Equine rhinitis viruses

Test codes:

S0254 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of equine rhinitis virus A by reverse transcription coupled real time PCR.
S0255 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of equine rhinitis virus B by reverse transcription coupled real time PCR.

Equine rhinitis viruses A and B (ERAV and ERBV) are common in horses throughout the world. These viruses cause clinical disease that is hard to differentiate clinically from diseases caused by other equine respiratory pathogens like equine influenza virus and equine herpesviruses.

ERAV and ERBV are members of the equine picornavirus family; they were formerly named equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2, respectively. Serological surveys have shown that almost 100% of young and adult horses have been exposed to these viruses.

Infected horses may develop mild to severe respiratory disease affecting both upper and lower airways. Clinical signs of infection are non-specific and can include nasal discharge, ocular discharge, fever, enlargement of lymph nodes, dry cough, and abnormal lung sounds. These signs typically persist for 4 to 5 days.

Similar to other equine respiratory viruses, equine rhinitis viruses A and B can be transmitted through direct contact between infected horses and through aerosolized droplets generated by sneezing, coughing, or snorting. Tack, grooming supplies, buckets, water troughs and other objects can be contaminated with these viruses and become sources of viral transmission.

ERAV and ERBV can be diagnosed by measuring antibody titer in paired acute and convalescent sera, using serum samples taken at the onset of clinical illness and again 2 to 3 weeks post-infection. Measuring change in antibody titer in this way can be helpful to confirm a diagnosis, but cannot be used to determine the infectious status of an affected animal because affected animals may continue shedding the virus for an undefined period after symptoms have resolved. Molecular detection by PCR can quickly and specifically identify these viruses. This not only helps confirm the diagnosis but also helps identify affected horses still shedding the virus.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of infection
• Help ensure that horse populations are free of these viruses
• Early prevention of spread of these viruses
• Minimize personnel exposure to these viruses
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from horses

References:
Pusterla, N., James, K., Barnum, S., Bain, F., Barnett, D.C., Chappell, D., Gaughan, E., Craig, B., Schneider, C. and Vaala, W. (2022) Frequency of detection and prevalence factors associated with common respiratory pathogens in equids with acute onset of fever and/or respiratory signs (2008-2021). Pathogens. 11:759-771.

Specimen requirements:  Nasopharyngeal swab, or 0.1 ml cell culture.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected