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Pathogens
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Respiratory Viruses of Equids
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Respiratory Viruses of Equids

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2024) | Viewed by 5018

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nicola Pusterla

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Interests: viruses; respiratory tract; equids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Equine respiratory viruses remain a leading cause of equine morbidity and mortality, and we are currently witnessing a resurgence of certain infections; an increasing population of elderly, more susceptible horses; the growth of international equine commerce; and an expansion in the geographic distribution of pathogens. Equine herpesvirus-1/-4, equine influenza virus, equine rhinitis A and B viruses, and adenovirus are among the most common viruses associated with respiratory infections worldwide. Certain respiratory viruses, such as the gamma herpesviruses, are so well adapted to their host that their pathogenic role is still unclear. Further, emerging respiratory viruses such as Hendra virus represent an imminent threat to horse populations. Although disease caused by these viruses is often self-limiting, infections may temporarily interfere with the athletic performance of affected horses, and as recently documented for EHV-1 outbreaks in Europe and the USA, majorly impacting the equine industry. The lack of epidemiological data is further impacted by the fact that most horses with viral respiratory infections are often treated symptomatically, and the infectious agent or agents tend to remain undetermined in non-outbreak situations. There is a tremendous need to collate more information about equine respiratory viruses and establish systematic surveillance programs to better characterize and monitor their spread.

The overall aim of this Special Issue is to provide updated information regarding all aspects of respiratory viruses of equids, including their epidemiology, prevalence, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnostics, therapeutics, and prevention strategies, including vaccination. All types of articles will be considered for publication, including short reports, primary research articles and reviews. We hereby invite authors to submit original high-quality papers that provide a significant contribution to the understanding of these various aspects of respiratory viruses of equids.

We look forward to your contribution.

Prof. Dr. Nicola Pusterla
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • viruses
  • respiratory tract
  • equids
  • respiratory viruses
  • epidemiology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

5 pages, 562 KiB  
Communication
Prevalence of Latent Equid Herpesvirus Type 1 in Submandibular Lymph Nodes of Horses in Virginia
by Nadia Saklou, Scott Pleasant, Kevin Lahmers and Rebecca Funk
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060813 - 07 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1018
Abstract
Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) typically causes mild respiratory disease, but it can also cause late-term abortion, neonatal foal death and neurologic disease. Once a horse is infected, the virus concentrates to local lymphoid tissue, where it becomes latent. The virus can be [...] Read more.
Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) typically causes mild respiratory disease, but it can also cause late-term abortion, neonatal foal death and neurologic disease. Once a horse is infected, the virus concentrates to local lymphoid tissue, where it becomes latent. The virus can be reactivated during times of stress, which can lead to the initiation of devastating outbreaks. Understanding the carriage rate of latent EHV-1 in different geographic regions is essential for managing the disease. The objective of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of latent EHV-1 and compare the frequency of each variant in the submandibular lymph nodes of horses in Virginia. Sixty-three submandibular lymph nodes were collected post-partem from horses submitted to regional labs for necropsy, and qPCR was performed. All samples were negative for the gB gene of EHV-1. The results demonstrated a low apparent prevalence of latent EHV-1 DNA in submandibular lymph nodes in this population of horses in Virginia. Despite this, the mainstay for outbreak prevention and mitigation continues to focus on minimizing risks and using appropriate and diligent biosecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Viruses of Equids)
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11 pages, 6217 KiB  
Article
Seroprevalence of Equine Influenza and Its Associated Risk Factors in Northwest Nigeria
by Olaolu T. Olufemi, Emmanuel R. Edeh, Mustapha S. Isyaku, Mustapha Haliru, Shafiu Samaila, Philip W. Mshelia, Olajide A. Owolodun, J. Richard Newton and Janet M. Daly
Pathogens 2022, 11(11), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111372 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1780
Abstract
Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and [...] Read more.
Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-olds and OR 8.13, 95% CI: 2.75–24.1 (p < 0.001) for ≥15-year-olds compared to horses <5 years old. The mean SRH value was 78.2 mm2 (median = 88 mm2, interquartile range = 0–121 mm2) with only 9% of the horses having an SRH value > 150 mm2, considered sufficient to protect against clinical disease and virus shedding. Comparative screening of a subset of the horses (n = 118) with a 2019 H3N8 virus (A/equine/Worcestershire/2019) revealed a significantly greater seropositivity (p = 0.0001) than A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 consistent with exposure of the population during a widespread outbreak of EI in the region in 2019. In conclusion, there was an insufficient level of protection against EI in the region and introduction of a vaccination programme with vaccines containing recently circulating virus is recommended to mitigate against further outbreaks of EI in Nigeria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Viruses of Equids)
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7 pages, 436 KiB  
Article
Molecular Monitoring of EHV-1 in Silently Infected Performance Horses through Nasal and Environmental Sample Testing
by Nicola Pusterla, Samantha Barnum, Amy Young, Eric Mendonsa, Steve Lee, Steve Hankin, Skyler Brittner and Carrie J. Finno
Pathogens 2022, 11(7), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11070720 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1596
Abstract
While the main goal in the management of an EHM outbreak focuses on identifying early clinical disease in order to physically separate infected horses, little effort is placed towards monitoring healthy horses. The assumption that EHV-1 shedding parallels clinical disease is erroneous, as [...] Read more.
While the main goal in the management of an EHM outbreak focuses on identifying early clinical disease in order to physically separate infected horses, little effort is placed towards monitoring healthy horses. The assumption that EHV-1 shedding parallels clinical disease is erroneous, as subclinical shedders have been shown to be actively involved in viral spread. In an attempt to document the frequency of EHV-1 shedders and their impact on environmental contamination, we collected nasal swabs from 231 healthy horses and 203 environmental samples for the testing of EHV-1 by qPCR. Six horses and 28 stalls tested qPCR-positive for EHV-1. There was no association in the EHV-1 qPCR-positive status between nasal and stall swabs. While testing nasal secretions of healthy at-risk horses can detect active shedding at a specific time point, the testing of stall swabs allows to assess the temporal EHV-1 shedding status of a horse. The study results highlight the risk of subclinical EHV-1 shedders and stalls occupied by these horses as sources of infection for susceptible horses. The testing of individual stalls for the presence of EHV-1 may be a more practical approach than the collection of individual nasal swabs for the monitoring and early detection of the circulating virus. The results also highlight the need to improve the cleanliness and disinfection of stalls utilized by performance horses during show events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Respiratory Viruses of Equids)
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