 2025 Jun;60(6):e70086.
        doi: 10.1111/rda.70086pubmed: 40485269google scholar: lookup
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