title: Detection of equid herpesviruses 2 and 5 in a herd of 266 Lipizzaners in association with ocular findings.
abstract: A herd of Lipizzaners (n=266) in three locations [Federal stud Piber (Styria), Heldenberg (Lower Austria) and the Spanish Riding School Vienna (Vienna)] were examined for ocular diseases and tested for herpesviruses (HVs) in PBMCs, nasal- and conjunctival swabs. In 167 (62.8%) horses equid herpesvirus-2 (EHV-2) nucleic acid was identified in at least one of the investigated samples, and 136 (51.1%) horses were positive for equid herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) nucleic acid in at least one of the samples. One hundred and five (39.5%) of the horses mentioned above were identified with EHV-2/EHV-5 double infections. The results were correlated with potential influence factors such as age, gender, location, and housing. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of horses diagnosed with HV infections stabled in one location (Piber); also, housing in free stalls was associated with a higher rate of HV infections. Horses carrying EHV-2 or EHV-5 nucleic acid were significantly younger than the negative group. Statistical analysis of PCR results and ophthalmic findings did not prove a significant association between any disease pattern and presence of the equid gammaherpesviruses EHV-2 and EHV-5. The results of this herd survey indicate that horses younger than eight years of age, housed in free stalls with high population densities have a significantly increased risk for infection with EHV-2 and EHV-5. However no prediction can be made whether this results in ophthalmic disease. This is the first ophthalmic-virologic survey of this magnitude in a single horse breed.
authors: Clinic for Surgery, Dentistry and Ophthalmology, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
authors: James Oliver
authors: JO
authors: Rushton
authors: Jolanta
authors: J
authors: Kolodziejek
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Tichy
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Nell
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Nowotny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018144:Rhadinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012737:Sex Factors