Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Role of equine herpesviruses as co-infecting agents in cases of abortion, placental disease and neonatal foal mortality

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Herpesviral infections frequently occur in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association of equine herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, EHV-5) with other causes of abortion, neonatal mortality or placental disorder. Sixty-seven abortions, 22 stillbirths, 14 cases of neonatal foal mortality and 3 cases of placental disease were investigated for infectious and non-infectious causes. Type-specific nested PCR assays and virus isolation were performed to detect EHV infections. A cause of fetal loss or placental disease was reached in 68 out 116 (58.7 %) cases. Twenty-seven cases were positive for EHV, and 22/27 (81.5 %) were positive for EHV-1 (16 neuropathogenic and 6 non-neuropathogenic strains), 4 (14.8 %) for EHV-2 and 3 (11.1 %) for EHV-5. The association between EHV infections and other etiological agents was statistically significant (two sided P = 0.002). The odds ratio of EHV DNA associated with other diagnoses, especially with bacterial infection and premature placental separation, was 10.88 (95 % confidence interval: 2.15–55.16). EHV-1 was the main viral cause of pregnancy loss in this study, also associated with other etiological agents, including EHV-2 and EHV-5. The latter viruses in particular need to be more fully investigated to elucidate what role either or both may play as co-infecting agents with other established infectious causes of reproductive disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackermann M (2006) Pathogenesis of gammaherpesvirus infections. Vet Microbiol 113:211–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allen GP (2007) Development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid diagnosis of neuropathogenic strains of equine herpesvirus-1. J Vet Diagn Investig 19:69–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen GP, Breathnach CC (2006) Quantification by real-time PCR of the magnitude and duration of leucocyte-associated viraemia in horses infected with neuropathogenic vs. non-neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1. Equine Vet J 38:252–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barr BS (2003) Pneumonia in weanlings. Vet Clin N Am Equine Pract 19:35–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrandeguy M, Thiry E (2012) Equine coital exanthema and its potential economic implications for the equine industry. Vet J 191:35–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler C, Werners A, Newton R (2011) Surveillance of infectious and non-infectious causes of equine abortion in the United Kingdom: 2006–2011. In the DEFRA/AHT/BEVA Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Report 7: http://www.aht.org.uk/pdf/equine_vol7_1_focus.pdf. Accessed 1 August 2012

  • Canelli E, Manna G, Autorino L, Cordioli P (2012) Analysis of Italian equid herpesvirus type 1 strains. J Equine Vet Sci 32:S65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davison AJ (2010) Herpesvirus systematics. Vet Microbiol 143:52–69

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dean AG, Sullivan KM, Soe MM (2012) OpenEpi: Open Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Health, Version 2.3.1. 2012. www.OpenEpi.com. Accessed 12 July 2012

  • Dynon K, Varrasso A, Ficorilli N, Holloway S, Reubel G, Li F, Hartley C, Studdert M, Drummer H (2001) Identification of equine herpesvirus 3 (equine coital exanthema virus), equine gammaherpesviruses 2 and 5, equine adenoviruses 1 and 2, equine arteritis virus and equine rhinitis A virus by polymerase chain reaction. Aust Vet J 79:695–702

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis WA, Bryson DG, McFerran JB (1976) Abortion associated with mixed Leptospira/equid herpesvirus 1 infection. Vet Rec 98:218–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feilen CP, Walker ST, Studdert MJ (1979) Equine herpesvirus type 3 (equine coital exanthema) in New South Wales. Aust Vet J 55:443–444

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fortier G, van Erck E, Pronost S, Lekeux P, Thiry E (2010) Equine gammaherpesviruses: pathogenesis, epidemiology and diagnosis. Vet J 186:148–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsche AK, Borchers K (2011) Detection of neuropathogenic strains of Equid Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) associated with abortions in Germany. Vet Microbiol 147:176–180

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galosi CM, de la Paz VC, Fernández LC, Martinez JP, Craig MI, Barrandeguy M, Etcheverrrigaray ME (2005) Isolation of equine herpesvirus-2 from the lung of an aborted fetus. J Vet Diagn Investig 17:500–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giles RC, Donahue JM, Hong CB, Tuttle PA, Petrites-Murphy MB, Poonacha KB, Roberts AW, Tramontin RR, Smith B, Swerczek TW (1993) Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal death in horses: 3,527 cases (1986–1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc 203:1170–1175

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gleeson LJ, Sullivan ND, Studdert MJ (1976) Equine herpesviruses: type 3 as an abortigenic agent. Aust Vet J 52:349–354

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goehring LS, van Maanen C, Berendsen M, Cullinane A, de Groot RJ, Rottier PJ, Wesselingh JJ, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM (2010) Experimental infection with neuropathogenic equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in adult horses. Vet J 186:180–187

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley CA, Dynon KJ, Mekuria ZH, El-Hage CM, Holloway SA, Gilkerson JR (2013) Equine gammaherpesviruses: perfect parasites? Vet Microbiol. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.05.031

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong CB, Donahue JM, Giles RC Jr, Petrites-Murphy MB, Poonacha KB, Roberts AW, Smith BJ, Tramontin RR, Tuttle PA, Swerczek TW (1993) Equine abortion and stillbirth in central Kentucky during 1988 and 1989 foaling seasons. J Vet Diagn Investig 5:560–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jatczak B, Gejdel E, Pajak J, Podwińska J, Błach-Olszewska Z (2001) Study on risk factors for transplacental viral infections; effect of bacterial factors and double viral infections on virus replication in placenta and amniotic membranes. Placenta 22:360–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laugier C, Foucher N, Sevin C, Leon A, Tapprest J (2011) A 24-year retrospective study of equine abortion in Normandy (France). J Equine Vet Sci 31:116–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Léon A, Fortier G, Fortier C, Freymuth F, Tapprest J, Leclercq R, Pronost S (2008) Detection of equine herpesviruses in aborted foetuses by consensus PCR. Vet Microbiol 126:20–29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marenzoni ML, Coppola G, Maranesi M, Passamonti F, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Verini Supplizi A, Thiry E, Coletti M (2010a) Age-dependent prevalence of equid herpesvirus 5 infection. Vet Res Commun 34:703–708

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marenzoni ML, Coppola G, Maranesi M, Passamonti F, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Verini Supplizi A, Thiry E, Coletti M (2010b) Equid herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) infection in 15 foals. Ippologia 21:31–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Marenzoni ML, Passamonti F, Lepri E, Cercone M, Capomaccio S, Cappelli K, Felicetti M, Coppola G, Coletti M, Thiry E (2011) Quantification of Equid herpesvirus 5 DNA in clinical and necropsy specimens collected from a horse with equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis. J Vet Diagn Investig 23:802–806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marenzoni ML, Lepri E, Casagrande Proietti P, Bietta A, Coletti M, Timoney PJ, Passamonti F (2012) Causes of equine abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death in central Italy. Vet Rec 170:272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordengrahn A, Rusvai M, Merza M, Ekström J, Morein B, Belák S (1996) Equine herpesvirus type 2 (EHV-2) as a predisposing factor for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals: prevention of the bifactorial disease with EHV-2 immunostimulating complexes. Vet Microbiol 51:55–68

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nordengrahn A, Merza M, Ros C, Lindholmc A, Palfl V, Hannant D, Belák S (2002) Prevalence of equine herpesvirus types 2 and 5 in horse populations by using type-specific PCR assays. Vet Res 33:251–259

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nugent J, Birch-Machin I, Smith KC, Mumford JA, Swann Z, Newton JR, Bowden RJ, Allen GP, Davis-Poynter N (2006) Analysis of equid herpesvirus 1 strain variation reveals a point mutation of the DNA polymerase strongly associated with neuropathogenic versus nonneuropathogenic disease outbreaks. J Virol 80:4047–4060

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins GA, Goodman LB, Tsujimura K, Van de Walle GR, Kim SG, Dubovi EJ, Osterrieder N (2009) Investigation of the prevalence of neurologic equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) in a 23-year retrospective analysis (1984–2007). Vet Microbiol 139:375–378

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pronost S, Léon A, Legrand L, Fortier C, Miszczak F, Freymuth F, Fortier G (2010) Neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic variants of equine herpesvirus 1 in France. Vet Microbiol 145:329–333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pusterla N, David Wilson W, Madigan JE, Ferraro GL (2009) Equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy: a review of recent developments. Vet J 180:279–289

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith KC, Blunden AS, Whitwell KE, Dunn KA, Wales AD (2003) A survey of equine abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death in the UK from 1988 to 1997. Equine Vet J 35:496–501

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith KC, Whitwell KE, Blunden AS, Bestbier ME, Scase TJ, Geraghty RJ, Nugent J, Davis-Poynter NJ, Cardwell JM (2004) Equine herpesvirus-1 abortion: atypical cases with lesions largely or wholly restricted to the placenta. Equine Vet J 36:79–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith KL, Allen GP, Branscum AJ, Cook FR, Vickers ML, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UB (2010) The increased prevalence of neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1 in equine abortions. Vet Microbiol 141:5–11

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tengelsen LA, Yamini B, Mullaney TP, Bell TG, Render JA, Patterson JS, Steficek BA, Fitzgerald SD, Kennedy FA, Slanker MR, Ramos-Vara JA (1997) A 12-year retrospective study of equine abortion in Michigan. J Vet Diagn Investig 9:303–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsujimura K, Oyama T, Katayama Y, Muranaka M, Bannai H, Nemoto M, Yamanaka T, Kondo T, Kato M, Matsumura T (2011) Prevalence of equine herpesvirus type 1 strains of neuropathogenic genotype in a major breeding area of Japan. J Vet Med Sci 73:1663–1667

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varrasso A, Dynon K, Ficorilli N, Hartley CA, Studdert MJ, Drummer HE (2001) Identification of equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 by polymerase chain reaction. Aust Vet J 79:563–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vissani MA, Becerra ML, Olguín Perglione C, Tordoya MS, Miño S, Barrandeguy M (2009) Neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic genotypes of Equid Herpesvirus type 1 in Argentina. Vet Microbiol 139:361–364

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams N (2011) Equine abortion of unknown cause. Equine Dis Q 20:5–6

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Mr. Carlo Sanesi for his skilful technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Diagnostic and Veterinary Clinic Department, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Maria Luisa Marenzoni, Valentina Stefanetti, Mauro Coletti & Fabrizio Passamonti

  2. Department of Biopathological Science and Hygiene of Food and Animal Production, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Annalisa Bietta, Elvio Lepri & Patrizia Casagrande Proietti

  3. IZSLER, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “B. Ubertini”, Virology laboratory, Brescia, Italy

    Paolo Cordioli & Elena Canelli

  4. Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Lexington, KY, USA

    Peter J. Timoney

Authors
  1. Maria Luisa Marenzoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Annalisa Bietta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elvio Lepri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Patrizia Casagrande Proietti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Paolo Cordioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Elena Canelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Valentina Stefanetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Mauro Coletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Peter J. Timoney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Fabrizio Passamonti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Luisa Marenzoni.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 64 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marenzoni, M.L., Bietta, A., Lepri, E. et al. Role of equine herpesviruses as co-infecting agents in cases of abortion, placental disease and neonatal foal mortality. Vet Res Commun 37, 311–317 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-013-9578-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-013-9578-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation