This work was supported by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and by the Program for Economically Important Infectious Animal Diseases at Colorado State University through a grant from the USDA:CSREES.
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Standard Article
Nasal Shedding of Equine Herpesvirus-1 from Horses in an Outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy in Western Canada
Article first published online: 15 FEB 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00885.x
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Additional Information
How to Cite
Burgess, B.A., Tokateloff, N., Manning, S., Lohmann, K., Lunn, D.P., Hussey, S.B. and Morley, P.S. (2012), Nasal Shedding of Equine Herpesvirus-1 from Horses in an Outbreak of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy in Western Canada. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 26: 384–392. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00885.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 MAR 2012
- Article first published online: 15 FEB 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 3 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 5 NOV 2011
- Manuscript Received: 22 JUN 2011
- Abstract
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- Cited By
Keywords:
- EHV-1;
- Myeloencephalitis;
- Neurologic;
- PCR
Background
There is little information on the duration of nasal shedding of EHV-1 from horses with naturally occurring equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM).
Objectives
To evaluate the duration of nasal shedding of EHV-1 in horses affected by EHM.
Animals
One hundred and four horses naturally exposed to EHV-1, 20 of which had clinical signs of EHM.
Methods
All horses on affected premises were monitored. Those horses developing EHM were sampled in a longitudinal outbreak investigation. Nasal swabs were collected daily from 16 of 20 horses affected by EHM. A qPCR was performed on 98 of 246 nasal swab samples to determine nasal shedding duration. Historical and clinical information was analyzed to evaluate potential risk factors for developing EHM and duration of shedding during this outbreak.
Results
The last day shedding was detected in any horse was Disease Day 9. EHV-1 was detected in two-thirds of horses tested on Disease Days 0–3. The amount of EHV-1 DNA found in nasal swabs varied markedly and was not associated with disease severity or age. The odds of developing EHM were greater for febrile horses (OR = 20.3; 95% CI 3.4–390.3; P = .01) as well as for horses attending the riding clinic (OR = 4.1; 95% CI 0.84–21.65; P = .08).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Biosecurity measures should be implemented for a minimum of 14 days beyond the onset of clinical signs of EHM. Animal managers cannot rely on the severity of clinical signs to predict the duration of EHV-1 shedding.