title: Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus-like non-primate hepacivirus in horses.
abstract: Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV), a recently discovered hepatotropic virus infecting horses, is phylogenetically the closest known homologue of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The main route for acquiring HCV infection in childhood is vertical transmission. However, nothing is known about the natural mode of transmission for NPHV. To investigate the possibility of vertically transmitted NPHV infection in horses, 20 Thoroughbred broodmares and their foals were monitored during foaling season 2015 until 6 months post-partum. Prepartal serum was taken from the mares, and during foaling umbilical cord blood and colostrum samples were collected. Postnatal serum samples were taken from the foals after delivery. In addition, serum was taken at 3 and 6 months after foaling from all mares and foals. Samples were analysed for the presence of NPHV RNA by quantitative real-time PCR and for the presence of anti-NPHV NS3 antibodies by luciferase immunoprecipitation system. Identified NPHV isolates were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis of the viral glycoproteins was used to track the course of naturally occurring infections and the circulation of distinct isolates within the herd. At parturition, 16 mares were seropositive, including four viraemic mares. Vertical transmission occurred in one of these four mare-foal pairs. Interestingly, NPHV isolates of newly infected foals and mares after 3 and 6 months cluster in their respective pasture herds suggesting another horizontal route of transmission.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gather
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todt
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfaender
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Richard J P
authors.initials: RJP
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Postel
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Straße 108, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hansmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumgaertner
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feige
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessika-M V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Cavalleri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology