Serologic and molecular characterization of an abortigenic strain of equine arteritis virus isolated from infective frozen semen and an aborted equine fetus.
A virus isolated from an aborted equine fetus was determined to be antigenically distinct from several other strains of equine arteritis virus (EAV) by use of a neutralization assay with a large panel of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The virus was readily neutralized by polyclonal equine anti-EAV serum. Comparative nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses indicated that the virus (WA97) isolated from the aborted fetus was virtually identical to a virus (S1971) isolated from imported semen used to inseminate another mare on the farm. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the WA97/S1971 virus was more related to European than to North American strains of EAV. These sensitive molecular procedures may be useful for epidemiologic investigations of EAV infections. Screening and certification of stallions and frozen equine semen would prevent dissemination of pathogenic strains of EAV.
Balasuriya
U B
UB
Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Evermann
J F
JF
Hedges
J F
JF
McKeirnan
A J
AJ
Mitten
J Q
JQ
Beyer
J C
JC
McCollum
W H
WH
Timoney
P J
PJ
MacLachlan
N J
NJ
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018174:Arterivirus Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D007240:Equartevirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000821:virology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D012703:Serotyping / Q000662:veterinary; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins