Open AccessAtaxia and Paresis with Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Infection in a Herd of Riding School Horses
Author(s) -
Friday Philippa A.,
Scarratt W. Kent,
Elvinger Francois,
Timoney Peter J.,
Bonda Anne
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2000.tb02236.x
Subject(s) - medicine , paresis , ataxia , equine herpesvirus 1 , horse , serology , herd , surgery , veterinary medicine , virology , antibody , immunology , virus , viral disease , herpesviridae , paleontology , psychiatry , biology
An outbreak of neurologic disease associated with serologic evidence of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV‐1) infection occurred in a herd of 46 riding school horses. Ataxia and paresis were observed in 14 geldings and 5 barren mares. Eight affected horses had distal limb edema, 1 horse had a head tilt, and 3 others had urinary incontinence. Other clinical signs included fever, depression, and inappetance in 30 horses. Seven horses with neurologic signs were treated with acyclovir. Serum neutralizing antibody titers against EHV‐1 increased 4‐fold between acute and convalescent samples or exceeded 1: 256 in 19 of 44 horses, confirming recent infection. A significantly greater proportion of horses that seroconverted were mares ( P = .014). Of the 19 horses exhibiting ataxia and paresis, 17 made a complete recovery, 1 made a partial recovery, and 1 was euthanized.