Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype
Here we report on an EHV-1 outbreak investigation caused by a novel genotype H<sub>752</sub> (histidine in amino acid position 752 of the <i>ORF 30</i> gene). The outbreak involved 31 performance horses. Horses were monitored over a period of 35 days for clinical signs, thera...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/747 |
| _version_ | 1827689890722086912 |
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| author | Nicola Pusterla Samantha Barnum Julia Miller Sarah Varnell Barbara Dallap-Schaer Helen Aceto Aliza Simeone |
| author_facet | Nicola Pusterla Samantha Barnum Julia Miller Sarah Varnell Barbara Dallap-Schaer Helen Aceto Aliza Simeone |
| author_sort | Nicola Pusterla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here we report on an EHV-1 outbreak investigation caused by a novel genotype H<sub>752</sub> (histidine in amino acid position 752 of the <i>ORF 30</i> gene). The outbreak involved 31 performance horses. Horses were monitored over a period of 35 days for clinical signs, therapeutic outcome and qPCR results of EHV-1 in blood and nasal secretions. The morbidity of the EHV-1 outbreak was 84% with 26 clinically infected horses displaying fever and less frequently anorexia and distal limb edema. Four horses showed mild transient neurological deficits. Clinically diseased horses experienced high viral load of EHV-1 in blood and/or nasal secretions via qPCR, while subclinically infected horses had detectable EHV-1 mainly in nasal secretions. The majority of infected horses showed a rise in antibody titers to EHV-1 during the outbreak. All 31 horses were treated with valacyclovir, while clinically infected horses further received flunixin meglumine and sodium heparin. This investigation highlights various relevant aspects of an EHV-1 outbreak caused by a new H<sub>752</sub> genotype: (i) importance of early detection of EHV-1 infection; (ii) diagnostic challenge to assess H<sub>752</sub> genotype; (iii) apparent benefit of valacyclovir use in the early stage of the outbreak; and (iv) weekly testing of blood and nasal secretions by qPCR in order to monitor individual infection status and lift quarantine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:27:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0b68748af204afe953ad925ab518779 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:27:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0b68748af204afe953ad925ab5187792023-11-21T23:55:57ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-06-0110674710.3390/pathogens10060747Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> GenotypeNicola Pusterla0Samantha Barnum1Julia Miller2Sarah Varnell3Barbara Dallap-Schaer4Helen Aceto5Aliza Simeone6Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAAlliance Equine Health Care, Glenmoore, PA 19343, USAAlliance Equine Health Care, Glenmoore, PA 19343, USADepartment of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USADepartment of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USAPennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health, Collegeville, PA 17110, USAHere we report on an EHV-1 outbreak investigation caused by a novel genotype H<sub>752</sub> (histidine in amino acid position 752 of the <i>ORF 30</i> gene). The outbreak involved 31 performance horses. Horses were monitored over a period of 35 days for clinical signs, therapeutic outcome and qPCR results of EHV-1 in blood and nasal secretions. The morbidity of the EHV-1 outbreak was 84% with 26 clinically infected horses displaying fever and less frequently anorexia and distal limb edema. Four horses showed mild transient neurological deficits. Clinically diseased horses experienced high viral load of EHV-1 in blood and/or nasal secretions via qPCR, while subclinically infected horses had detectable EHV-1 mainly in nasal secretions. The majority of infected horses showed a rise in antibody titers to EHV-1 during the outbreak. All 31 horses were treated with valacyclovir, while clinically infected horses further received flunixin meglumine and sodium heparin. This investigation highlights various relevant aspects of an EHV-1 outbreak caused by a new H<sub>752</sub> genotype: (i) importance of early detection of EHV-1 infection; (ii) diagnostic challenge to assess H<sub>752</sub> genotype; (iii) apparent benefit of valacyclovir use in the early stage of the outbreak; and (iv) weekly testing of blood and nasal secretions by qPCR in order to monitor individual infection status and lift quarantine.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/747EHV-1new genotypeH752outbreakhorses |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Pusterla Samantha Barnum Julia Miller Sarah Varnell Barbara Dallap-Schaer Helen Aceto Aliza Simeone Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype Pathogens EHV-1 new genotype H752 outbreak horses |
| title | Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype |
| title_full | Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype |
| title_short | Investigation of an EHV-1 Outbreak in the United States Caused by a New H<sub>752</sub> Genotype |
| title_sort | investigation of an ehv 1 outbreak in the united states caused by a new h sub 752 sub genotype |
| topic | EHV-1 new genotype H752 outbreak horses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/747 |
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