Equine Herpesvirus 1. Trojan Horse in the 2021 rhinopneumonitis outbreak
New article published in Profesión Veterinaria
July 30th, 2021
Cruz F., Santiago I., Gonzalez S., Varela M., Dorrego-Rodriguez A., Perez MD., Serres C. and de Juan L..
At the end of February and throughout the month of March, multiple cases of infection with Equine Herpesvirus type 1 (Equine herpesvirus 1, EHV-1) were confirmed in Spain and several European countries in horses that had participated in show jumping competitions in Spain. and Portugal.
EHV-1 infection is endemic in most horse populations throughout the world, causing severe economic losses associated with outbreaks of respiratory disease, miscarriages, neonatal deaths, and myeloencephalopathy.
The effects of this virus in horses occur at three levels: first, the sporadic appearance of mild respiratory illness with fever in horses less than two years of age, leading to interruptions in training. Secondly, abortions that occur during the third trimester of pregnancy in mares, which entail great economic losses. Finally, and perhaps the most dramatic effect, the appearance of outbreaks of neurological disease (equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy or MHE) that produces complete restrictions of movement, completely stopping any activity of rearing, training, competitions and equestrian events.
This is the case of the outbreak that occurred in Valencia at the end of February 2021, a historic outbreak that has put the equine sector, already sensitized to the current COVID-19 pandemic, on high alert.
 | Servicio de Vigilancia Sanitaria Equina (SEVISEQ). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
| Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
| Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense (HCVC). Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
