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Veterinary microbiology2006; 116(4); 249-257; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.05.002

Temporal detection of equine herpesvirus infections of a cohort of mares and their foals.

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of equine herpesviruses (EHV) 1-5 in the nasal secretions (NS) of a cohort of 12 mares and their foals from birth to 6 months of age, estimate the prevalence of EHV-1-5 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of selected foals, and investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the various strains of EHV-2 and 5. Virus-specific PCR assays were used to detect EHV-1-5 in NS and PBMC. A homologous portion of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of the various strains of EHV-2 and 5 was sequenced and compared. EHV-2, 4, and 5 were all detected in NS from the horses, but only EHV-4 was associated with respiratory disease (P=0.005). EHV-2 and 5 infections were both common, but foals shed EHV-2 in their NS earlier in life than EHV-5 (P=0.01). Latent EHV-2 and 5 infections were detected in the PBMC of 75 and 88%, respectively, of the foals at approximately 6 months of age. The strains of EHV-2 shed in the NS of individual horses were more genetically heterogeneous than the strains of EHV-5 (95.5-99.3% versus 98.8-99.3% nucleotide identity, respectively). One-month-old foals typically shed strains of EHV-2 that were identical to those infecting their dams whereas older foals often shed virus strains that were different from those of their dams. Although herpesvirus infections were ubiquitous in this cohort of horses, there were distinct clinical consequences and clear epidemiological differences between infections with the different viruses.
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Publication Date: 2006-06-13 PubMed ID: 16774810DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.05.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the prevalence and effects of equine herpesviruses (EHV) 1-5, occurring in mares and their foals from birth to 6 months of age. It also examines the genetic diversity among different strains of EHV-2 and 5.

Research Methodology and Goals

  • The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of EHV 1-5 in the nasal secretions of 12 mares and their foals.
  • The research also sought to observe the prevalence of EHV-1-5 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of chosen foals.
  • The researchers studied phylogenetic relationships among different strains of EHV-2 and 5, by comparing sequences of a section of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene.

Detection and Comparison of EHV-1-5

  • EHV-2, 4, and 5 were found in the nasal secretions of the horses. Notably, only EHV-4 was associated with respiratory disease.
  • While EHV-2 and 5 infections were common, the research highlighted that foals started shedding EHV-2 in their nasal secretions earlier in life than EHV-5.
  • The study discovered infected PBMC in 75% and 88% of the foals with latent EHV-2 and 5, respectively, around the age of 6 months.

Genetic Diversity among EHV Strains

  • On comparing the genetic diversity of the strains, those of EHV-2 showed more heterogeneity (varied between 95.5-99.3% identity) than EHV-5 strains (98.8-99.3% identity).
  • Findings also revealed that one-month-old foals usually shed identical strains of EHV-2 as their dams. However, older foals often shed different virus strains than their dams, suggesting a shift in the EHV-2 strain over time.

Conclusions on Equine Herpesvirus Infections

  • Overall, the research indicated that while herpesvirus infections were widespread in the studied horde, the impact and epidemiological patterns differed among each of the various viruses.

Cite This Article

APA
Bell SA, Balasuriya UB, Gardner IA, Barry PA, Wilson WD, Ferraro GL, MacLachlan NJ. (2006). Temporal detection of equine herpesvirus infections of a cohort of mares and their foals. Vet Microbiol, 116(4), 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.05.002

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 0378-1135
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 116
Issue: 4
Pages: 249-257

Researcher Affiliations

Bell, Stephanie A
  • Equine Viral Disease Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Balasuriya, Udeni B R
    Gardner, Ian A
      Barry, Peter A
        Wilson, W David
          Ferraro, Gregory L
            MacLachlan, N James

              MeSH Terms

              • Aging / immunology
              • Animals
              • Animals, Newborn
              • Base Sequence
              • Cohort Studies
              • DNA, Viral / chemistry
              • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
              • Female
              • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
              • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
              • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
              • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / classification
              • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
              • Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
              • Herpesvirus 3, Equid / classification
              • Herpesvirus 3, Equid / genetics
              • Herpesvirus 3, Equid / isolation & purification
              • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / classification
              • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics
              • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
              • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
              • Horse Diseases / virology
              • Horses
              • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
              • Molecular Sequence Data
              • Nasal Mucosa / virology
              • Phylogeny
              • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
              • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
              • Prevalence
              • Rhadinovirus / classification
              • Rhadinovirus / genetics
              • Rhadinovirus / isolation & purification
              • Species Specificity
              • Varicellovirus / classification
              • Varicellovirus / genetics
              • Varicellovirus / isolation & purification

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