Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neonatal equine herpesvirus type 1 infection on a thoroughbred breeding farm.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 1998
- Authors:
- Murray, M J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of 17 foals born on a Thoroughbred breeding farm in 1995, five of the foals became sick due to an infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), which can cause serious health issues. Unfortunately, three of these foals either died or were put down because of severe lung inflammation linked to the virus. All the infected foals were from mares that shared the same pasture and barn, but there were no other signs of EHV-1 infection, like abortions or neurological problems, during this time. Three foals received treatment with a medication called acyclovir; one of them died, but the other two survived, suggesting that the treatment might have helped them. Overall, the treatment worked for two of the foals, but one did not survive.
Abstract
Of 17 foals born on a Thoroughbred breeding farm between March and April 1995, infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was associated with neonatal morbidity in 5 foals, 3 of which died or were euthanized. Morbidity and mortality were associated with pulmonary inflammation, and EHV-1 was identified in the lungs of the 3 foals that died. All neonatal EHV-1 infections occurred in foals of mares housed in the same pasture and barn. No other clinical manifestations of EHV-1 infection (e.g., abortion, neurologic disease, or respiratory disease) occurred during this outbreak. Three foals were treated with acyclovir (1 died, 2 survived), which may have influenced the clinical outcome in the surviving foals.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9503358/