Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event
The present study reports on the management of an EHV-1 outbreak at a large, multi-week equestrian event with ongoing showing. Within a 48 h period, 8 horses out of a cohort of 38 horses from the same trainer displayed elevated rectal temperatures ranging from 38.4 to 39.0 °C. Initial testing using...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/608 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850256150869573632 |
|---|---|
| author | Nicola Pusterla Kaila Lawton Samantha Barnum Katie Flynn Steve Hankin David Runk Eric Mendonsa Tara Doherty |
| author_facet | Nicola Pusterla Kaila Lawton Samantha Barnum Katie Flynn Steve Hankin David Runk Eric Mendonsa Tara Doherty |
| author_sort | Nicola Pusterla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study reports on the management of an EHV-1 outbreak at a large, multi-week equestrian event with ongoing showing. Within a 48 h period, 8 horses out of a cohort of 38 horses from the same trainer displayed elevated rectal temperatures ranging from 38.4 to 39.0 °C. Initial testing using a point-of-care PCR assay detected EHV-1 in 2/8 horses, with the results being confirmed at a later time by qPCR. As a precautionary measure and because of the inability to isolate the entire at-risk population, the 38 horses were relocated to an equine facility outside the equestrian event for daily monitoring and weekly EHV-1 qPCR testing of nasal secretions. Overall, 22/38 (58%) horses tested EHV-1 qPCR-positive in nasal secretions over the monitoring period of 28 days, with only one additional horse developing fever. Once all 38 horses tested EHV-1 qPCR-negative twice, 7 days apart, 17 horses returned to the equestrian event to compete for the remaining 2 weeks of the circuit. The present study highlights the importance of isolating and testing horses with fever but also subfebrile horses, as EHV-1 can cause silent infection. The relocation of the exposed horses to an outside facility allowed close monitoring of these horses while reducing the risk of direct and indirect exposure to other show horses. The regular testing for EHV-1 through nasal secretions during the outbreak, coupled with proper biosecurity protocols, allowed the safe return of the show horses to the event. The key elements in reducing the spread of EHV-1 were the routine assessment of rectal temperature, early isolation of horses with elevated rectal temperature and on-site EHV-1 PCR testing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c398b712ceae428aba1ea231ec9bbb23 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-c398b712ceae428aba1ea231ec9bbb232025-08-20T01:56:42ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117560810.3390/v17050608Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian EventNicola Pusterla0Kaila Lawton1Samantha Barnum2Katie Flynn3Steve Hankin4David Runk5Eric Mendonsa6Tara Doherty7Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAUS Equestrian Federation, Lexington, KY 40511, USADesert International Horse Park, Thermal, CA 92274, USADesert International Horse Park, Thermal, CA 92274, USAFluxergy, Irvine, CA 92618, USAWest Coast Equine Medicine, Temecula, CA 92590, USAThe present study reports on the management of an EHV-1 outbreak at a large, multi-week equestrian event with ongoing showing. Within a 48 h period, 8 horses out of a cohort of 38 horses from the same trainer displayed elevated rectal temperatures ranging from 38.4 to 39.0 °C. Initial testing using a point-of-care PCR assay detected EHV-1 in 2/8 horses, with the results being confirmed at a later time by qPCR. As a precautionary measure and because of the inability to isolate the entire at-risk population, the 38 horses were relocated to an equine facility outside the equestrian event for daily monitoring and weekly EHV-1 qPCR testing of nasal secretions. Overall, 22/38 (58%) horses tested EHV-1 qPCR-positive in nasal secretions over the monitoring period of 28 days, with only one additional horse developing fever. Once all 38 horses tested EHV-1 qPCR-negative twice, 7 days apart, 17 horses returned to the equestrian event to compete for the remaining 2 weeks of the circuit. The present study highlights the importance of isolating and testing horses with fever but also subfebrile horses, as EHV-1 can cause silent infection. The relocation of the exposed horses to an outside facility allowed close monitoring of these horses while reducing the risk of direct and indirect exposure to other show horses. The regular testing for EHV-1 through nasal secretions during the outbreak, coupled with proper biosecurity protocols, allowed the safe return of the show horses to the event. The key elements in reducing the spread of EHV-1 were the routine assessment of rectal temperature, early isolation of horses with elevated rectal temperature and on-site EHV-1 PCR testing.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/608equine herpesvirus-1outbreakshow horsesmonitoringqPCR testingreturn to competition |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Pusterla Kaila Lawton Samantha Barnum Katie Flynn Steve Hankin David Runk Eric Mendonsa Tara Doherty Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event Viruses equine herpesvirus-1 outbreak show horses monitoring qPCR testing return to competition |
| title | Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event |
| title_full | Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event |
| title_fullStr | Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event |
| title_short | Management of an Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak During a Multi-Week Equestrian Event |
| title_sort | management of an equine herpesvirus 1 outbreak during a multi week equestrian event |
| topic | equine herpesvirus-1 outbreak show horses monitoring qPCR testing return to competition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/608 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicolapusterla managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT kailalawton managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT samanthabarnum managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT katieflynn managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT stevehankin managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT davidrunk managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT ericmendonsa managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent AT taradoherty managementofanequineherpesvirus1outbreakduringamultiweekequestrianevent |