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Abortogenic viruses in horses
Author(s) -
Bażanów B. A.,
Jackulak N. A.,
Frącka A. B.,
Staroniewicz Z. M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12084
Subject(s) - medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , viral shedding , subclinical infection , equine herpesvirus 1 , seroconversion , outbreak , asymptomatic , virology , vaccination , virus , disease , immunology , viral disease , herpesviridae , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary Viral causes of abortion include equine viral arteritis ( EVA ) and infection with equine herpesviruses‐1 and ‐4 ( EHV ‐1 and EHV ‐4). Transmission of equine arteritis virus ( EAV ) occurs through respiratory, venereal or transplacental routes. Horizontal respiratory transmission of EAV results from exposure to infective nasopharyngeal secretions from acutely infected horses. For this transmission to occur, direct and close contact between horses is necessary. Venereal infection is an efficient method of transmission, with seroconversion of 85 to 100% of seronegative mares bred to virus shedding stallions. Asymptomatic carrier stallions are the essential natural reservoir of equine arteritis virus. Equine herpesviruses‐1 and ‐4 infect a susceptible host, replicate and establish a lifelong latent infection without any associated clinical signs. Reactivation of latent infections can result from factors such as stress and intercurrent disease. The control of these diseases is by implementation of appropriate management and hygiene measures, supplemented by vaccination and, in the case of EVA , by the identification of persistently infected stallions, which can be removed from breeding or continue to be bred to if managed under controlled conditions to prevent the risk of an outbreak of the disease.