Seroprevalence and factors associated with seropositivity to equine arteritis virus in Spanish Purebred horses in Spain
Investigation article published in Equine veterinary journal
September 1st, 2016
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), a disease caused by infection with the equine arteritis virus (EAV), is present in many European countries. In Spain, the last confirmed outbreak was reported in 1992 and there is a paucity of seroprevalence studies. The disease has a major impact on the equine breeding industry, which is mainly represented by Spanish Purebred (SP) horses in Spain.
To estimate the seroprevalence of EAV in the breeding SP horse population in central Spain, and to identify potential horse- and stud farm-level factors associated with seropositivity to EAV.
Individual serum samples from 555 SP horses, collected between September 2011 and November 2013 at 35 stud farms, were tested using a commercially available EAV antibody ELISA and seroneutralisation as the OIE reference confirmation test for samples with positive and equivocal results. Data on factors putatively associated with seropositivity to EAV were collected via a questionnaire and examined using random-effects logistic regression for analysis of clustered data.
EAV seroprevalence in the SP breeding population in central Spain standardised for the sex distribution of the reference horse population, was estimated to be 16.8% (95% confidence interval: 5.2-28.5%). Increasing numbers of breeding mares in the stud farm and increasing percentage of mares with reproductive problems during the last 12 months were identified as being positively associated with EAV seropositivity. Mares vaccinated against Equine Herpesvirus-1 and/or -4 were also positively associated with EAV seropositivity.
These findings are of importance for informing appropriate biosecurity measures for stud farms and could help facilitate the development of an EVA surveillance programme in the SP breeding horse population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Cruz F., Fores P., Muqhini-Gras L., Ireland J., Moreno MA. and Newton R.
 | Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Centre for Preventive Medicine. Animal Health Trust (AHT). |
 | Centre for Infectious Disease Control. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). |
 | Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Utrecht University (UU). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Vigilancia Sanitaria Equina (SEVISEQ). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
