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Systemic equid alphaherpesvirus 9 in a Grant's zebra
Robert B Moeller1,2,3,4, Beate Crossley1,2,3,4, Arlena Pipkin1,2,3,4
1California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Tulare Laboratory (Moeller), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Summary
A young Grant's zebra died from an unusual, acute systemic infection caused by equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9). This equine herpesvirus diagnosis was confirmed through PCR and DNA sequencing, highlighting a fatal EHV-9 case in this species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Virology
- Zoological Medicine
Background:
- Grant's zebras are considered natural hosts for equid alphaherpesvirus 9 (EHV-9).
- Equine herpesviruses can cause various clinical signs in equids.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old Grant's zebra presented with depression, anorexia, and weakness, followed by necrotizing bronchopneumonia, hepatitis, nephritis, and enterocolitis.
- Postmortem findings included lingual ulcers, laryngeal abscess, lung consolidation, hepatic congestion, and intestinal edema.
- Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions were observed in lung and liver tissues.
Findings:
- Bacterial cultures were negative, but real-time PCR and viral isolation confirmed equine herpesvirus in lung and liver tissues.
- Sequencing of the viral DNA polymerase gene (ORF30) identified the isolate as EHV-9, with high sequence identity (99.6%) to known EHV-9 strains.
- The zebra EHV-9 isolate showed lower identity to neuropathogenic EHV-1 strains (94.7%).
Implications:
- This case documents an unusual, acute, and fatal systemic EHV-9 infection in a Grant's zebra.
- It suggests that EHV-9 can cause severe disease in its natural host, contrary to previous assumptions.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis and potential triggers of severe EHV-9 disease in zebras.