Manifestations of Equine Herpesvirus-1

Learn how the respiratory, reproductive, and neurologic forms of equine herpesvirus-1 can impact your horse.
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Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is one of five herpesviruses commonly found in horses. EHV-1 infections manifest in three syndromes: respiratory, reproductive, and neurologic.

Like other herpesviruses, EHV-1 can establish latent infections, making it possible for outbreaks of disease to occur in herds that are considered closed. While quarantine of new arrivals; segregation of young stock, breeding stock, and show stock; and vaccination are important management tools in the prevention of EHV-1 infections, complete protection is not possible to achieve. Vaccination confirms relatively short-term immunity (four to five months) and immunity is not entirely protective, meaning that even well-vaccinated horses can develop disease.

The respiratory form of EHV-1 is generally mild and self-limiting. Clinical signs are indistinguishable from other viral causes of respiratory disease, such as equine influenza and EHV-4. Horses generally exhibit a fever, cough, serous nasal discharge, and mild lethargy.

Reproductive disease is generally considered to be the most economically important manifestation of EHV-1. Infection with EHV-1 causes abortion in the last trimester of gestation. Affected foals are occasionally born alive but are generally very weak and succumb within days of birth, often with secondary disease conditions. The virus infects the mare through the respiratory tract and then enters the bloodstream (called viremia), traveling to and infecting the fetus. Infection in the mare is generally inapparent and abortion occurs without any signs of impending parturition. The fetus is aborted fresh, in contrast to other causes of abortion such as leptospirosis where the fetus might be significantly decomposed

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