Viral respiratory disease of the horse.

The research article outlines the methods of diagnosing viral respiratory diseases in horses, the specific types of viruses causing such illnesses in North America, and the current medications and vaccines available. The study also conveys ongoing studies to improve these treatments and describes the importance of understanding the distinct roles of surface proteins in these viruses.

Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Diseases in Horses

• The researchers stress that diagnosing viral respiratory conditions heavily relies on laboratory procedures which include virus isolation and demonstrating a significant rise in serum antibody titers.
• To get accurate results, it is crucial to obtain nasopharyngeal swabs from horses during the early stage of illness, specifically when the virus is replicating, to successfully isolate the virus.
• The samples should be placed in a virus transport medium and sent to the laboratory immediately at a refrigerated temperature.

Viral Infections Causing Outbreaks

• The research identifies three main viral infections that result in outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses in North America, namely equine influenza, rhinopneumonitis, and equine viral arteritis.
• They acknowledge the possibility of the introduction of African horse sickness in North America despite having strict horse importation regulations.

Treatment of Viral Respiratory Diseases in Horses

• A variety of inactivated and modified live vaccines are currently available to prevent clinical disease and stop the spread of common viral respiratory pathogens, as there are no specific antiviral treatments for these infections.

Ongoing Research and Improvements

• The article hints at numerous studies being done to enhance the potency and longevity of immunity provided by present influenza and rhinopneumonitis vaccines.
• This line of research is focused on comprehending the importance of specific glycoprotein antigens on the virus surface that trigger different host immune responses.
• The goal of this research is to determine if the glycoprotein antigens are stimulatory or suppressive, which would aid in the development of more effective vaccines.