The pathology of bronchointerstitial pneumonia in young foals associated with the first outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.
Abstract: The first outbreak of equine influenza virus (EIV) infection was confirmed in Australia in 2007. Some EIV-positive young foals died with bronchointerstitial pneumonia, an rare disease process in this age group that is often postulated to be caused by viral infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe post mortem lesions in EIV-infected foals. Methods: Post mortem examinations were conducted on 11 young foals (age 2-12 days) submitted to the Scone Veterinary Hospital, NSW over a 2-month period in 2007. The foals had presented with or developed fatal pneumonia, and were known or suspected to be EIV-positive. Equine influenza virus nucleic acid was detected in tissue specimens using an Influenza A group reactive real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay. Results: Grossly there was diffuse or extensive pulmonary consolidation. Histological changes included: bronchiolar and alveolar necrosis; neutrophilic infiltration; hyaline membrane formation; and hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia of airway epithelium. Tissues for 10 foals were EIV-positive, with a positive nasal swab from the remaining animal. Conclusions: This is the first detailed pathological description of bronchointerstitial pneumonia associated with EIV infection in young foals. It is also the first series of such cases in which a causative agent has consistently been detected. Conclusions: Given the findings in this outbreak, and a previous outbreak in the UK in 1965 involving a similarly naive population, veterinary clinicians and pathologists should be aware that EIV can cause fatal bronchointerstitial pneumonia in young foals that do not have maternal immunity. The lesions did not differ from those previously reported in foals of various ages with bronchointerstitial pneumonia of other or undefined causes, indicating that this is most likely a stereotypical response to a variety of insults. Therefore, tissue specimens should be obtained from cases of pneumonia in young foals for virological and bacteriological testing.
Publication Date: 2008-03-07 PubMed ID: 18321807DOI: 10.2746/042516408X292214Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article discusses the first confirmed outbreak of Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) in Australia in 2007, particularly focusing on how it caused bronchointerstitial pneumonia in young foals, which resulted in their death. The article explains the results of post mortem examinations conducted on these foals, aiming to better understand the disease process and its relation to EIV.
Objective and Methods
- The objective of this study was to offer a detailed description of the post mortem lesions in EIV-infected foals.
- To pursue this objective, post mortem examinations were carried out on 11 young foals that were suspected to be EIV-positive.
- These foals, ranging from 2-12 days old, had been submitted to the Scone Veterinary Hospital in NSW, Australia over a two-month period in 2007.
- All these foals either exhibited symptoms of fatal pneumonia or developed it during the course, and the presence of EIV was detected using a specific assay on their tissue samples.
Results and Conclusion
- The results showed gross pulmonary consolidation – a process where the lung tissue becomes firm and solid, rather than elastic and aerated.
- Specific histological changes such as bronchiolar and alveolar necrosis (cell death), neutrophilic infiltration, hyaline membrane formation, and hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia of the airway epithelium were detected.
- The tissues of 10 foals tested positive for EIV, while a nasal swab from the remaining foal tested positive.
- The study crucially identified a link between EIV infection and bronchointerstitial pneumonia in young foals, marking this as the first series where such a causative agent has been consistently detected.
- While bronchointerstitial pneumonia has been identified in foals of varying ages before, the lesions in the EIV infected foals did not differ from previously reported cases, suggesting that this might be a common response to varied insults.
- The study strongly recommends obtaining tissue samples from young foals exhibiting pneumonia symptoms for virological and bacteriological testing, to explore further the pathways of such diseases.
Implications
- The study conclusively affirms that EIV can cause fatal bronchointerstitial pneumonia in foals without maternal immunity.
- This finding is particularly relevant for veterinary clinicians and pathologists, who need to be aware of this relation between EIV and young foals’ health.
- The research also helps in highlighting the importance of studying outbreaks in certain naive populations (animal populations with no previous exposure), such as the one that occurred in the UK in 1965 or the recent one in Australia.
Cite This Article
APA
Patterson-Kane JC, Carrick JB, Axon JE, Wilkie I, Begg AP.
(2008).
The pathology of bronchointerstitial pneumonia in young foals associated with the first outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.
Equine Vet J, 40(3), 199-203.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X292214 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
- Lung Diseases, Interstitial / epidemiology
- Lung Diseases, Interstitial / mortality
- Lung Diseases, Interstitial / pathology
- Lung Diseases, Interstitial / veterinary
- New South Wales / epidemiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / mortality
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / pathology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
Citations
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- Rozario C, Martínez-Sobrido L, McSorley HJ, Chauché C. Could Interleukin-33 (IL-33) Govern the Outcome of an Equine Influenza Virus Infection? Learning from Other Species.. Viruses 2021 Dec 15;13(12).
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- Sack A, Daramragchaa U, Chuluunbaatar M, Gonchigoo B, Bazartseren B, Tsogbadrakh N, Gray GC. Low Prevalence of Enzootic Equine Influenza Virus among Horses in Mongolia.. Pathogens 2017 Nov 30;6(4).
- Perez-Ecija A, Mendoza FJ, Estepa JC, Bautista MJ, Pérez J. Equid herpesvirus 1 and rhodococcus equi coinfection in a foal with bronchointerstitial pneumonia.. J Vet Med Sci 2016 Oct 1;78(9):1511-1513.
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