An emerging equine parvovirus circulates in thoroughbred horses in north Xinjiang, China, 2018

Abstract

In 2015, a novel equine parvovirus, equine parvovirus‐cerebrospinal fluid (EqPV‐CSF), was identified from cerebrospinal fluid of a horse with neurological signs and lymphocytosis in USA. In our study, an EqPV‐CSF‐like virus was detected from 15 serum samples of 65 imported thoroughbred horses during custom quarantine in north Xinjiang province, China. Further field investigation in several major horse‐producing areas in Xinjiang using specific PCR showed that this virus was detected mainly in thoroughbred horses (39/154 positive) previously imported, not in local breeds (0/127 positive). Phylogenetic analysis based on NS1 gene showed the virus was grouped together with EqPV‐CSF in genus Copiparvovirus. The study presents valuable information showing that EqPV‐CSF‐like virus was likely exotic and introduced into Xinjiang through international trade of horses.

Investigation of Three Newly Identified Equine Parvoviruses in Blood and Nasal Fluid Samples of Clinically Healthy Horses and Horses with Acute Onset of Respiratory Disease

“…Surveillance studies in healthy horses from the USA, China, Austria and Germany have reported DNA prevalence for EqPV-H ranging between 7.1% and 17.0% [10,12,[18][19][20][21]. The frequency of detection of EqPV-CSF in sick and clinically healthy horses was similar to the 4.9% detection rate reported in 41 healthy horses from the USA [10] and lower than the 23.1% reported from healthy Thoroughbred horses undergoing a custom quarantine in North Xinjiang province, China [17]. The prevalence of Eqcopivirus in plasma and or nasal fluid samples from clinically healthy equids in the present study was lower than the previously reported prevalence of 17% determined in plasma samples from apparently healthy horses [10].…”

“…Reports on EqPV-CSF and Eqcopivirus have been sparse since the first description of these equine parvoviruses [9,10]. EqPV-CSF was initially found in the cerebrospinal fluid of a horse with neurological signs and has since then been reported in serum and nasal secretions of both clinically healthy horses and horses with fever and respiratory signs [9,10,17]. To the authors' knowledge, only one single report has documented the genomic presence of Eqcopivirus in blood and/or nasal secretions of healthy horses and horses with respiratory signs [10].…”

Small but mighty: old and new parvoviruses of veterinary significance

“…The first was discovered in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample from a horse with neurological signs and leukocytic pleocytosis in 2015 [ 196 ]. This viral DNA, named horse parvovirus-CSF, was detected in thoroughbreds in China in 2018 and in metagenomics analysis of samples from horses with unexplained neurological or respiratory signs [ 178 , 197 ]. In the latter study, another copiparvovirus was identified, tentatively named equine copiparvovirus (EqCoPV) and its NS1 protein shares 43.4% and 31.3% aa identity to horse parvovirus-CSF and EqPV-H NS1, respectively [ 178 ].…”

First Detection and Genetic Characterization of New Equine Parvovirus Species Circulating among Horses in Korea

“…EqPV-CSF was first isolated in 2015 from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a horse with neurological signs and lymphocytic pleocytosis in the USA [2]. Subsequently, a Chinese study reported a high prevalence of EqPV-CSF nucleotide (25.3%, 39/152) in sera obtained from imported horses in Western Europe but not local horse breeds [16]. In 2019, EqCoPV, which is another novel equine parvovirus, was isolated in the USA from horse plasma, CSF, and respiratory swabs from 14 horses [1].…”

“…In 2019, EqCoPV, which is another novel equine parvovirus, was isolated in the USA from horse plasma, CSF, and respiratory swabs from 14 horses [1]. However, the relationship between EqPV-CSF/EqCoPV and clinical disease in horses remains unclear given the limited sample sizes and missing evidence [1,16]. This is the first study to report the prevalence and genetic history of EqPV-CSF and EqCoPV among horses in Korea using serum and fecal samples.…”