Abstract
Background: Three flaviviruses (equine pegivirus [EPgV]; Theiler's disease–associated virus [TDAV]; non-primate hepacivirus [NPHV]) and equine parvovirus (EqPV-H) are present in equine blood products; the TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H have been suggested as potential causes of serum hepatitis. Objective: To determine the prevalence of these viruses in horses with equine serum hepatitis. Animals: Eighteen horses diagnosed with serum hepatitis, enrolled from US referral hospitals. Methods: In the prospective case study, liver, serum, or both samples were tested for EPgV, TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H by PCR. Results: Both liver tissue and serum were tested for 6 cases, serum only for 8 cases, and liver only for 4 cases. Twelve horses received tetanus antitoxin (TAT) 4-12.7 weeks (median = 8 weeks), 3 horses received commercial equine plasma 6-8.6 weeks, and 3 horses received allogenic stem cells 6.4-7.6 weeks before the onset of hepatic failure. All samples were TDAV negative. Two of 14 serum samples were NPHV-positive. Six of 14 serum samples were EPgV-positive. All liver samples were NPHV-negative and EPgV-negative. EqPV-H was detected in the serum (N = 8), liver (N = 4), or both samples (N = 6) of all 18 cases. The TAT of the same lot number was available for virologic testing in 10 of 12 TAT-associated cases, and all 10 samples were EqPV-H positive. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: We demonstrated EqPV-H in 18 consecutive cases of serum hepatitis. EPgV, TDAV, and NPHV were not consistently present. This information should encourage blood product manufacturers to test for EqPV-H and eliminate EqPV-H–infected horses from their donor herds.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 251-257 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:information Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Grant/Award Number: 2016-67015-24765; Niarchos FamilyDr Mark McMahan, South Lyon, Michigan; Dr William Rhoads, Whitesbooro, Texas; Dr Kelly Whitesel, Eaton, Indiana; Alec Darvin, Shelbyville, Indiana; Dr Kent Cooper, Independence, Kansas; Dr Paul Cotterill, Cherryvale, Kansas; Dr Jason Wooderson, Bolivar, Missouri; Dr Donald St. Ledger, Albion, Illinois; Dr George Eales, San Jose, Illinois are thanked for providing case information and samples for virus testing. The viral testing and data analysis were performed at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Parts of this work presented at the 2018 ACVIM Forum, Seattle, Washington. While the viral testing in this case series was performed on a prospective basis, the individual case management was not determined by the study parameters and was performed by the attending clinicians.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Keywords
- Theiler's disease
- horse blood origin biologics
- liver failure
- parvovirus
- tetanus antitoxin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Veterinary (all)