Fetal lesions of EHV-1 in equine

Abstract

EHV-1 infection is responsible for huge economic losses in equines due to abortion and neonatal mortality. In this study, we describe 4 cases of abortion and neonatal deaths from pregnant mares and a she-donkey from different localities in Egypt during the period from May 2015 to October 2017. Attempts were made to isolate and identify EHV-1, in addition to compare the different pathological lesions in various tissues of the necropsied cases. EHV-1 was successfully isolated from two aborted fetuses and one dead neonatal foal from mares, beside one aborted fetus from a she-donkey. The positive cases showed cytopathic effect on embryonated chicken eggs scattered on chorioallantoic membrane. Moreover, PCR was applied for the pock lesions and revealed positive results for EHV-1. Interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia and necrosis of hepatic, myocardial, microcotyledonary tissues besides disseminated thrombi were the main encountered lesions. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were demonstrated in brain, liver, placenta and pulmonary tissues. Here, we describe EHV-1 induced brain lesions represented by degenerated neurons, vascular endotheliosis with intranuclear inclusion bodies in the aborted she-donkey fetus. Lesions were more sever in the aborted fetuses from mares than the one from the she-donkey. EHV-1 antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry staining.

Clinical and Molecular Epidemiological Study on Herpesviruses Infection among Equid Populations in Upper Egypt

“…This observation was supported by (Smith et al 2003;Laugier et al 2011) they reviewed that EHV-1 is the most prominent equine viral disease-initiating abortion with sporadic occurrences happened from latent virus reactivation, rather than from new EHV-1 infection. The above-mentioned results agreed with Ali et al (2020) who recorded that clinical signs in one of two sporadic cases of EHV-1 aborted mares included anorexia with mild respiratory manifestation, while the other mare aborted without any detectable clinical signs. Our findings were in partial agreement with Slater (2014) who demonstrated that EHV-1 abortion occurringsuddenly in the last third of pregnancy with the fetus still contained in the allantochorion is suggestive but not diagnostic of EHV-1 abortion.…”

First detection and phylogenetic analysis of porcine circovirus 3 in female donkeys with reproductive disorders

“…Recent years, mare abortion cause enormous economic loss in the donkey industry every year in China. Previous study suggested that EHV-1 and EAV could cause abortion of equine [ 18 , 19 ], however, they are negative in present study. Interestingly, the infection of PCV3 in donkey with reproductive failure was firstly detected in our study.…”

Molecular characterization of equine herpes viruses type 1 and 4 among Arabian horse populations in Egypt during the period between 2021-2022

“…These results confirmed that EHVs are still circulating in Egypt’s northern governorates, with significant health impacts and economic losses due to the lack of vaccination programs and frequent virus reactivation, which could threaten the stability of the Egyptian horse industry in agreement with Salib et al (2016 ), Azab et al . (2019 ), and Ali et al (2020 ).…”