title: Equine gammaherpesviruses: pathogenesis, epidemiology and diagnosis.
abstract: Equine gammaherpesviruses (γEHV) have been widely studied over the past 45 years and many isolates have been characterised. Despite this, the diagnosis of γEHV infection remains difficult to establish as its clinical manifestations lack specificity, ranging from mild respiratory signs in a small number of animals to outbreaks in large groups of young horses. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of equine herpesvirus (EHV)-2 and -5 infections, as well as on the genetic variation of these viruses. Study of these variations has resulted in hypotheses relating to viral re-infection and re-activation. Interestingly, the viruses were found to contain genetic sequences identical to those of eukaryotic cells which are considered central to the development of viral latency through interfering with host immune and inflammatory responses. Future molecular biological studies will further elucidate the virulence mechanisms of these equine pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Frank Duncombe Laboratory, 14053 CAEN cedex 4, France. g.fortier@cg14.fr
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Erck
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pronost
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lekeux
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D018144:Rhadinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017735:Virus Latency