[Virologico-serologic studies in horses with respiratory tract diseases].

This research investigates the levels of antibodies against certain respiratory viruses in both clinically healthy horses and those with acute or chronic respiratory diseases. The study found varying levels of antibody prevalence for each virus that was studied.

Research Methodology

• The researchers collected and studied sera and paired serum samples from a total of 1081 horses. These horses were either healthy, suffering from acute respiratory diseases, or chronic respiratory diseases.
• The serum samples were collected between 1986 and 1987, and they were tested for antibodies against a range of respiratory viruses, such as Influenza 1 and 2, equine herpesvirus type 1/4, mammalian reovirus type 1-3, equine rhinovirus type 1, equine adenovirus type 1, and equine arteritis virus.

Key Findings

• The researchers found that different horses had different levels of antibody prevalence. For instance, the prevalence stood at 57.2% for Influenza 1, 59.5% for Influenza 2, 81.5% for equine herpesvirus type 1/4, 50.3% for mammalian reovirus type 1, 43.0% for mammalian reovirus type 2, 75.9% for mammalian reovirus type 3, 97.6% for equine adenovirus type 1, 82.5% for equine rhinovirus type 1, and 8.7% for equine arteritis virus.
• The study found that with the exception of equine arteritis virus and equine adenovirus type 1, clinically unwell horses generally had higher antibody ratios than clinically healthy horses.
• Antibodies to equine arteritis virus and equine adenovirus type 1 were present in almost equal amounts in all groups of horses.
• Of the 257 horses with acute respiratory diseases, 3 showed a significant rise in the antibody titer against Influenza 1, 30 against Influenza 2, 54 against equine herpesvirus type 1/4, 1 against mammalian reovirus type 1 and 3, 11 against equine adenovirus type 1, and 26 against equine rhinovirus type 1.