Tick-borne encephalitis virus in horses, Austria, 2011

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Equine Infectious Diseases
• Arthropod-borne Viruses

Background:

• Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) poses a significant threat to animal and human health.
• Understanding TBEV prevalence in different animal populations is crucial for effective disease control.
• Equine populations may serve as potential sentinels or reservoirs for TBEV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the infection rate of TBEV in a large cohort of horses in Austria.
• To identify risk factors associated with TBEV infection in horses.
• To assess the epidemiological significance of TBEV in Austrian equine populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted on 257 horses from 3 Austrian federal states.
• TBEV-specific antibodies were detected using standardized diagnostic assays.
• Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were employed to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

• An unexpectedly high TBEV infection rate of 26.1% was detected across the surveyed horse population.
• Younger horses exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of TBEV infection (p<0.001).
• Male horses were also found to have a statistically significant positive association with TBEV infection (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• The findings indicate a substantial TBEV prevalence in Austrian horses, highlighting a potential underrecognized disease burden.
• Age and sex are significant demographic factors influencing TBEV susceptibility in horses.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of horses in TBEV transmission cycles and to implement targeted prevention strategies.