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Home / Equine Research Bank / Res Vet Sci / Study of equid herpesviruses 2 and 5 in Iceland with a type-...
Research in veterinary science2008; 85(3); 605-611; doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.01.003

Study of equid herpesviruses 2 and 5 in Iceland with a type-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: The horse population in Iceland is a special breed, isolated from other horses for at least 1000 years. This provides an exceptional opportunity to investigate old and new pathogens in an inbred herd with few infectious diseases. We have developed a high sensitivity semi-nested PCR to study equid gammaherpesviruses 2 and 5 (EHV-2 and 5) in Iceland. The first PCR is group specific, the second type-specific, targeting a 113bp sequence in the glyB gene. DNA isolated from white blood cells and 18 different organs was tested for the presence of EHV-2 and 5. This was done in adult horses and foals, healthy and with various enteric infections. Both virus types were easily detected in all types of organs tested or EHV-2 in 79% cases and EHV-5 in 63%. In DNA from PBMC or buffy-coat EHV-2 was found in 20% cases and EHV-5 in 10%, all except one positive were foals. Co-culture of PBMC on fetal horse kidney cells was efficient for detecting EHV-2 but not for EHV-5. We verify here for the first time infections with EHV-2 and 5 in horses in Iceland and show that both viruses are common.
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Publication Date: 2008-03-11 PubMed ID: 18336849DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.01.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research article details a study on equid gammaherpesviruses 2 and 5 (EHV-2 and 5) in the indigenous horse population of Iceland using a highly sensitive semi-nested PCR technology. The researchers found that the viruses are prevalent.

Research Methods

  • The researchers developed a high-sensitivity semi-nested PCR specifically designed to study EHV-2 and 5 in the Icelandic horse population.
  • The initial PCR was group-specific, while the second was type-specific, targeted at a 113bp sequence in the glyB gene.
  • DNA tests were conducted on samples from white blood cells and 18 different organs in both adult horses and foals, whether healthy or with a variety of enteric infections.
  • A co-culture of PBMC on fetal horse kidney cells was also used to corroborate the results.

Key Findings

  • Through these methods, EHV-2 was detected in 79% of cases and EHV-5 in 63% of cases, across all types of tested organs.
  • When examining DNA from PBMC or buffy-coat, EHV-2 was found in 20% of cases and EHV-5 in 10%, with all but one of the positive samples coming from foals.
  • The co-culture method had limited success, being effective in detecting EHV-2, but not EHV-5.

Conclusion

  • The study verifies for the first time the existence of EHV-2 and EHV-5 infections in Iceland’s horse population.
  • The findings suggest that both viruses are quite common within the population.
  • This conclusion is critical to further understanding and addressing infectious diseases within the unique, isolated equine community in Iceland.

Cite This Article

APA
Torfason EG, Thorsteinsdóttir L, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V. (2008). Study of equid herpesviruses 2 and 5 in Iceland with a type-specific polymerase chain reaction. Res Vet Sci, 85(3), 605-611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.01.003

Publication

Research in veterinary science
ISSN: 0034-5288
NlmUniqueID: 0401300
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 85
Issue: 3
Pages: 605-611

Researcher Affiliations

Torfason, Einar G
  • Department of Medical Virology, Landspitali - University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Thorsteinsdóttir, Lilja
    Torsteinsdóttir, Sigurbjörg
      Svansson, Vilhjálmur

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • DNA Primers
        • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
        • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
        • Horses / growth & development
        • Horses / virology
        • Iceland
        • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
        • Reference Values
        • Rhadinovirus / classification
        • Rhadinovirus / genetics
        • Rhadinovirus / isolation & purification
        • Travel
        • Tumor Virus Infections / transmission
        • Tumor Virus Infections / veterinary

        Citations

        This article has been cited 20 times.
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