title: Acute and chronic infections with nonprimate hepacivirus in young horses.
abstract: The recently discovered nonprimate hepacivirus (NPHV) naturally infects horses and is the closest known homolog of hepatitis C virus to date. Within a follow-up study acute field infections were monitored in four young Thoroughbred horses until the ages of 12-13 months. Serum samples were analyzed for the presence of NPHV RNA and anti-NPHV NS3 antibodies and liver specific parameters were evaluated. The four young horses were not able to clear infection, but remained chronically infected for the entire monitored time period despite the presence of NPHV specific antibodies.
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: 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: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todt
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. Eike.Steinmann@twincore.de.
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. Jessika.Cavalleri@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Jessika M V
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cavalleri