Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Show-Jumping Competition: A Clinical and Epidemiological Study

• Published in: Journal of equine veterinary science Vol. 128; p. 104869
• Main Authors: Couroucé, Anne, Normand, Camille, Tessier, Caroline, Pomares, Rita, Thévenot, Jérôme, Marcillaud-Pitel, Christel, Legrand, Loïc, Pitel, Pierre-Hugues, Pronost, Stéphane, Lupo, Coralie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2023; WB Saunders
• Subjects: Animal biology; Biosecurity; EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy; Horse; Life Sciences; Outbreak; qPCR; Veterinary medicine and animal Health; qPCR; Outbreak; Biosecurity; Horse; EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy; biosecurity horse outbreak EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy qPCR
• ISSN: 0737-0806; 1542-7412
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104869

•This study investigates an equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV1) myeloencephalopathy outbreak.•Primary risk factor for clinical signs was being housed in the middle of the tent.•Primary risk factor for fever was male sex.•Risk factors for neurological signs were >9 years; housed in the middle of the tent.•Stable design, position and ventilation played a crucial role in the EHV-outbreak. A total of 752 horses were involved in the CES Valencia Spring Tour 2021. Due to an equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak, the competition was cancelled and the site was locked down. The objective of this study was to describe epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and outcome data of the 160 horses remaining in Valencia. Clinical and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data were analysed for 60 horses in a retrospective case-control observational study. The risk of developing clinical manifestations was explored using a logistic regression approach. EHV-1 was detected by qPCR, genotyped as A2254 (ORF30) and isolated on cell culture. From the 60 horses, 50 (83.3%) showed fever, 30 horses (50%) showed no further signs and 20 (40%) showed neurological signs, with eight horses (16%) hospitalised, of which two died (3%). Stallions and geldings were six times more likely to develop EHV-1 infection compared to mares. Horses older than 9 years, or housed in the middle of the tent were more likely to develop EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM). These data show that for EHV-1 infection, the risk factor was male sex. For EHM the risk factors were age > 9-year old and location in the middle of the tent. These data highlight the crucial role of stable design, position, and ventilation in EHV-outbreaks. It also showed that PCR testing of the horses was important to manage the quarantine.