Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections
Alphaherpesviruses are highly prevalent in equine populations and co-infections with more than one of these viruses’ strains frequently diagnosed. Lytic replication and latency with subsequent reactivation, along with new episodes of disease, can be influenced by genetic diversity generated by spont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/8/9/262 |
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| author | Azza Abdelgawad Armando Damiani Simon Y. W. Ho Günter Strauss Claudia A. Szentiks Marion L. East Nikolaus Osterrieder Alex D. Greenwood |
| author_facet | Azza Abdelgawad Armando Damiani Simon Y. W. Ho Günter Strauss Claudia A. Szentiks Marion L. East Nikolaus Osterrieder Alex D. Greenwood |
| author_sort | Azza Abdelgawad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alphaherpesviruses are highly prevalent in equine populations and co-infections with more than one of these viruses’ strains frequently diagnosed. Lytic replication and latency with subsequent reactivation, along with new episodes of disease, can be influenced by genetic diversity generated by spontaneous mutation and recombination. Latency enhances virus survival by providing an epidemiological strategy for long-term maintenance of divergent strains in animal populations. The alphaherpesviruses equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and 9 (EHV-9) have recently been shown to cross species barriers, including a recombinant EHV-1 observed in fatal infections of a polar bear and Asian rhinoceros. Little is known about the latency and genetic diversity of EHV-1 and EHV-9, especially among zoo and wild equids. Here, we report evidence of limited genetic diversity in EHV-9 in zebras, whereas there is substantial genetic variability in EHV-1. We demonstrate that zebras can be lytically and latently infected with both viruses concurrently. Such a co-occurrence of infection in zebras suggests that even relatively slow-evolving viruses such as equine herpesviruses have the potential to diversify rapidly by recombination. This has potential consequences for the diagnosis of these viruses and their management in wild and captive equid populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:24:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a44199264e414e908a4be6f9656c7f5c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:24:40Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-a44199264e414e908a4be6f9656c7f5c2022-12-22T01:52:46ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152016-09-018926210.3390/v8090262v8090262Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-InfectionsAzza Abdelgawad0Armando Damiani1Simon Y. W. Ho2Günter Strauss3Claudia A. Szentiks4Marion L. East5Nikolaus Osterrieder6Alex D. Greenwood7Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, Berlin 10315, GermanyInstitut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, Berlin 14163, GermanySchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaTierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Am Tierpark 125, Berlin 10307, GermanyLeibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, Berlin 10315, GermanyLeibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, Berlin 10315, GermanyInstitut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, Berlin 14163, GermanyLeibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, Berlin 10315, GermanyAlphaherpesviruses are highly prevalent in equine populations and co-infections with more than one of these viruses’ strains frequently diagnosed. Lytic replication and latency with subsequent reactivation, along with new episodes of disease, can be influenced by genetic diversity generated by spontaneous mutation and recombination. Latency enhances virus survival by providing an epidemiological strategy for long-term maintenance of divergent strains in animal populations. The alphaherpesviruses equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and 9 (EHV-9) have recently been shown to cross species barriers, including a recombinant EHV-1 observed in fatal infections of a polar bear and Asian rhinoceros. Little is known about the latency and genetic diversity of EHV-1 and EHV-9, especially among zoo and wild equids. Here, we report evidence of limited genetic diversity in EHV-9 in zebras, whereas there is substantial genetic variability in EHV-1. We demonstrate that zebras can be lytically and latently infected with both viruses concurrently. Such a co-occurrence of infection in zebras suggests that even relatively slow-evolving viruses such as equine herpesviruses have the potential to diversify rapidly by recombination. This has potential consequences for the diagnosis of these viruses and their management in wild and captive equid populations.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/8/9/262EHV-1EHV-9zebralatencydiversityco-occurrence |
| spellingShingle | Azza Abdelgawad Armando Damiani Simon Y. W. Ho Günter Strauss Claudia A. Szentiks Marion L. East Nikolaus Osterrieder Alex D. Greenwood Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections Viruses EHV-1 EHV-9 zebra latency diversity co-occurrence |
| title | Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections |
| title_full | Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections |
| title_fullStr | Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections |
| title_short | Zebra Alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-9): Genetic Diversity, Latency and Co-Infections |
| title_sort | zebra alphaherpesviruses ehv 1 and ehv 9 genetic diversity latency and co infections |
| topic | EHV-1 EHV-9 zebra latency diversity co-occurrence |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/8/9/262 |
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