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Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2011; 74(4); 271-278;

Surveillance of equine respiratory viruses in Ontario.

Abstract: The objective of this project was to develop and implement an active surveillance program for the early and rapid detection of equine influenza viruses in Ontario. For this purpose, from October 2003 to October 2005, nasopharyngeal swabs and acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from 115 client-owned horses in 23 outbreaks of respiratory disease in Ontario. Sera were paired and tested for antibody to equine influenza 1 (AE1-H7N7), equine influenza 2 (AE2-H3N8), equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV1 and EHV4), and equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV). Overall, the cause-specific morbidity rate of equine influenza virus in the respiratory outbreaks was 56.5% as determined by the single radial hemolysis (SRH) test. The AE2-H3N8 was isolated from 15 horses in 5 outbreaks. A 4-fold increase in antibody levels or the presence of a high titer against ERAV or ERBV was observed in 10 out of 13 outbreaks in which AE2-H3N8 was diagnosed as the primary cause of disease. In conclusion, AE2-H3N8 was found to be an important contributor to equine respiratory viral disease. Equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV) represented an important component in the equine respiratory disease of performing horses. L’objectif du présent projet était de développer et mettre en place un programme de surveillance active pour la détection hâtive et rapide des virus de l’influenza équin en Ontario. À cette fin, durant la période allant de octobre 2003 à octobre 2005, des écouvillons naso-pharyngés et des échantillons de sérum prélevés en phase aiguë et de convalescence ont été pris chez 115 chevaux de clients lors de 23 épisodes de maladies respiratoires en Ontario. Les sérums ont été pairés et testés pour la présence d’anticorps contre l’influenza équin de type 1 (AE1-H7N7), l’influenza équin de type 2 (AE2-H3N8), les herpès virus équins de type 1 et 4 (EHV1 et EHV4), et les virus de la rhinite équine A et B (ERAV et ERBV). De manière globale, le taux de morbidité spécifique associé au virus de l’influenza équin dans les poussées de cas de maladies respiratoires était de 56,5 % tel que déterminé par l’épreuve d’hémolyse radiale simple (SRH). Le virus AE2-H3N8 a été isolé de 15 chevaux dans 5 épisodes. Une augmentation d’un facteur de 4 des titres d’anticorps ou la présence d’un titre d’anticorps élevé envers ERAV ou ERBV a été observée dans 10 des 13 épisodes lors desquels le virus AE2-H3N8 a été identifié comme la cause première de la maladie. En conclusion, le virus AE2-H3N8 a été identifié comme étant un contributeur important des maladies respiratoires équines. Les virus de la rhinite équine A et B (ERAV et ERBV) pourrait également représenté une composante importante des maladies respiratoires équines chez les chevaux de performance. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)
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Publication Date: 2011-01-05 PubMed ID: 21197227PubMed Central: PMC2949340
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 was focused on developing an active detection mechanism for equine influenza viruses in Ontario. Through the monitoring of horses from 2003 to 2005, it was concluded that AE2-H3N8 was a significant contributor to equine respiratory diseases and that equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV) were a key component in the respiratory disease of performing horses.

Research Methodology

  • The research was held from October 2003 to October 2005 and involved the collection of nasopharyngeal swabs and acute and convalescent serum samples from 115 client-owned horses. These horses were part of 23 outbreaks of respiratory diseases in Ontario.
  • The sera samples collected were paired and tested for the presence of antibodies related to equine influenza 1 (AE1-H7N7), equine influenza 2 (AE2-H3N8), equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV1 and EHV4), and equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV).

Research Findings

  • The results showed that the cause-specific morbidity rate of equine influenza virus in the respiratory outbreaks was 56.5% as determined by the single radial hemolysis (SRH) test.
  • A particularly significant result was the isolation of the AE2-H3N8 virus from 15 horses in 5 outbreaks. This was a noteworthy finding that highlights the prevalence of this strain of virus in the equine population.
  • There was also a 4-fold increase in antibody levels or the presence of a high titer against ERAV or ERBV in 10 out of 13 outbreaks where AE2-H3N8 was diagnosed as the primary cause of disease.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that AE2-H3N8 was a major contributor to equine respiratory viral diseases. This conclusion was based on its frequency in the sampled population and the increase in antibody levels in response to it.
  • The study also found that equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV) were significant in equine respiratory diseases, particularly in performing horses. This suggests that these diseases may have significant impacts on the health and performance of horses in competitive or task-oriented fields.

Cite This Article

APA
Diaz-Mendez A, Viel L, Hewson J, Doig P, Carman S, Chambers T, Tiwari A, Dewey C. (2011). Surveillance of equine respiratory viruses in Ontario. Can J Vet Res, 74(4), 271-278.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 74
Issue: 4
Pages: 271-278

Researcher Affiliations

Diaz-Mendez, Andrés
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Viel, Laurent
    Hewson, Joanne
      Doig, Paul
        Carman, Susy
          Chambers, Thomas
            Tiwari, Ashish
              Dewey, Catherine

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Antibodies, Viral / blood
                • Chi-Square Distribution
                • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
                • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
                • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
                • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics
                • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / virology
                • Horses
                • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / genetics
                • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
                • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / genetics
                • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / isolation & purification
                • Ontario / epidemiology
                • Phylogeny
                • RNA, Viral / chemistry
                • RNA, Viral / genetics
                • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
                • Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
                • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
                • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
                • Rhinovirus / genetics
                • Rhinovirus / isolation & purification
                • Sequence Analysis, DNA
                • Serotyping / veterinary

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