title: Seroprevalence and risk factors for infection with equine coronavirus in healthy horses in the USA.
abstract: Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is considered an enteric pathogen of foals and has only recently been associated with infections in adult horses. Seroprevalence data is needed to better understand the epidemiology of ECoV in adult horses, evaluate diagnostic modalities and develop preventive measures. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and selective risk factors for ECoV in 5247 healthy adult horses in the USA, using a recently established and validated IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prevalence factors analysed in this study included geographic region, age, breed, sex and use. A total of 504/5247 horses (9.6%) horses tested seropositive. Geographic region (Mid-West; P = 0.008), breed (Draft horses; P = 0.003) and specific uses of horses (ranch/farm, P = 0.034; breeding use, P = 0.016) were all statistically significant risk factors for seropositivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, Utrecht 3584CM, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kooijman
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mapes
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, Utrecht 3584CM, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J P
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Theelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA. Electronic address: npusterla@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pusterla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017938:Coronavirus, Bovine; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: ELISA; Equine coronavirus; Horses; Risk factors; Seroprevalence