Sero-Epidemiological Survey of Equine Rotavirus Infections in 1-year-old Thoroughbred Horses in the Hidaka Region of Hokkaido

• Published in: Journal of Equine Science Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 71 - 74
• Main Authors: IMAGAWA, Hiroshi, TSUNEMITSU, Hiroshi, WADA, Ryuichi, FUKUNAGA, Yoshio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Utsunomiya-shi Japanese Society of Equine Science 01.01.2002; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: equine; Rotavirus
• ISSN: 1340-3516; 1347-7501
• DOI: 10.1294/jes.13.71

A sero-epidemiological survey was conducted using a serum neutralization test in order to better understand the level of circulation of three equine rotavirus strains, HO-5 strain (G3, P[12]), FI23 strain (G14, P[12]), and L338 strain (G13, P[18]), among horses in the Hidaka region of Hokkaido, Japan. Sera used for the survey were collected from 50 1-year-old horses at 10 thoroughbred stud farms in the Hidaka region in February and March of 1999. Two horses were excluded from the study because they did not possess antibodies against any of the 3 strains. Of the remaining 48 horses, 35 (73%) showed highest antibody titers against HO-5 strain while 8 horses (17%) demonstrated highest titers against FI23 strain. The remaining 5 horses (11%) possessed similar antibody titers against HO-5 strain and FI23 strain. Predominant antibody titers against L338 strain were not observed in any of the horses. These results suggest that G3, P[12] type was the predominant rotavirus among horses in the Hidaka region of Hokkaido although G14, P[12] type also circulated. There was no evidence that horses in the Hidaka region were infected with the L338 strain.