title: The recent European isolate (08P178) of equine arteritis virus causes inflammation but not arteritis in experimentally infected ponies.
abstract: In the last two decades, outbreaks of equine viral arteritis (EVA) have been reported in Europe, but little is known about these European isolates of equine arteritis virus (EAV). EAV European strain (08P178, EU-1 clade) isolated from one of these recent outbreaks is able to cause clinical signs on experimental infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microscopical lesions induced by this isolate after experimental infection of ponies. Animals were killed at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post infection (dpi). At 3 dpi, lesions were essentially restricted to the respiratory tract and intestines and were characterized by mild multifocal epithelial degeneration and associated mononuclear cell infiltration. Lesions were more severe at 7 dpi and by 14 dpi, respiratory lesions were even more severe and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates extended to other organs. At 28 dpi, lesions were still present in the viscera. In all specimens the most prominent histological change was intraepithelial, subepithelial and perivascular lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, ranging from mild and multifocal to extensive and diffuse. No signs of arterial damage such as infarcts, haemorrhages or necrosis were found. In conclusion, infection of naïve animals with the European 08P178 strain of EAV is associated with inflammation, but not arteritis.
authors: Laboratory of Virology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and ImmunologyGhent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vairo
authors: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Saey
authors: Department of Morphophysiology, Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna University, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bombardi
authors: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ducatelle
authors: Laboratory of Virology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and ImmunologyGhent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: Hans.nauwynck@UGent.be.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Nauwynck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018174:Arterivirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007240:Equartevirus / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology
keywords: equine viral arteritis virus; experimental infection; histopathology; lymphoplasmacytic inflammation