Investigation of the Frequency of Detection of Common Respiratory Pathogens in Nasal Secretions and Environment of Healthy Sport Horses Attending a Multi-Week Show Event during the Summer Months

Pusterla, Nicola; Kalscheur, Madalyn; Peters, Duncan; Bidwell, Lori; Holtz, Sara; Barnum, Samantha; Lawton, Kaila; Morrissey, Matt; Schumacher, Stephen

doi:10.3390/v15061225

Cited by 3 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In contrast, EHV-1, EHV-4, EIV, ERBV, and S. equi are often associated with clinical disease and are, therefore, considered true respiratory pathogens. Previous studies have shown that true respiratory pathogens can be detected in nasal secretions and/or the environment of silent shedders without signs of clinical disease [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]. The detection frequency of these latter pathogens in the current study was only 2.22%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The detection frequency of these latter pathogens in the current study was only 2.22%. The authors have shown in previous work that respiratory pathogens can be sporadically detected from the stalls of high-risk horses during non-outbreak situations [ 8 , 10 ]. It is the clustering of stalls (i.e., group of adjacent stalls) testing positive for a specific contagious respiratory pathogen that indicates the silent spread and potential for a disease outbreak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, most protocols aimed at recognizing early disease and reducing the spread rely on the willingness of riders and trainers to follow such protocols. Recent studies have shown the frequency of detection of respiratory pathogens amongst healthy horses ranging from 0% to 4% [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], with differences based on demographics, use of the population tested, and the time of the year. The detection of subclinical shedders, potentially linked to the spread of respiratory pathogens, represents one of the greatest challenges in the show industry [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the testing of respiratory secretions in healthy sport horses gives a real-time insight into their shedding status, testing the environment determines the accumulation of respiratory pathogens over time. This approach has been successfully used to monitor the presence and potential spread of respiratory pathogens at a large, multi-week horse show during the summer months [ 8 ]. The results of that study showed that in a selected population of sport horses, the shedding frequency of respiratory viruses was low and primarily restricted to equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) with little evidence of active transmission and environmental contamination [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach has been successfully used to monitor the presence and potential spread of respiratory pathogens at a large, multi-week horse show during the summer months [ 8 ]. The results of that study showed that in a selected population of sport horses, the shedding frequency of respiratory viruses was low and primarily restricted to equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) with little evidence of active transmission and environmental contamination [ 8 ]. Unfortunately, such data have yet to be established for at-risk horses during the colder months of the year, when respiratory pathogens are known to circulate with higher frequency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months

Lawton,

Runk,

Hankin

et al. 2023

Viruses

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The aim of this study was to use environmental sampling to determine the frequency of detection of selected equine respiratory viruses and bacteria in horses attending a multi-week equestrian show during the winter months. At four time points during showing, environmental sponge samples were collected from all stalls on the property and tested for the presence of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), EHV-2, EHV-4, equine influenza virus (EIV), equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV), Streptococcus equi ss. equi (S. equi), and S. equi ss. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) using real-time PCR (PCR). Environmental sponges were collected from all 53 barns by using one sponge for up to 10 stalls. Further, 2/53 barns were randomly selected for individual stall sampling in order to compare the results between individual and pooled stall samples. A total of 333/948 (35.13%, 95% CI 32.09–38.26%) pooled environmental stall sponges tested PCR-positive for at least one of the selected respiratory pathogens. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the most commonly detected pathogen in pooled samples (28.69%, 95% CI 25.83–31.69%), followed by EHV-2 (14.45%, 95% CI 12.27–16.85%), EHV-4 (1.37%, 95% CI 0.73–2.33%), and a very small percentage of pooled stall sponges tested PCR-positive for EHV-1, ERBV, EIV, and S. equi. In individual samples, 171/464 (36.85%, 95% CI 32.45–41.42%) environmental stall sponges tested PCR-positive for at least one of the selected pathogens, following a similar frequency of pathogen detection as pooled samples. The detection frequency of true respiratory pathogens from environmental samples was higher during the winter months compared to previous studies performed during spring and summer, and this testing highlights that such pathogens circulate with greater frequency during the colder months of the year. The strategy of monitoring environmental stall samples for respiratory pathogens circumvents the often labor-intensive collection of respiratory secretions from healthy horses and allows for a more efficient assessment of pathogen buildup over time. However, environmental stall testing for respiratory pathogens should not replace proper biosecurity protocols, but it should instead be considered as an additional tool to monitor the silent circulation of respiratory pathogens in at-risk horses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months

Lawton,

Runk,

Hankin

et al. 2023

Viruses

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Cross-Sectional Survey of Horse Owners to Assess Their Knowledge and Use of Biosecurity Practices for Equine Infectious Diseases in the United States

White,

Pelzel-McCluskey

2023

Animals

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Horses are transported in the United States more than any other livestock species and co-mingle at various events; therefore, they are considered to be at an increased risk for infectious disease transmission. The fragmented movement of horses combined with numerous sites of co-mingling makes tracing the potential spread of a disease outbreak a necessary part of an infection control plan, both locally and nationally. The cross-movement of personnel with horses and the persistence of endemic diseases make biosecurity implementation an ongoing challenge. Although many of the risks for infection are known, there is limited documentation about the usefulness of prospective control measures. The objective of this survey was to determine horse owners’ understanding and knowledge of biosecurity practices for preventing infectious diseases in the United States. Questions covered owner demographic information, including horse use which was divided into 10 categories as follows: Pleasure/Trail Riding, Lessons/School, Western Show, English Show, Breeding, Farm/Ranch, Retired, Racing, Driving and Other. The survey was distributed by sending requests to a list of horse owner organizations, which then sent emails to their members. The email request described the survey and provided a website link to start the survey. A total of 2413 responses were collected. Analysis of the results included cross-tabulation to identify significant differences in biosecurity knowledge and awareness by horse use. Significant differences by horse use were identified for vaccination, biosecurity planning, use of isolation, disease risk, monitoring for diseases, co-mingling of horses, sanitation, medical decision making and health record requirements for horse events. In summary, the results suggest that most owners are not highly concerned about the risk of disease or the use of biosecurity. There are several biosecurity applications and techniques which can be increased and will benefit horse health and welfare. These include reliance on temperature monitoring, isolation of new horses at facilities, risks of horse mingling, entry requirements such as vaccination and health certificates at events, and an emphasis on having biosecurity plans for facilities and events where horses co-mingle. The information from this study will be used to create tools and information that horse owners and veterinarians can use to implement appropriate biosecurity practices for different types of horse uses and events.

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Investigation of the Use of Environmental Samples for the Detection of EHV-1 in the Stalls of Subclinical Shedders

Pusterla,

Lawton,

Barnum

2024

Viruses

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In populations of healthy show horses, the subclinical transmission and circulation of respiratory pathogens can lead to disease outbreaks. Due to recent outbreaks of equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in the USA and Europe, many show organizers have instituted various biosecurity protocols such as individual horse testing, monitoring for early clinical disease and increasing hygiene and cleanliness protocols. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of detecting EHV-1 in the various environmental samples collected from the stalls of subclinical shedders. Four healthy adult horses were vaccinated intranasally with a modified-live EHV-1 vaccine in order to mimic subclinical shedding. Three additional horses served as non-vaccinated controls. All the horses were stabled in the same barn in individual stalls. Each vaccinated horse had nose-to-nose contact with at least one other horse. Prior to the vaccine administration, and daily thereafter for 10 days, various samples were collected, including a 6” rayon-tipped nasal swab, an environmental sponge, a cloth strip placed above the automatic waterer and an air sample. The various samples were processed for nucleic acid purification and analyzed for the presence of EHV-1 via quantitative PCR (qPCR). EHV-1 in nasal secretions was only detected in the vaccinated horses for 1–2 days post-vaccine administration. The environmental sponges tested EHV-1 qPCR-positive for 2–5 days (median 3.5 days) in the vaccinated horses and 1 day for a single control horse. EHV-1 was detected by qPCR in stall strips from three out of four vaccinated horses and from two out of three controls for only one day. EHV-1 qPCR-positive air samples were only detected in three out of four vaccinated horses for one single day. For the vaccinated horses, a total of 25% of the nasal swabs, 35% of the environmental stall sponges, 7.5% of the strips and 7.5% of the air samples tested qPCR positive for EHV-1 during the 10 study days. When monitoring the subclinical EHV-1 shedders, the collection and testing of the environmental sponges were able to detect EHV-1 in the environment with greater frequency as compared to nasal swabs, stationary strips and air samples.

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Investigation of the Frequency of Detection of Common Respiratory Pathogens in Nasal Secretions and Environment of Healthy Sport Horses Attending a Multi-Week Show Event during the Summer Months

Cited by 3 publications

References 21 publications

Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months

Detection of Selected Equine Respiratory Pathogens in Stall Samples Collected at a Multi-Week Equestrian Show during the Winter Months

Cross-Sectional Survey of Horse Owners to Assess Their Knowledge and Use of Biosecurity Practices for Equine Infectious Diseases in the United States

Investigation of the Use of Environmental Samples for the Detection of EHV-1 in the Stalls of Subclinical Shedders

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