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Serological surveillance of equine viral arteritis in the United Kingdom since the outbreak in 1993.
Abstract: Serological analysis of blood samples submitted to the Animal Health Trust showed that during 1995, 185 of 9203 unvaccinated horses (2.0 per cent) tested positive for antibodies to equine arteritis virus (EAV), and that during 1996, 46 of 8851 unvaccinated horses (0.52 per cent) tested positive. During both years thoroughbreds were the predominant breed tested and only a small proportion of these (<0.3 per cent), consisting predominantly of imported mares, were seropositive. In contrast, among standardbred horses, from which samples were actively solicited in 1995, 84 of 454 (18.5 per cent) were seropositive. Among standardbreds there was a difference in prevalence between types of horses, with 3.7 per cent of racing horses, 25 per cent of non-racing horses and 41 per cent of stallions testing seropositive. Investigations of seropositive stallions identified during 1994 and 1995 demonstrated that clinically inapparent equine viral arteritis (EVA) had occurred previously in the UK. Of 50 seropositive stallions, nearly half were standardbreds and nearly all had been imported from either North America or the European Union. Whether 34 seropositive stallions were shedding virus in their semen was established either by test mating, by the serology of the covered mares, or by investigation by MAFF following the introduction of the Equine Viral Arteritis Order 1995. Nine of the stallions (26.5 per cent) were identified as presumptive shedders of EAV in semen and among specific breeds, viral shedding was identified in six of 15 (40 per cent) standardbreds and three of nine (33 per cent) warmbloods. In contrast with the outbreak of EVA in the UK in 1993, no signs of disease typical of EAV infection were reported during these investigations, even in mares test mated to stallions shedding the virus.
Publication Date: 1999-11-27 PubMed ID: 10576624DOI: 10.1136/vr.145.18.511Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This is a study about the prevalence of equine arteritis virus (EAV), a contagious disease in horses, in the United Kingdom after an outbreak in 1993. The study found that, while significant percentages of standardbred horses tested positive for EAV, signs of the disease were not prevalent in those horses.
Study Summary
Blood samples from unvaccinated horses tested during 1995 and 1996 revealed a small percentage of horses were seropositive for EAV, meaning they had been infected in the past and developed antibodies against the virus. The study also identified specific horse breeds that showed higher EAV seroprevalence, with a higher prevalence identified amongst standardbred horses compared to thoroughbreds.
Testing and Results
- In 1995, 185 of 9203 unvaccinated horses (2.0 per cent) tested positive for EAV antibodies.
- In 1996, 46 of 8851 unvaccinated horses (0.52 per cent) tested positive.
- Among standardbred horses, 84 of 454 (18.5 per cent) were EAV seropositive.
- A difference in EAV seroprevalence existed within the standardbred breed, with the seropositive rate being 25% among non-racing horses and 41% among stallions.
- Besides, almost all the EAV seropositive stallions had been imported from North America or the European Union.
- Out of 34 seropositive stallions, nine (26.5%) were presumed to shed EAV in their semen. Among specific breeds, researchers found viral shedding in 40% of standardbreds and 33% of warmbloods.
Key Findings
Based on the tests, researchers concluded clinically inapparent EVA, i.e., horses were infected without showing symptoms, had occurred in the UK. This indicates a potential for an undercover spread of the virus in the horse population. The absence of typical EAV infection signs even in mares test mated to stallions shedding the virus suggested that the virus might not be causing the disease or the disease may be subclinical and undetected. These findings could have significant implications for shaping EAV surveillance strategies and controlling the spread of the virus.
Cite This Article
APA
Newton JR, Wood JL, Castillo-Olivares FJ, Mumford JA.
(1999).
Serological surveillance of equine viral arteritis in the United Kingdom since the outbreak in 1993.
Vet Rec, 145(18), 511-516.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.145.18.511 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arterivirus Infections / epidemiology
- Arterivirus Infections / transmission
- Arterivirus Infections / veterinary
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Equartevirus
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Male
- Prevalence
- Semen / virology
- Serologic Tests / veterinary
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
- Vaccination / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Bhat S, Karunakaran S, Frossard JP, Choudhury B, Steinbach F. Genetic characterization of equine arteritis virus associated with outbreaks in the UK, 2019. J Gen Virol 2025 Dec;106(12).
- Bażanów B, Pawęska JT, Pogorzelska A, Florek M, Frącka A, Gębarowski T, Chwirot W, Stygar D. Serological Evidence of Common Equine Viral Infections in a Semi-Isolated, Unvaccinated Population of Hucul Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
- Go YY, Bailey E, Cook DG, Coleman SJ, Macleod JN, Chen KC, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UB. Genome-wide association study among four horse breeds identifies a common haplotype associated with in vitro CD3+ T cell susceptibility/resistance to equine arteritis virus infection. J Virol 2011 Dec;85(24):13174-84.
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