Equine Hepacivirus: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Serological and Biomolecular Prevalence and a Phylogenetic Update

Abstract

Viral hepatitis has recently assumed relevance for equine veterinary medicine since a variety of new viruses have been discovered. Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) is an RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family that can cause subclinical hepatitis in horses, occasionally evolving into a chronic disease. EqHV, to date, is considered the closest known relative of human HCV. EqHV has been reported worldwide therefore assessing its features is relevant, considering both the wide use of blood products and transfusions in veterinary therapies and its similitude to HCV. The present review resumes the actual knowledge on EqHV epidemiology, risk factors and immunology, together with potential diagnostics and good practices for prevention. Moreover, adhering to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews a meta-analysis of serological and biomolecular prevalence and an updated phylogenetic description is presented as a benchmark for further studies.

First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlight a Fourth Sub-Type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus

“…Four sequences from the present study are included in this group (OQ420478, OQ420479, OP947531, OQ024216) along with two sequences retrieved from Genbank (LC030432 [31] and MN734124 [37]). Other recent phylogenetic analyses [22,26,37,44,60] and the original paper from [31], show a similar outcome. In these papers, in fact, the branch, identified either by LC030432 [31], MN734124 [37], or both, separates from the node which includes the sequences used as reference for sub-type 3 (JQ434001, JQ434003, JQ434006 [3]).…”

First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlights a Fourth Sub-type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus

“…Further on the phylogenetic analysis, another interesting aspect of the tree should be discussed: included in sub-type 3 there is a branch (the second branch bottomup, identified by a 92 bootstrap value) which clusters alone and originates from a different node when compared to the other branches of the tree: four sequences from the present study are included in this group (OQ420478, OQ420479, OP947531, OQ024216) along with two sequences retrieved from Genbank (LC030432 [31] and MN734124 [37]). Other recent phylogenetic analyses [22,26,37,44,60] and the original paper from [31], show a similar outcome: in these papers, in fact, the branch, identified either by LC030432 [31], MN734124 [37], or both, separates from the node which includes the sequences used as reference for sub-type 3 (JQ434001,JQ434003,JQ434006 [3]). This suggests that these sequences could substantially differ from those included in sub-type 3 and from the other subtypes: it could be hypothesized that this branch was never part of the EqHV sub-type 3, but it represented a totally different sub-type which was until now under-represented and that was therefore considered part of sub-type 3.…”

A pyramid needs a foundation: Exploding some myths about what EVJ's editors are looking for from authors?

“…EVJ is proud to have published BEVA Primary Care Clinical Guidelines on analgesia, 6 wound management 7 and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction 8 . We are equally delighted to have published a small but growing group of systematic reviews, particularly in recent years, where high‐quality evidence is now available for equine anaesthesia, 9–11 PPID 12 and laminitis, 13,14 spinal disorders, 15 respiratory disorders, 16,17 lameness in working equids, 18 clinical predictive models, 19 vaccine efficacy, 20,21 sarcoid treatment, 12 use of furosemide, 22 reproduction, 23,24 physiotherapy, 25 diagnostic imaging 26 and on the prevalence of a range of infectious diseases 27–32 . Scoping reviews appraising the quality of existing evidence and identifying knowledge gaps exist for equine asthma, 33,34 colic, 35,36 synovial sepsis, 37 movement analysis, 38 rehabilitation, 39 wound management, 40 pregnancy loss, 41 laparoscopy for urogenital disorders 42 and end‐of‐life decision making 43 and EVJ is well represented amongst the journals that have published these evidence reviews.…”