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Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2018; 30(4); 580-583; doi: 10.1177/1040638718767722

Systemic equid alphaherpesvirus 9 in a Grant’s zebra.

Abstract: A 2-y-old female Grant's zebra ( Equus quagga [ burchellii] boehmi) was presented with a clinical history of depression, anorexia, and weakness of 1-wk duration. Postmortem examination identified ulcers on the tongue and palate; a large abscess adjacent to the larynx; left lung consolidation; mild swelling, darkening, and congestion of the liver with accentuation of the lobular pattern; and edema and congestion of the distal small and large intestines. Histologic examination identified necrotizing bronchopneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, nephritis, and enterocolitis. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions were detected in syncytial cells and degenerate bronchial epithelium in the lungs and in some hepatocytes associated with necrotic foci. Bacterial cultures of the lung, liver, and laryngeal abscess failed to detect any significant pathogen. Lung and liver tested positive for equine herpesvirus with neuropathogenic marker by real-time PCR. Subsequently, equine herpesvirus was isolated in tissue culture, and the entire viral DNA polymerase gene (ORF30) was sequenced. The zebra lung isolate had a very close nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity to equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9; 99.6% and 99.8%, respectively) in contrast to the neuropathogenic T953 strain of EHV-1 (94.7% and 96.6%, respectively). Although zebras are considered the natural host for EHV-9, we document an unusual acute systemic, fatal EHV-9 infection in a 2-y-old Grant's zebra.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-12 PubMed ID: 29648506PubMed Central: PMC6505909DOI: 10.1177/1040638718767722Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study reports a case of a rare lethal infection caused by equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) in a 2-year-old female Grant’s zebra.

Introduction and Case Description

  • The study discusses a case of a 2-year-old female Grant’s zebra (Equus quagga [burchellii] boehmi) which suffered from depression, loss of appetite and weakness for a span of one week.
  • An autopsy of the deceased zebra revealed various symptoms such as ulcers on the tongue and palate, a sizeable abscess next to the larynx, consolidation of the left lung, swelling and darkening of the liver along with an increased lobular pattern, and edema and congestion in the distal small and large intestines.

Postmortem Examination

  • Upon microscopic examination of the sampled tissues, there were signs of necrotizing bronchopneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, nephritis, and enterocolitis.
  • Interestingly, the researchers observed eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in multicellular structures and degenerated bronchial epithelium in the lungs, as well as in some liver cells around necrotic regions.
  • Pathogen tests performed on samples from the lung, liver, and laryngeal abscess did not reveal any substantial bacterial sources.

PCR Testing and Sequencing

  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing identified the presence of equine herpesvirus in samples of the lung and liver.
  • Scientists were able to cultivate the equine herpesvirus in a laboratory setting, allowing them to sequence the entire viral DNA polymerase gene (ORF30).
  • The results revealed that the viral sequence from the zebra’s lung had high similarity with equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) — 99.6% in nucleotide sequence and 99.8% in amino acid sequence. This was contrasting to the neuropathogenic T953 strain of EHV-1, with which it shared 94.7% nucleotide and 96.6% amino acid sequence similarity.
  • The viral strain was more closely related to EHV-9, even though the natural host for EHV-9 is typically considered to be zebras.

Conclusion

  • This research study provides evidence of an unusual manifestation of a virulent, systemic, and ultimately fatal EHV-9 infection in a 2-year-old Grant’s zebra.
  • The findings emphasize the significance of studying cross-species viral transmissions and genetic variations among similar viral strains to gain a better understanding of the disease profiles in different species.

Cite This Article

APA
Moeller RB, Crossley B, Pipkin A, Li Y, Balasuriya UBR. (2018). Systemic equid alphaherpesvirus 9 in a Grant’s zebra. J Vet Diagn Invest, 30(4), 580-583. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638718767722

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 4
Pages: 580-583

Researcher Affiliations

Moeller, Robert B
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Davis Laboratory (Crossley), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Panama Equine Hospital, Bakersfield, CA (Pipkin).
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Li, Balasuriya).
Crossley, Beate
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Davis Laboratory (Crossley), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Panama Equine Hospital, Bakersfield, CA (Pipkin).
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Li, Balasuriya).
Pipkin, Arlena
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Davis Laboratory (Crossley), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Panama Equine Hospital, Bakersfield, CA (Pipkin).
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Li, Balasuriya).
Li, Yanqiu
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Davis Laboratory (Crossley), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Panama Equine Hospital, Bakersfield, CA (Pipkin).
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Li, Balasuriya).
Balasuriya, Udeni B R
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Davis Laboratory (Crossley), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
  • Panama Equine Hospital, Bakersfield, CA (Pipkin).
  • Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (Li, Balasuriya).

MeSH Terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Varicellovirus / classification
  • Varicellovirus / isolation & purification
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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