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Equine Transport and Changes in Equid Herpesvirus' Status
Katharine E Muscat1, Barbara Padalino1,2,3, Carol A Hartley4
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|October 16, 2018
Summary
Transportation may increase shedding and reactivation of equid gammaherpesviruses (EHV-2/-5) in horses, potentially contributing to respiratory disease. This contrasts with alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1/-4), which showed no significant changes post-transport.
Area of Science:
- Equine virology
- Equine respiratory disease
- Immunology
Background:
- Transport stress can lead to immunosuppression and opportunistic infections in horses.
- Equid herpesviruses (EHV) are implicated in equine respiratory disease, with alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-4) historically being the focus.
- The role of gammaherpesviruses (EHV-2, EHV-5) in transport-related respiratory illness is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ecology of equid herpesviruses (EHV) in horses subjected to transport.
- To explore EHV reactivation, infection, and shedding patterns associated with road transport.
- To assess the potential contribution of EHV to transport-related respiratory disease.
Main Methods:
- Twelve horses underwent an 8-hour road transport event.
- Serum, tracheal washes, and nasal swabs were collected pre- and post-transport for serological and qPCR analysis of EHV-1, -2, -4, and -5.
- Respiratory endoscopy was performed to assess airway inflammation.
Main Results:
- Six horses developed subclinical respiratory disease (neutrophilic airway infiltrates) post-transport.
- No EHV-1 or EHV-4 seroconversion or increased qPCR detection occurred.
- Increased EHV-2 shedding and potential reactivation were observed post-transport, with evidence of transmission among horses.
- EHV-2 or EHV-5 positive horses were more likely to develop airway inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Transportation may promote increased shedding, transmission, and reactivation of equid gammaherpesviruses (EHV-2, EHV-5).
- Unlike alphaherpesviruses, gammaherpesviruses warrant further investigation for their role in transport-related respiratory disease.
- EHV-2 and EHV-5 may contribute to equine respiratory issues, possibly via immunomodulatory effects.