title: Identification of equid herpesvirus-5 in respiratory liquids: a retrospective study of 785 samples taken in 2006-2007.
abstract: During a case control study undertaken in 2006-2007, a screening and consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to evaluate the potential role of equid herpesviruses (EHV) in several occurrences of respiratory disorders in 661 horses. Of 785 bronchoalveolar or tracheal lavage fluid samples submitted for analysis, 20 were positive for EHV-5 DNA by sequential analysis of the consensus PCR product. Nineteen of those samples were confirmed using a specific EHV-5 PCR. No particular changes in cytological profile could be associated with the detection of EHV-5 in contrast to suggestions in previous reports of natural or experimental respiratory viral infections in horses or ponies. This is the first description of EHV-5 isolation in equine respiratory fluids in Europe, but further investigations are needed to determine the potential pathogenic role of this gammaherpesvirus in the horse.
authors.affiliation: Frank Duncombe Laboratory, 14053 Caen Cedex, France. g.fortier@cg14.fr
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pronost
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miszczak
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Albertine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Léon
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Erck
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lekeux