Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina

BackgroundEquine coronavirus (ECoV) leads to outbreaks with variable morbidity and mortality. Few previous reports of risk factors for infection are available in the literature.ObjectivesTo describe unique clinical findings and risk factors for infection and development of clinical disease.Animals13...

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Main Authors: Kate L. Hepworth-Warren, Sara J. Erwin, Caroline B. Moore, James R. Talbot, Kimberly A. S. Young, Michael J. Neault, Jennifer C. Haugland, James B. Robertson, Anthony T. Blikslager
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1060759/full
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author Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
Sara J. Erwin
Caroline B. Moore
James R. Talbot
Kimberly A. S. Young
Michael J. Neault
Jennifer C. Haugland
Jennifer C. Haugland
James B. Robertson
Anthony T. Blikslager
author_facet Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
Sara J. Erwin
Caroline B. Moore
James R. Talbot
Kimberly A. S. Young
Michael J. Neault
Jennifer C. Haugland
Jennifer C. Haugland
James B. Robertson
Anthony T. Blikslager
author_sort Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEquine coronavirus (ECoV) leads to outbreaks with variable morbidity and mortality. Few previous reports of risk factors for infection are available in the literature.ObjectivesTo describe unique clinical findings and risk factors for infection and development of clinical disease.Animals135 horses on a farm affected by ECoV outbreak.MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Data obtained included age, breed, gender, activity level, housing, and feed at the onset of the outbreak. Factors were evaluated for assessment of risk of infection using simple logistic regression or Fisher's exact test. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results and findingsForty-three of 54 (79.6%) horses tested on the farm were positive on fecal PCR for ECoV, and 17 horses (12.6%) developed clinical signs consistent with ECoV. Out of 17 horses in which the presence or absence of signs of colic was noted, 6 of 17 (35.3%) showed signs of colic. Three of these horses had small colon impactions, 2 of which required surgical intervention. Significant risk factors for having positive PCR results included being primarily stalled (OR 167.1, 95% CI 26.4–1719), housing next to a positive horse (OR 7.5, 95% CI 3.1–19.0), being in work (OR 26.9, 95% CI 4.6–281.9), being fed rationed hay vs. ad libitum (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8–15,593), and being fed alfalfa hay (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8–15,593).Conclusions and clinical importanceThis report describes risk factors for ECoV infection many of which were associated with intensive management of show horses. Clinicians should be aware that clinical signs vary and can include severe colic.
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spelling doaj.art-c689e7e3fe2045a59d77f13e71944dd02023-03-03T06:04:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-03-011010.3389/fvets.2023.10607591060759Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North CarolinaKate L. Hepworth-Warren0Sara J. Erwin1Caroline B. Moore2James R. Talbot3Kimberly A. S. Young4Michael J. Neault5Jennifer C. Haugland6Jennifer C. Haugland7James B. Robertson8Anthony T. Blikslager9Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesCarolina Equine Hospital, Browns Summit, NC, United StatesCarolina Equine Hospital, Browns Summit, NC, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesNorth Carolina Department of Agricultures and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United StatesRollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United StatesNorth Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesBackgroundEquine coronavirus (ECoV) leads to outbreaks with variable morbidity and mortality. Few previous reports of risk factors for infection are available in the literature.ObjectivesTo describe unique clinical findings and risk factors for infection and development of clinical disease.Animals135 horses on a farm affected by ECoV outbreak.MethodsRetrospective cohort study. Data obtained included age, breed, gender, activity level, housing, and feed at the onset of the outbreak. Factors were evaluated for assessment of risk of infection using simple logistic regression or Fisher's exact test. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results and findingsForty-three of 54 (79.6%) horses tested on the farm were positive on fecal PCR for ECoV, and 17 horses (12.6%) developed clinical signs consistent with ECoV. Out of 17 horses in which the presence or absence of signs of colic was noted, 6 of 17 (35.3%) showed signs of colic. Three of these horses had small colon impactions, 2 of which required surgical intervention. Significant risk factors for having positive PCR results included being primarily stalled (OR 167.1, 95% CI 26.4–1719), housing next to a positive horse (OR 7.5, 95% CI 3.1–19.0), being in work (OR 26.9, 95% CI 4.6–281.9), being fed rationed hay vs. ad libitum (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8–15,593), and being fed alfalfa hay (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8–15,593).Conclusions and clinical importanceThis report describes risk factors for ECoV infection many of which were associated with intensive management of show horses. Clinicians should be aware that clinical signs vary and can include severe colic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1060759/fullECoVcoronaviruscolicdiarrheasmall colon impaction
spellingShingle Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
Sara J. Erwin
Caroline B. Moore
James R. Talbot
Kimberly A. S. Young
Michael J. Neault
Jennifer C. Haugland
Jennifer C. Haugland
James B. Robertson
Anthony T. Blikslager
Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
ECoV
coronavirus
colic
diarrhea
small colon impaction
title Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
title_full Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
title_fullStr Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
title_short Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina
title_sort risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in north carolina
topic ECoV
coronavirus
colic
diarrhea
small colon impaction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1060759/full
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