Potential risk of equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) transmission by equine embryo transfer.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether the 10 wash cycles proposed by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) for bovine embryos efficiently decontaminated equine embryos exposed to equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) in vitro. Donor mares and stallions were individually screened and shown to be negative for the virus by PCR detection of EHV-1 DNA in blood leukocytes, semen, and uterine lavages in which embryos were recovered. Twenty embryos were recovered and randomly assigned to one of two groups: 10 embryos were exposed for 24h to infectious EHV-1 at 10(6)TCID(50)/ml, and 10 embryos were used as negative controls. Exposed embryos were washed in accordance with IETS recommendations for ruminant and porcine embryos, before being incubated for 24 h with semiconfluent rabbit kidney (RK13) cells to detect any cytopathic effects (CPE), and finally tested for the presence of EHV-1 viral DNA by PCR. The embryo washing media were also assayed for the virus on RK 13 cells and by PCR. Control embryos were neither exposed to the virus nor washed. EHV-1 was not found in the control embryos, or in the last five washes of the exposed embryos. However, the virus was detected in 7/10 of the embryos exposed to EHV-1 for 24h, as well as in the first five washes of the embryos. The gradual disappearance of EHV-1 from the 10 successive wash solutions from the exposed embryos and the detection of viral DNA in 7/10 washed embryos by PCR, demonstrated that the washing procedure was unable to remove EHV-1 and suggested that EHV-1 could be attached to the acellular layer surrounding embryos (zona pellucida or capsule) or had penetrated the embryo.
Publication Date: 2007-04-24 PubMed ID: 17459463DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.03.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Transmission
- Embryo Transfer
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Herpesvirus
- Equine Science
- In Vitro Research
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Laboratory Methods
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reproductive Technology
- Risk Factors
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Virology
- Virus
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.
This study was aimed at determining whether equine embryos contaminated with equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) could be adequately decontaminated using the International Embryo Transfer Society’s recommended washing procedure. It discovered that this method was unsuccessful, as the virus was still detected in 70% of the embryos after washing.
Objective of the Study
- The key aim of the research was to assess whether or not the 10 wash cycles proposed by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) for bovine embryos can efficiently cleanse equine embryos which have been exposed to equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) in a controlled environment.
Methodology
- Firstly, donor horses were individually examined and found to be negative for the virus through PCR detection in blood leukocytes, semen, and uterine lavages.
- 20 embryos were harvested and randomly divided into two even groups.
- One group was exposed to the potent EHV-1 virus for 24 hours and the other acted as the control group, remaining unexposed.
- The infected embryos were then washed, following the IETS guidelines set out for ruminant and porcine embryos.
- They were then monitored for 24 hours for any possible cytopathic effects and their washing solutions also underwent testing for the presence of the virus.
Results and Conclusion
- It was found that the EHV-1 virus was no longer detectable in the final five washes of the contaminated embryos.
- However, EHV-1 was still detected in 7 out of 10 of the washed embryos, even after observing the recommended washing procedure.
- It appeared that the washing process was unable to completely remove the EHV-1 virus, possibly indicating that the virus was attached to the outer acellular layer of the embryos or had penetrated the embryo itself.
- This research suggests a potential risk of EHV-1 transmission in equine embryo transfer, presenting the need for further investigation and potentially refining the cleaning processes.
Cite This Article
APA
Hebia I, Fiéni F, Duchamp G, Destrumelle S, Pellerin JL, Zientara S, Vautherot JF, Bruyas JF.
(2007).
Potential risk of equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) transmission by equine embryo transfer.
Theriogenology, 67(9), 1485-1491.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.03.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- UPSP Sanitary Risks and Biotechnology of Reproduction, National Veterinary School, Nantes, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Embryo Transfer / veterinary
- Embryo, Mammalian / virology
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / pathogenicity
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Mahmood K, Ali Channa A, Ghafoor A, Riaz A. Factors affecting the efficiency of equine embryo transfer (EET) in polo mares under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. PLoS One 2024;19(2):e0298066.
- Dayaram A, Seeber PA, Greenwood AD. Environmental Detection and Potential Transmission of Equine Herpesviruses. Pathogens 2021 Apr 1;10(4).
- Kumar R, Patil RD. Cryptic etiopathological conditions of equine nervous system with special emphasis on viral diseases. Vet World 2017 Dec;10(12):1427-1438.
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