Occurrence of viral diseases in donkeys (Equus asinus) in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Among the diseases that affect equines, viral diseases play an important role from a health and economic point of view, especially influenza, viral arteritis, herpes infections and vesicular stomatitis. In the Brazilian literature, there is little or no account of the occurrence of infectious diseases in donkeys. Given the importance of donkeys in different activities and the lack of information on infections that may occur in these animals, the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-equine herpesvirus (EHV), anti-equine arteritis virus (EAV), anti-vesicular stomatitis, and anti-equine influenza (H3N8) antibodies in the serum of 85 donkeys bred in some regions of the state of São Paulo. We found the following antibody frequencies: 50.6% (43/85) antibodies against influenza virus subtype H3N8, 47% (40/85) anti-EHV, and 20% (17/85) anti-EAV. The donkeys were not seropositive for vesicular stomatitis. The results suggested that the agents EHV, EAV, and equine influenza subtype H3N8 circulate among donkeys in some regions of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, reinforcing the importance of establishing a routine diagnosis and epidemiological study of this species. Keywords: Donkeys. Equids. Serology. Infectious diseases. Brazil. ResumoDentre as doenças que acometem os equídeos, as enfermidades virais assumem um papel importante do ponto de vista sanitário e econômico, especialmente a influenza, arterite viral, as infecções herpéticas e a estomatite vesicular. Na literatura nacional, existe pouco ou nenhum relato sobre a ocorrência de enfermidades infecciosas nos asininos. Tendo em vista a importância dos asininos para diferentes atividades e a falta de informações sobre as doenças que acometem esses animais, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a frequência de anticorpos anti-EHV, antivírus da arterite equina, anti-estomatite vesicular e anti-influenza equina (H3N8) em 85 soros de jumentos criados no estado de São Paulo. Estimou-se que 50,6% apresentavam anticorpos contra o subtipo H3N8 do vírus da influenza; 47% (40/85) apresentavam anticorpos contra o EHV e 20% apresentavam anticorpos contra o vírus da arterite. Os jumentos não foram soro reagentes contra a estomatite vesicular. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os agentes EHV, vírus da arterite equina e influenza equina subtipo H3N8, circulam entre os jumentos do estado de São Paulo, caracterizando a importância do estabelecimento de uma rotina diagnóstica e estudos epidemiológicos na espécie. Palavras-chave: Asininos. Equídeos. Sorologia. Enfermidades infecciosas. Brasil. | 155Braz.

Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules

“…Regarding the correlation between sex and disease, there were differences in results among different studies. Bolfa et al [69] suggested that males are more susceptible to infection by EHVs 1 and 4, while Lara et al [70] and Negussie et al [101] suggested a possible role of females in the "maintenance" of the disease in the herd, as they are more susceptible to EHV infection. In donkeys and mules, an infection with a gammaherpesviruses similar to Asinine herpesvirus type 5 (AHV-5), isolated from a pharynx swab of a donkey with neurological disease in Ontario, Canada have been reported [112].…”

Skin Diseases in Donkeys and Mules—An Update

“…In Brazil, a recent study demonstrated the frequency of antibodies to some equine diseases in donkeys in the state of São Paulo. Of the 85 serums evaluated, it was estimated that 50.6% exhibited antibodies against the H3N8 subtype of the influenza virus, 47% against the equine Herpesvirus, and 20% against the equine arteritis virus, demonstrating that these agents circulate among donkeys in the region and reiterating the importance of epidemiological monitoring of equids in Brazil [ 7 ].…”

“…In this context, the investigation of diseases affecting donkeys and mules becomes important and gives rise to discussions on animal welfare and public health. This is demonstrated particularly in serological studies that show the participation of donkeys and mules in the epidemiological chain of reportable diseases [ 7 , 8 ]. It is furthermore important to highlight that cultural factors may influence the frequency of these diseases, affecting both animal and human health and welfare.…”

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

“…EHV-1 and EHV-4 are serologically identified in donkeys with the risk of spreading to neighboring countries. Natural occurrence and experimental infection with EHV-1 were reported in donkeys ( Lara et al, 2017 ).…”