Serosurveillance for Japanese encephalitis, Akabane, and Aino viruses for Thoroughbred horses in Korea.
Recent global warming trends may have a significant impact on vector-borne viral diseases, possibly affecting vector population dynamics and disease transmission. This study measured levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) and Aino virus (AINV) for Thoroughbred horses in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 989 racehorses in several provinces, between October 2005 and March 2007. Sera were tested using either an HI assay or a virus neutralization test. Approximately half (49.7%; 492/989) of the horses tested were antibody-positive for JEV. The HI titer against JEV was significantly correlated with racehorse age (p < 0.05). Horses with an HI antibody titer of 1 : 160 or higher accounted for 3.9% of the animals tested, indicating that vectors transmitting arthropod- borne viruses bit relatively few horses. In contrast, 3.8% (19/497) and 19.5% (97/497) of horse sera collected in March 2007 were positive against AKAV and AINV, respectively. The presence of antibodies against AKAV and AINV may indicate the multiplication of AKAV and AINV in these horses.
Yang
Dong Kun
DK
National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang 430-824, Korea. yangdk@nvrqs.go.kr
Kim
Byoung Han
BH
Kweon
Chang Hee
CH
Nah
Jin Ju
JJ
Kim
Hyun Joo
HJ
Lee
Kyung Woo
KW
Yang
Young Jin
YJ
Mun
Kyu Whan
KW
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016851:Orthobunyavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies