Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain

ABSTRACT Background Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a persistent threat to horses, with unclear risk factors and disease severity. Objectives To evaluate risk factors, effective reproduction rate (Rt), and long‐term athletic outcomes of an EHM outbreak. Methods Retrospective study of...

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Main Authors: María de laCuesta‐Torrado, Ana Velloso Alvarez, Isabel Santiago‐Llorente, Lara Armengou, Federico Nieto, José Ríos, Fátima Cruz‐López, Eduard Jose‐Cunilleras
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70040
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author María de laCuesta‐Torrado
Ana Velloso Alvarez
Isabel Santiago‐Llorente
Lara Armengou
Federico Nieto
José Ríos
Fátima Cruz‐López
Eduard Jose‐Cunilleras
author_facet María de laCuesta‐Torrado
Ana Velloso Alvarez
Isabel Santiago‐Llorente
Lara Armengou
Federico Nieto
José Ríos
Fátima Cruz‐López
Eduard Jose‐Cunilleras
author_sort María de laCuesta‐Torrado
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a persistent threat to horses, with unclear risk factors and disease severity. Objectives To evaluate risk factors, effective reproduction rate (Rt), and long‐term athletic outcomes of an EHM outbreak. Methods Retrospective study of the 2021 EHM outbreak in Valencia, Spain, examining associations between risk factors (sex, age, breed, country of origin, and vaccination status) and case fatality rate, EHM development, and odds of returning to competition using odds ratios [95% CI] and Rt via the Robert Kochs Institute method. Results Among 191 horses, 38 (20%) were clinically normal, 13 (7%) were subclinical, and 140 (73%) presented clinical signs (89 EHM, 64%). One hundred sixty horses were isolated at the show, while 47 were treated in hospitals. The mean age was 9.8 ± 3.0 years; 85 (45%) were mares, 79 (41%) geldings, and 27 (14%) stallions. The EHM case fatality rate was 11/89 (12%). Vaccination was associated with EHM development (4.54[2.23–9.27]; OR[95% CI]; p < 0.001) and case fatality rate (3.9[1.1–14.4]; OR[95% CI]; p < 0.043). EHV‐1‐infected horses without EHM were more likely to return to competition (54/61; 89%) than those recovering from EHM (65/89; 73%; p = 0.024). It was initially 4.2 and decreased to < 1 within 2 weeks of the outbreak. Conclusions During the 2021 EHV‐1 outbreak in Valencia, vaccination status appears to be associated with EHM development. Horses recovering from EHM had slightly lower chances of returning to competition than those shedding EHV‐1 without EHM. The high Rt value underscores the contagious nature of EHV‐1.
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spelling doaj-art-3878eb233f6b42fd9897c91d7d9f2bb02025-08-20T02:27:45ZengWileyJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine0891-66401939-16762025-03-01392n/an/a10.1111/jvim.70040Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, SpainMaría de laCuesta‐Torrado0Ana Velloso Alvarez1Isabel Santiago‐Llorente2Lara Armengou3Federico Nieto4José Ríos5Fátima Cruz‐López6Eduard Jose‐Cunilleras7Dept. Animal Medicine and Surgery Universidad Cardenal Herrera‐CEU, CEU Universities Alfara del Patriarca SpainDept. Animal Medicine and Surgery Universidad Cardenal Herrera‐CEU, CEU Universities Alfara del Patriarca SpainHospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense Universidad Complutense Madrid SpainUnitat Equina Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari Barcelona SpainEquihealth Veterinarios Barcelona SpainDepartment of Clinical Farmacology, Hospital Clinic and Medical Statistics Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; and Biostatistics Unit, School of Medicine Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona SpainVISAVET Health Surveillance Centre Universidad Complutense Madrid SpainUnitat Equina Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari Barcelona SpainABSTRACT Background Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a persistent threat to horses, with unclear risk factors and disease severity. Objectives To evaluate risk factors, effective reproduction rate (Rt), and long‐term athletic outcomes of an EHM outbreak. Methods Retrospective study of the 2021 EHM outbreak in Valencia, Spain, examining associations between risk factors (sex, age, breed, country of origin, and vaccination status) and case fatality rate, EHM development, and odds of returning to competition using odds ratios [95% CI] and Rt via the Robert Kochs Institute method. Results Among 191 horses, 38 (20%) were clinically normal, 13 (7%) were subclinical, and 140 (73%) presented clinical signs (89 EHM, 64%). One hundred sixty horses were isolated at the show, while 47 were treated in hospitals. The mean age was 9.8 ± 3.0 years; 85 (45%) were mares, 79 (41%) geldings, and 27 (14%) stallions. The EHM case fatality rate was 11/89 (12%). Vaccination was associated with EHM development (4.54[2.23–9.27]; OR[95% CI]; p < 0.001) and case fatality rate (3.9[1.1–14.4]; OR[95% CI]; p < 0.043). EHV‐1‐infected horses without EHM were more likely to return to competition (54/61; 89%) than those recovering from EHM (65/89; 73%; p = 0.024). It was initially 4.2 and decreased to < 1 within 2 weeks of the outbreak. Conclusions During the 2021 EHV‐1 outbreak in Valencia, vaccination status appears to be associated with EHM development. Horses recovering from EHM had slightly lower chances of returning to competition than those shedding EHV‐1 without EHM. The high Rt value underscores the contagious nature of EHV‐1.https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70040EHV‐1horsequarantinerisk factorvaccine
spellingShingle María de laCuesta‐Torrado
Ana Velloso Alvarez
Isabel Santiago‐Llorente
Lara Armengou
Federico Nieto
José Ríos
Fátima Cruz‐López
Eduard Jose‐Cunilleras
Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
EHV‐1
horse
quarantine
risk factor
vaccine
title Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
title_full Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
title_fullStr Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
title_full_unstemmed Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
title_short Risk Factors and Long‐Term Outcomes in Horses After the 2021 Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Myeloencephalopathy, Valencia, Spain
title_sort risk factors and long term outcomes in horses after the 2021 outbreak of equine herpesvirus 1 myeloencephalopathy valencia spain
topic EHV‐1
horse
quarantine
risk factor
vaccine
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70040
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