title: Molecular Detection of Equine Herpesvirus Types 1 and 4 Infection in Healthy Horses in Isfahan Central and Shahrekord Southwest Regions, Iran.
abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate molecularly the occurrence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection among equine population in regions, Iran. Blood samples from 53 and 37 randomly selected horses settled in Isfahan and Shahrekord, Iran, respectively, were collected. Detection of EHV-1 and EHV-4 genes in the blood samples was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 53 and 37 samples from Isfahan and Shahrekord, 4 (18.18%) and 3 (8.10%) were positive for PCR of EHV-1, respectively. Nine (16.98%) and 6 (16.21%) were positive for PCR of EHV-4, while 6 (11.32%) and 3 (8.10%) were positive for PCR of both EHV-1 and EHV-4, in Isfahan and Shahrekord, respectively. Of the 7 blood samples positive for EHV-1, 4 (16.66%) and 3 (8.10%) were from horses >3 years old while 2 (18.18%) and 1 (16.66%) were from 2-3 years old horses, in Isfahan and Shahrekord, respectively. Out of the 7 and 3 samples positive for PCR of EHV-1 in Isfahan and Shahrekord, 4 (22.2%) and 1 (7.69%) were Standardbred, while 3 (14.28%) and 2 (13.33%) were Thoroughbreds, respectively. EHV-4 was detected in blood of 4 (22.22%) and 2 (15.83%) Standardbreds and from 4 (19.04%) and 4 (26.66%) Thoroughbred horses in Isfahan and Shahrekord, respectively. This study has shown that horses settled in Isfahan central and Shahrekord southwest regions, Iran, are infected by EHV-1 and EHV-4 and thus serve as potential reservoirs and disseminators of the viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taktaz Hafshejani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nekoei
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vazirian
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doosti
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: Faham
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khamesipour
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Madubuike Umunna
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Anyanwu
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D023141:Herpesvirus 4, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology*; D007492:Iran