Characterization of Equine Parvovirus in Thoroughbred Breeding Horses from Germany

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Abstract

An equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has been recently identified in association with equine serum hepatitis, also known as Theiler’s disease. The disease was first described by Arnold Theiler in 1918 and is often observed with parenteral use of blood products in equines. However, natural ways of viral circulation and potential risk factors for transmission still remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of EqPV-H infections in Thoroughbred horses in northern and western Germany and aimed to identify potential risk factors associated with viral infections. A total of 392 Thoroughbreds broodmares and stallions were evaluated cross-sectionally for the presence of anti-EqPV-H antibodies and EqPV-H DNA using a luciferase immunoprecipitation assay (LIPS) and a quantitative PCR, respectively. In addition, data regarding age, stud farm, breeding history, and international transportation history of each horse were collected and analysed. An occurrence of 7% EqPV-H DNA positive and 35% seropositive horses was observed in this study cohort. The systematic analysis of risk factors revealed that age, especially in the group of 11–15-year-old horses, and breeding history were potential risk factors that can influence the rate of EqPV-H infections. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed a high similarity on nucleotide level within the sequenced Thoroughbred samples. In conclusion, this study demonstrates circulating EqPV-H infections in Thoroughbred horses from central Europe and revealed age and breeding history as risk factors for EqPV-H infections.

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The family Parvoviridae.

Susan Cotmore, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, John A. Chiorini … (2014)

A set of proposals to rationalize and extend the taxonomy of the family Parvoviridae is currently under review by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Viruses in this family infect a wide range of hosts, as reflected by the longstanding division into two subfamilies: the Parvovirinae, which contains viruses that infect vertebrate hosts, and the Densovirinae, encompassing viruses that infect arthropod hosts. Using a modified definition for classification into the family that no longer demands isolation as long as the biological context is strong, but does require a near-complete DNA sequence, 134 new viruses and virus variants were identified. The proposals introduce new species and genera into both subfamilies, resolve one misclassified species, and improve taxonomic clarity by employing a series of systematic changes. These include identifying a precise level of sequence similarity required for viruses to belong to the same genus and decreasing the level of sequence similarity required for viruses to belong to the same species. These steps will facilitate recognition of the major phylogenetic branches within genera and eliminate the confusion caused by the near-identity of species and viruses. Changes to taxon nomenclature will establish numbered, non-Latinized binomial names for species, indicating genus affiliation and host range rather than recapitulating virus names. Also, affixes will be included in the names of genera to clarify subfamily affiliation and reduce the ambiguity that results from the vernacular use of "parvovirus" and "densovirus" to denote multiple taxon levels.

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Serology-enabled discovery of genetically diverse hepaciviruses in a new host.

Kelly Rice, Mario Henriquez, Amit Kapoor … (2012)

Genetic and biological characterization of new hepaciviruses infecting animals contributes to our understanding of the ultimate origins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in humans and dramatically enhances our ability to study its pathogenesis using tractable animal models. Animal homologs of HCV include a recently discovered canine hepacivirus (CHV) and GB virus B (GBV-B), both viruses with largely undetermined natural host ranges. Here we used a versatile serology-based approach to determine the natural host of the only known nonprimate hepacivirus (NPHV), CHV, which is also the closest phylogenetic relative of HCV. Recombinant protein expressed from the helicase domain of CHV NS3 was used as antigen in the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay to screen several nonprimate animal species. Thirty-six samples from 103 horses were immunoreactive, and viral genomic RNA was present in 8 of the 36 seropositive animals and none of the seronegative animals. Complete genome sequences of these 8 genetically diverse NPHVs showed 14% (range, 6.4% to 17.2%) nucleotide sequence divergence, with most changes occurring at synonymous sites. RNA secondary structure prediction of the 383-base 5' untranslated region of NPHV was refined and extended through mapping of polymorphic sites to unpaired regions or (semi)covariant pairings. Similar approaches were adopted to delineate extensive RNA secondary structures in the coding region of the genome, predicted to form 27 regularly spaced, thermodynamically stable stem-loops. Together, these findings suggest a promising new nonprimate animal model and provide a database that will aid creation of functional NPHV cDNA clones and other novel tools for hepacivirus studies.

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Assessment of stress during handling and transport.

T Grandin (1996)

Fear is a very strong stressor, and the highly variable results of handling and transportation studies are likely to be due to different levels of psychological stress. Psychological stress is fear stress. Some examples are restraint, contact with people, or exposure to novelty. In many different animals, stimulation of the amygdala with an implanted electrode triggers a complex pattern of behavior and autonomic responses that resemble fear in humans. Both previous experience and genetic factors affecting temperament will interact in complex ways to determine how fearful an animal may become when it is handled or transported. Cattle trained and habituated to a squeeze chute may have baseline cortisol levels and be behaviorally calm, whereas extensively reared animals may have elevated cortisol levels in the same squeeze chute. The squeeze chute is perceived as neutral and non-threatening to one animal; to another animal, the novelty of it may trigger intense fear. Novelty is a strong stressor when an animal is suddenly confronted with it. To accurately assess an animal's reaction, a combination of behavioral and physiological measurements will provide the best overall measurement of animal discomfort.

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Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Viruses

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Viruses

Journal ID (publisher-id): viruses

Title: Viruses

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Electronic): 1999-4915

Publication date (Electronic): 18 October 2019

Publication date Collection: October 2019

Volume: 11

Issue: 10

Electronic Location Identifier: 965

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; Toni.meister@ 123456rub.de (T.L.M.); Yannick.brueggemann@ 123456rub.de (Y.B.); Daniel.todt@ 123456rub.de (D.T.); Alexander.stang@ 123456rub.de (A.S.)

[2 ]Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 30625 Hannover, Germany; Birthe.tegtmeyer@ 123456twincore.de

[3 ]Institute of Virology; University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Harald.sieme@ 123456tiho-hannover.de (H.S.); Karsten.feige@ 123456tiho-hannover.de (K.F.)

[4 ]Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: Jessika.cavalleri@ 123456vetmeduni.ac.at (J.-M.V.C.); Eike.steinmann@ 123456rub.de (E.S.); Tel.: +49-234-32-23189 (E.S.)

[†]

These authors contributed equally to the work.

Author information

Toni Luise Meister https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-9443

Birthe Tegtmeyer https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3875-0707

Jessika-M.V. Cavalleri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8575-7402

Article

Publisher ID: viruses-11-00965

DOI: 10.3390/v11100965

PMC ID: 6833105

PubMed ID: 31635426

SO-VID: 13536f8a-7edd-4591-8de6-61d3ef6fc031

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Characterization of Equine Parvovirus in Thoroughbred Breeding Horses from Germany

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Abstract

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Decoding Infection and Transmission

Most cited references 25

The family Parvoviridae.

Serology-enabled discovery of genetically diverse hepaciviruses in a new host.

Assessment of stress during handling and transport.

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