The prevalence of latent Equid herpesviruses in the tissues of 40 abattoir horses.
Abstract: Equid herpesviruses 1 or 4 (EHV-1 or -4) were isolated by cocultivation from 60% of 40 horses examined at slaughter. The lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract were the most common source of virus. EHV-1 or EHV-4 was never isolated from the trigeminal ganglia (SLG). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected virus in 87.5% of bronchial lymph nodes and a similar level in the trigeminal ganglia that were examined. By both assays approximately one third of the positive animals harboured both viruses. Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) was isolated from all but one of the horses and from > 75% of the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract; alpha viruses were isolated only in the presence of EHV-2. The results indicate that latent EHV-1 and EHV-4 are widespread in the equine population and that the primary site of latency is the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract.
Publication Date: 1994-03-01 PubMed ID: 8575377DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04353.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the widespread presence of Equid herpesviruses 1 and 4 (EHV-1 or EHV-4) in 40 horses and finds that the primary site of latency is the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract.
Objective of the Research
The research aims to discern the presence and prevalence of latent Equid herpesviruses 1 and 4 (EHV-1 or EHV-4) in horses. By analysing the tissues of 40 horses examined at slaughter, the researchers were able to ascertain the occurrence and distribution of these herpesviruses in the equine population.
Methodology
- The researchers used co-cultivation to isolate EHV-1 or -4 from the horses.
- The lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract were found to be the most common virus source.
- The researchers used the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect the presence of theses viruses in the bronchial lymph nodes and the trigeminal ganglia.
Findings
- EHV-1 or -4 was isolated from 60% of the 40 horses examined.
- These viruses were never isolated from trigeminal ganglia (SLG).
- Virus presence was detected in 87.5% of bronchial lymph nodes and a similar percentage in the trigeminal ganglia that were examined.
- Approximately a third of the positive animals harbored both EHV-1 and EHV-4.
- Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) was isolated from all but one of the horses and from more than 75% of the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract.
- Alpha viruses were isolated only in the presence of EHV-2.
Conclusion
The results of the study imply that latent EHV-1 and EHV-4 are widespread in the equine population. Moreover, the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract were identified as the primary site of latency.
Cite This Article
APA
Edington N, Welch HM, Griffiths L.
(1994).
The prevalence of latent Equid herpesviruses in the tissues of 40 abattoir horses.
Equine Vet J, 26(2), 140-142.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04353.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Disease, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Abattoirs
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal / analysis
- Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
- DNA, Viral / analysis
- DNA, Viral / genetics
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / virology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / genetics
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / immunology
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 1, Equid / physiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Lymph Nodes / virology
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prevalence
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
- Virus Latency
Citations
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- Onasanya AE, El-Hage C, Diaz-Méndez A, Vaz PK, Legione AR, Browning GF, Devlin JM, Hartley CA. Whole genome sequence analysis of equid gammaherpesvirus -2 field isolates reveals high levels of genomic diversity and recombination. BMC Genomics 2022 Aug 30;23(1):622.
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- Giessler KS, Samoilowa S, Soboll Hussey G, Kiupel M, Matiasek K, Sledge DG, Liesche F, Schlegel J, Fux R, Goehring LS. Viral Load and Cell Tropism During Early Latent Equid Herpesvirus 1 Infection Differ Over Time in Lymphoid and Neural Tissue Samples From Experimentally Infected Horses. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:621.
- Sutton G, Thieulent C, Fortier C, Hue ES, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Pléau A, Deslis A, Guitton E, Paillot R, Pronost S. Identification of a New Equid Herpesvirus 1 DNA Polymerase (ORF30) Genotype with the Isolation of a C(2254)/H(752) Strain in French Horses Showing no Major Impact on the Strain Behaviour. Viruses 2020 Oct 13;12(10).
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- Schmitz M, Neugebauer E, Full F, Conn KL. Cross-Species Analysis of Transcriptomic Response to Alpha-Herpesvirus Infection in Human, Bovine and Equine Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2026 Jan 27;27(3).
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