Subclinical infection and potential shedding routes of equine parvovirus-hepatitis among hospitalized horses in Austria.
Abstract: Equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H) can cause Theiler's disease and subclinical hepatitis in horses. Objective: Assess the frequency of subclinical EqPV-H infection in hospitalized horses and to study viral transmission by investigating potential shedding routes. Methods: One hundred sixteen equids, that presented to the University Equine Hospital of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna between February 2021 and March 2022, for causes other than hepatopathy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, samples (serum, feces, nasal, and buccal swabs) of hospitalized horses were collected. Sera were screened for the presence of anti-EqPV-H antibodies by a luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay. Quantitative PCR was used for the detection of EqPV-H DNA in the samples and a nested PCR was used for further validation. Results: Seroprevalence was 10.3% (12/116) and viremia occurred in 12.9% (15/116) of the serologically positive horses. The detected viral load in serum varied from non-quantifiable amount to 1.3 × 10 genome equivalents per milliliter of serum. A low viral load of EqPV-H DNA was detected in 2 nasal swabs and 1 fecal sample. Conclusions: EqPV-H DNA was detected in nasal secretions and feces of viremic horses, which could pose a risk to naive hospitalized horses. It is advisable to screen hospitalized horses that are potential donors of blood or plasma to reduce the risk of iatrogenic EqPV-H transmission.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2024-06-20 PubMed ID: 38899610PubMed Central: PMC11256187DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17129Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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Overview
Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), a virus known to cause liver disease and subclinical infections in horses, was studied in hospitalized horses in Austria to determine how commonly horses carry the virus without symptoms and to identify possible ways the virus might spread.
Background
- Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) is an infectious agent known to cause Theiler’s disease, a type of hepatitis in horses.
- The disease can present as severe liver inflammation or subclinical (no obvious symptoms) infection.
- Understanding the prevalence of subclinical infection and routes of virus shedding is important to control transmission, especially in hospital environments.
Objectives
- Assess how frequently hospitalized horses carry EqPV-H without showing signs of hepatitis (subclinical infection).
- Identify potential routes through which EqPV-H is shed and transmitted, such as nasal secretions or feces.
Methods
- The study was a cross-sectional analysis conducted at the University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.
- 116 equids (horses and related species) admitted for reasons other than liver disease were enrolled from February 2021 to March 2022.
- Samples collected included:
- Serum (blood component)
- Feces (for virus shedding via stool)
- Nasal swabs (to detect respiratory shedding)
- Buccal (mouth) swabs
- Serum was tested for antibodies to EqPV-H using a luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay, which indicates previous or current exposure.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to detect and quantify EqPV-H DNA in all sample types, indicating active infection or shedding.
- Nested PCR provided additional validation to confirm the presence of viral DNA.
Results
- Seroprevalence: 10.3% (12 out of 116 horses) had antibodies against EqPV-H, showing exposure to the virus.
- Viremia (presence of virus in the blood): Detected in 12.9% (15 out of 116 horses), all of whom had antibodies.
- Viral loads in serum ranged widely up to 1.3 × 10 genome equivalents/mL, from amounts too low to quantify to significant levels.
- Viral DNA was detected in nasal swabs of 2 horses and feces of 1 horse, but at low levels, suggesting possible shedding routes.
Conclusions
- EqPV-H DNA in nasal secretions and feces indicates that the virus can be shed via respiratory and gastrointestinal routes.
- This sheds light on the potential for transmission between horses in hospital settings, particularly where horses are housed closely.
- Horses presenting with viremia may pose an infection risk to others, including via blood or plasma donations.
- It is advisable to screen horses that may be donors for blood or plasma to mitigate iatrogenic (treatment-related) transmission of EqPV-H.
Implications
- The findings highlight the importance of infection control measures when handling hospitalized horses.
- Awareness of subclinical carriers can guide veterinarians to prevent unintentional spread of EqPV-H.
- Blood and plasma donor horses should be carefully screened to avoid circulating the virus through transfusions.
- Further research may be needed to understand how EqPV-H spreads in field conditions and to develop strategies for control.
Cite This Article
APA
Lale D, Dirks EE, Preining I, Lyrakis M, Gömer A, Steinmann E, Cavalleri JV, Ramsauer AS.
(2024).
Subclinical infection and potential shedding routes of equine parvovirus-hepatitis among hospitalized horses in Austria.
J Vet Intern Med, 38(4), 2373-2379.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17129 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Unit for Hospital Hygiene, Infection Prevention and Control, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Platform for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Parvoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Parvoviridae Infections / virology
- Parvoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Austria / epidemiology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / virology
- Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / epidemiology
- Male
- Virus Shedding
- Female
- Parvovirus / isolation & purification
- Feces / virology
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Viremia / veterinary
- DNA, Viral
- Viral Load / veterinary
Grant Funding
- PR 2020-11 / Foundation PRO Pferd, Switzerland
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
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