title: Evaluation of the presence of equine viral herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and equine viral herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) DNA in stallion semen using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
abstract: In the horse, the risk of excretion of two major equine pathogens (equine herpesvirus types 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4)) in semen is unknown. The objective of our study was to assess the possible risks for the horizontal transmission of equine rhinopneumonitis herpesviruses via the semen and the effect of the viruses on stallion fertility. Samples of stallion semen (n=390) were gathered from several different sources. Examination of the semen involved the detection of viral DNA using specific PCR. The mean fertility of the stallions whose sperm tested positive for viral DNA and the mean fertility of stallions whose sperm did not contain viral DNA, were compared using the Student's t-test. EHV-4 viral DNA was not detected in any of the semen samples. EHV-1 DNA was identified in 51 of the 390 samples, (13%). One hundred and eighty-two samples came from 6 studs and there was significant difference (p<0.05) among the proportion of stallions whose semen tested positive for viral DNA from 0 to 55% between the studs. There was a significant difference (p<0.014) between the fertility of stallions whose semen tested positive for viral DNA and those whose semen was free from viral DNA. The stallions that excreted the EHV-1 virus in their semen appeared to be more fertile than the non-excretors, but this difference was in fact related to the breeding technique since higher proportion of excretors were found among those whose semen was used fresh rather than preserved by cooling or freezing. In conclusion, this study suggests that the EHV-1 virus may be transmitted via the semen at mating or by artificial insemination as demonstrated with other herpes viruses in other species.
authors.affiliation: UPSP Sanitary Risks and Biotechnology of Reproduction, National Veterinary School, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hebia-Fellah
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Léauté
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiéni
authors.forename: Stéphan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zientara
authors.forename: Berthe-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Imbert-Marcille
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Besse
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pronost
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miszczak
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thorin
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pellerin
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bruyas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005298:Fertility; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D023141:Herpesvirus 4, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral