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Veterinary research communications2013; 37(4); 311-317; doi: 10.1007/s11259-013-9578-6

Role of equine herpesviruses as co-infecting agents in cases of abortion, placental disease and neonatal foal mortality.

Abstract: Herpesviral infections frequently occur in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association of equine herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, EHV-5) with other causes of abortion, neonatal mortality or placental disorder. Sixty-seven abortions, 22 stillbirths, 14 cases of neonatal foal mortality and 3 cases of placental disease were investigated for infectious and non-infectious causes. Type-specific nested PCR assays and virus isolation were performed to detect EHV infections. A cause of fetal loss or placental disease was reached in 68 out 116 (58.7%) cases. Twenty-seven cases were positive for EHV, and 22/27 (81.5%) were positive for EHV-1 (16 neuropathogenic and 6 non-neuropathogenic strains), 4 (14.8%) for EHV-2 and 3 (11.1%) for EHV-5. The association between EHV infections and other etiological agents was statistically significant (two sided P = 0.002). The odds ratio of EHV DNA associated with other diagnoses, especially with bacterial infection and premature placental separation, was 10.88 (95% confidence interval: 2.15-55.16). EHV-1 was the main viral cause of pregnancy loss in this study, also associated with other etiological agents, including EHV-2 and EHV-5. The latter viruses in particular need to be more fully investigated to elucidate what role either or both may play as co-infecting agents with other established infectious causes of reproductive disease.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-20 PubMed ID: 24052369DOI: 10.1007/s11259-013-9578-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 association of certain types of equine herpesviruses (EHV) with diseases that can lead to abortion, neonatal mortality, or placental disorders in horses. The study’s key findings indicate the co-infections from these viruses to be statistically significant in pregnant horses, especially linked with bacterial infection and premature placental separation.

Introduction to Equine Herpesviruses and Their Effect

  • Equine herpesviruses are types of viruses that commonly infect horses, causing a variety of diseases. This study specifically focusses on five types of these viruses – EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, and EHV-5.
  • The researchers aim to investigate these viruses’ potential association with different causes of horse abortions, neonatal mortality (death of newborn foals), and placental disorders.

Methodology and Results

  • A total of 106 cases comprising 67 abortions, 22 stillbirths, 14 neonatal foal deaths, and 3 placental diseases were examined.
  • The methods employed included type-specific nested PCR assays and virus isolation for detecting EHV infections.
  • An cause for fetal loss or placental disease could be identified in 68 out of the 116 (58.7%) cases investigated.
  • Of the causes identified, EHV was found in 27 cases, where 22 of these cases (81.5%) were due to EHV-1 (16 of them were neuropathogenic and 6 were non-neuropathogenic strains), 4 (14.8%) were due to EHV-2, and 3 (11.1%) were due to EHV-5.

Significance of EHV Co-infections

  • The relationships between EHV infections and other etiological (causal) agents were statistically significant, suggesting that they frequently occur together.
  • Data indicated a high odds ratio of 10.88 for other diagnoses, particularly bacterial infection and premature placental separation, being associated with EHV DNA. This implies the likelihood of finding EHV DNA when these conditions are present is about 11 times higher than when they are not present.
  • The major viral cause of pregnancy loss in this study was found to be EHV-1, which also appeared alongside other etiological agents, including EHV-2 and EHV-5.

Implications and Further Research

  • The results point to a strong association between EHV infections and reproductive diseases in horses, suggesting that these viruses play a critical role in causing such conditions.
  • Further research is needed to investigate the role of EHV-2 and EHV-5 in greater detail to clarify their significance as co-infecting agents in infectious causes of reproductive disorders in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Marenzoni ML, Bietta A, Lepri E, Casagrande Proietti P, Cordioli P, Canelli E, Stefanetti V, Coletti M, Timoney PJ, Passamonti F. (2013). Role of equine herpesviruses as co-infecting agents in cases of abortion, placental disease and neonatal foal mortality. Vet Res Commun, 37(4), 311-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-013-9578-6

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 4
Pages: 311-317

Researcher Affiliations

Marenzoni, Maria Luisa
  • Department of Pathology, Diagnostic and Veterinary Clinic Department, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, marialuisa.marenzoni@unipg.it.
Bietta, Annalisa
    Lepri, Elvio
      Casagrande Proietti, Patrizia
        Cordioli, Paolo
          Canelli, Elena
            Stefanetti, Valentina
              Coletti, Mauro
                Timoney, Peter J
                  Passamonti, Fabrizio

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
                    • Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
                    • Abortion, Veterinary / virology
                    • Animals
                    • Animals, Newborn / microbiology
                    • Animals, Newborn / virology
                    • Bacterial Infections / complications
                    • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
                    • Female
                    • Herpesviridae / genetics
                    • Herpesviridae / physiology
                    • Herpesviridae Infections / complications
                    • Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
                    • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
                    • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
                    • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                    • Horse Diseases / virology
                    • Horses
                    • Placenta Diseases / veterinary
                    • Placenta Diseases / virology
                    • Pregnancy

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