Potential outbreak by herpesvirus in equines: detection, clinical, and genetic analysis of equid gammaherpesvirus 2 (EHV-2).
Abstract: Equid herpesvirus (EHV) commonly affects horses causing neurologic and respiratory symptoms beside spontaneous abortions, meaning huge economic losses for equine industry worldwide. In foals, the virus can facilitate secondary infections by Rhodococcus equi, important in morbidity and mortality in equines. A total of five genotypes of EHV were previously described in Brazil including EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, and EHV-5. EHV-2 genotype had only been previously described in Brazil in asymptomatic animals. We report the investigation of the dead of 11 foals in Middle-west region of Brazil showing respiratory and neurological symptoms, as well as several abortions in mares from the same farm. Methods: Clinical and laboratory exams were performed in this case study. Lung, whole blood, serum, and plasma samples were analyzed by necroscopic and histopathologic techniques followed by molecular assays (conventional and qPCR and Sanger sequencing). Conclusions: Laboratory exams revealed neutrophilia leukocytosis. Necroscopic and histopathologic findings were suppurative bronchopneumonia and ulcerative enteritis. Molecular assays point to the absence of the bacteria Rhodococcus equi and other viruses (including other EHV). The presence of EHV-2 DNA was confirmed by sequencing in serum sample from one foal. This is the first confirmed outbreak of EHV-2 causing disease in Brazilian horses with confirmed presence of the virus, and which highlight the important role of EHV-2 in equine respiratory disease and spontaneous abortions in equid in Brazil.
© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.
Publication Date: 2023-01-27 PubMed ID: 36705807PubMed Central: PMC10234995DOI: 10.1007/s42770-022-00890-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study focuses on the detection and analysis of equid gammaherpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) in horses in Brazil, as it was responsible for an outbreak causing respiratory and neurological symptoms in foals, as well as spontaneous abortions in mares.
Goals of the Research
- The main aim of this research was to investigate an outbreak attributed to the EHV-2 virus that had led to illnesses and deaths among foals, and spontaneous abortions in mares, in a specific farm in the Middle-west region of Brazil.
- The researchers sought to perform comprehensive clinical and laboratory examinations to ascertain the present type of EHV genotype and its ramifications.
Research Methods
- Different types of samples, namely lung, whole blood, serum, and plasma samples were obtained from the affected equines.
- The collected samples were analyzed using necroscopic and histopathologic techniques to observe the physical and microscopic changes in the tissues.
- Further, molecular assays including both traditional and quantitative PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, as well as Sanger sequencing were applied to determine the presence, absence, and sequence of the virus’ DNA.
Outcomes and Conclusion
- Clinical investigations highlighted a condition called neutrophilia leukocytosis in the affected horses – an increase in the count of a type of white blood cells called neutrophils.
- The necroscopic and histopathologic findings pointed towards suppurative bronchopneumonia and ulcerative enteritis – conditions characterized by inflammation and infection of the lungs and intestines respectively.
- The molecular assays ascertained the absence of a bacteria named Rhodococcus equi and other viral forms, including other types of EHV.
- The DNA of EHV-2 was eventually confirmed through sequencing in one of the serum samples obtained from a foal.
- The study concluded that EHV-2 had caused a serious outbreak, which is the first of such occurrence recorded in Brazilian equines. The findings also underscored the role of EHV-2 in causing respiratory diseases and spontaneous abortions among equines in Brazil.
Cite This Article
APA
de Almeida Campos AC, Cicolo S, de Oliveira CM, Molina CV, Navas-Suárez PE, Poltronieri Dos Santos T, da Silveira VB, Barbosa CM, Baccarin RYA, Durigon EL, Góes LGB, Belli CB, Oliveira DBL.
(2023).
Potential outbreak by herpesvirus in equines: detection, clinical, and genetic analysis of equid gammaherpesvirus 2 (EHV-2).
Braz J Microbiol, 54(2), 1137-1143.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-022-00890-3 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil. camposac@alumni.usp.br.
- Clinical and Molecular Virology Research Team, Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP (SPPU), SP, 05508-020, São Paulo, Brazil. camposac@alumni.usp.br.
- Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, SP, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Clinical and Molecular Virology Research Team, Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP (SPPU), SP, 05508-020, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Wildlife Comparative Pathology Laboratory-LAPCOM, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, SP, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Wildlife Disease Association-WDA, Associate member, 66044-7065, Lawrence-KS, United States.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, SP, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, SP, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Clinical and Molecular Virology Research Team, Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP (SPPU), SP, 05508-020, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, SP, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil. cbbelli@usp.br.
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II da Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-II/USP), SP, 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, HIAE, 05652-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Pregnancy
- Female
- Humans
- Animals
- Horses
- Rhadinovirus
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Abortion, Spontaneous / epidemiology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
Grant Funding
- FAPESP 2014/15090-8 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
- FAPESP 2018/18867-4 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
- FAPESP technical training schollarship 2018/05346-6 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
- FAPESP 2016/08727-5 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
- 2020/01487-4 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
- 133013/2019-7 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico
- 152365/2019-2 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no competing interests.
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