Failure to detect equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 DNA in placentae and healthy new-born Thoroughbred foals

Authors

  • Lara J Brown University of Pretoria
  • Geoff Brown University of Pretoria
  • Julia Kydd University of Nottingham
  • Tom A.E Stout University of Pretoria
  • Martin L Schulman University of Pretoria

Abstract

Equid herpesvirus type 1 is primarily a respiratory tract virus associated with poor athletic performance that can also cause late gestation abortion, neonatal foal death and encephalomyelopathy. Horizontal transmission is well described, whereas evidence of vertical transmission of equid herpesvirus type 1 associated with the birth of a healthy foal has not been demonstrated. This study sampled a population of Thoroughbred mares (n = 71), and their healthy neonatal foals and foetal membranes, to test for the presence of both equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Foetal membrane swabs and tissue samples were taken immediately post-partum, and venous blood samples and nasal swabs were obtained from both mare and foal 8 h after birth. Neither equid herpesvirus type 1 nor equid herpesvirus type 4 nucleic acid was detected in any sample, and it was concluded that there was no active shedding of equid herpesvirus types 1 and 4 at the time of sampling. Consequently, no evidence of vertical transmission of these viruses could be found on this stud farm during the sampling period.
Keywords: equines; equid herpesvirus type 1 and 4; placentae; foetal membranes; foals; qPCR; latency; Thoroughbred.

Author Biographies

  • Lara J Brown, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

  • Geoff Brown, University of Pretoria

    Section of Reproduction, Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

  • Julia Kydd, University of Nottingham

    School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

  • Tom A.E Stout, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa and Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands 

  • Martin L Schulman, University of Pretoria

    Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Downloads

Published

2021-12-09

Issue

Section

Original Research