The first isolation of equine arteritis virus in Argentina

This paper describes the first isolation of equine arteritis virus (EAV) in Argentina. The virus was isolated from the semen of an imported seropositive stallion held in isolation at a breeding farm in Tandil in the Buenos Aires Province. In addition, viral nucleic acid was detected in seminal plasma using the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The isolated virus was propagated in cell cultures and confirmed as EAV by indirect immunofluorescence and virus neutralisation, using a serum specific for the reference Bucyrus strain of EAV. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that EAV has been isolated in South America. The equine industry is very important for Argentina and international movement of horses is very intensive. This finding may have effects on the international trade of horses and semen from Argentina.