Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel
Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infection is the cause of an emerging enteric disease of adult horses. Outbreaks have been reported in the USA, EU and Japan, as well as sporadic cases in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Infection of ECoV in horses in Israel has never been reported, and the risk of exposure is unk...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/894 |
| _version_ | 1797540553600008192 |
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| author | Gili Schvartz Sharon Tirosh-Levy Samantha Barnum Dan David Asaf Sol Nicola Pusterla Amir Steinman |
| author_facet | Gili Schvartz Sharon Tirosh-Levy Samantha Barnum Dan David Asaf Sol Nicola Pusterla Amir Steinman |
| author_sort | Gili Schvartz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infection is the cause of an emerging enteric disease of adult horses. Outbreaks have been reported in the USA, EU and Japan, as well as sporadic cases in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Infection of ECoV in horses in Israel has never been reported, and the risk of exposure is unknown. Importation and exportation of horses from and into Israel may have increased the exposure of horses in Israel to ECoV. While the disease is mostly self-limiting, with or without supportive treatment, severe complications may occur in some animals, and healthy carriers may pose a risk of infection to other horses. This study was set to evaluate the risk of exposure to ECoV of horses in Israel by using a previously validated, S1-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 41 out of 333 horses (12.3%) were seropositive. Exposure to ECoV was detected in 17 of 29 farms (58.6%) and the seroprevalence varied between 0 and 37.5% amongst farms. The only factor found to be significantly associated with ECoV exposure in the multivariable model was the geographical area (<i>p</i> < 0.001). ECoV should be included in the differential diagnosis list of pathogens in cases of adult horses with anorexia, lethargy, fever and gastrointestinal signs in Israel. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5340e3adc6084235973ed125ec28fdb0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:02:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5340e3adc6084235973ed125ec28fdb02023-11-21T11:22:12ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-03-0111389410.3390/ani11030894Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in IsraelGili Schvartz0Sharon Tirosh-Levy1Samantha Barnum2Dan David3Asaf Sol4Nicola Pusterla5Amir Steinman6Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, IsraelKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, IsraelDepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADivision of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50250, IsraelDivision of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50250, IsraelDepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, IsraelEquine coronavirus (ECoV) infection is the cause of an emerging enteric disease of adult horses. Outbreaks have been reported in the USA, EU and Japan, as well as sporadic cases in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Infection of ECoV in horses in Israel has never been reported, and the risk of exposure is unknown. Importation and exportation of horses from and into Israel may have increased the exposure of horses in Israel to ECoV. While the disease is mostly self-limiting, with or without supportive treatment, severe complications may occur in some animals, and healthy carriers may pose a risk of infection to other horses. This study was set to evaluate the risk of exposure to ECoV of horses in Israel by using a previously validated, S1-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 41 out of 333 horses (12.3%) were seropositive. Exposure to ECoV was detected in 17 of 29 farms (58.6%) and the seroprevalence varied between 0 and 37.5% amongst farms. The only factor found to be significantly associated with ECoV exposure in the multivariable model was the geographical area (<i>p</i> < 0.001). ECoV should be included in the differential diagnosis list of pathogens in cases of adult horses with anorexia, lethargy, fever and gastrointestinal signs in Israel.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/894equine coronavirushorseenteric diseaseECoVseroprevalence |
| spellingShingle | Gili Schvartz Sharon Tirosh-Levy Samantha Barnum Dan David Asaf Sol Nicola Pusterla Amir Steinman Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel Animals equine coronavirus horse enteric disease ECoV seroprevalence |
| title | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel |
| title_full | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel |
| title_short | Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel |
| title_sort | seroprevalence and risk factors for exposure to equine coronavirus in apparently healthy horses in israel |
| topic | equine coronavirus horse enteric disease ECoV seroprevalence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/894 |
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