Seroprevalence of Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 9 (EHV-1 and EHV-9) in Wild Grévy’s Zebra ( Equus grevyi) in Kenya.
Abstract: Equid herpesviruses types 1 (EHV-1) and 9 (EHV-9) are unusual among herpesviruses in that they lack strong host specificity, and the full extent of their host range remains unclear. The virus establishes latency for long periods and can be reactivated and shed, resulting in clinical disease in susceptible species. A sensitive and specific peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to study the seroprevalence of both viruses in a broad range of species among both wild and captive populations. We used this assay to study the seroprevalences of EHV-1 and EHV-9 in a natural population of the highly endangered Grévy's zebra ( Equus grevyi) in Kenya, sampled during a 4-yr period (2012-15). The results were compared with those obtained from captive Grévy's zebras from a previous study. The wild population had a significantly higher seroprevalence of EHV-9 compared with the captive population, suggesting that captivity might reduce exposure to this serotype. In contrast, the seroprevalences of EHV-1 between captive and wild groups was not significantly different. The seroprevalence of EHV-9 was not significantly higher than EHV-1 in zebras within the wild Kenyan population.
Publication Date: 2018-05-24 PubMed ID: 29792760DOI: 10.7589/2018-01-003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the prevalence of Equid herpesviruses types 1 and 9 (EHV-1 and EHV-9) in wild and captive Grévy’s zebra populations in Kenya, discovering that the wild population exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence of EHV-9 compared to those in captivity, though EHV-1 prevalence showed no significant difference across both groups.
Methodology and Objective
- The authors focused on understanding the prevalence (seroprevalence) of EHV-1 and EHV-9 among wild and captive Grévy’s zebras using a sensitive and specific peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
- The aim was to comprehend the host range of these two herpesviruses that are unique in their lack of strong host specificity and are known to remain latent for extended periods, then get reactivated, leading to potential clinical disease in susceptible species.
The Study and Its Results
- The researchers conducted the study over a four-year period, from 2012 to 2015, examining the seroprevalence of the aforementioned viruses in a natural population of this endangered zebra species in Kenya.
- They found that the wild population of Grévy’s zebra had a significantly higher prevalence of EHV-9 compared to the captive ones, suggesting that captivity might decrease exposure to this type of virus.
- Conversely, the prevalence of EHV-1 was not significantly different between the two groups.
- Moreover, within the wild Kenyan zebra population, the prevalence of EHV-9 was not significantly higher than EHV-1.
Comparison with Previous Studies
- Notably, the researchers juxtaposed their results to those obtained from a previous study including captive Grévy’s zebras, further emphasizing the difference between outcomes in wild and captive populations.
Conclusions
- Overall, the paper sheds light on the distribution of EHV-1 and EHV-9 among wild and captive Grévy’s zebras and the potential impact of captivity on exposure to these diseases—an important addition to the body of knowledge about the host range of these viruses.
Cite This Article
APA
Guevara L, Abdelgawad A, Onzere C, Greenwood AD, Davidson Z, Bishop R, Mutinda M.
(2018).
Seroprevalence of Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 9 (EHV-1 and EHV-9) in Wild Grévy’s Zebra ( Equus grevyi) in Kenya.
J Wildl Dis, 54(4), 848-851.
https://doi.org/10.7589/2018-01-003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1 Kolmarden Zoo, Veterinärkliniken, 618 92 Kolmården, Sweden.
- 2 Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
- 3 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 100 Dairy Road, Bustad 302 VMP, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
- 4 Biosciences East and Central Africa (BecA-ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
- 2 Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
- 5 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
- 6 Marwell Wildlife, Conservation Department, Colden Common, Winchester SO211JH, UK.
- 3 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 100 Dairy Road, Bustad 302 VMP, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
- 4 Biosciences East and Central Africa (BecA-ILRI), PO Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
- 7 Department of Veterinary and Capture Services, Kenya Wildlife Service, PO Box 40241-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Wild
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Equidae / blood
- Kenya / epidemiology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Varicellovirus / immunology
- Virus Latency
Citations
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