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Stummer M, Frisch V, Glitz F, Hinney B, Spergser J, Krücken J, Diekmann I, Dimmel K, Riedel C, Cavalleri JMV, Rümenapf T, Joachim A, Lyrakis M, Auer A. Presence of Equine and Bovine Coronaviruses, Endoparasites, and Bacteria in Fecal Samples of Horses with Colic. Pathogens 2023; 12:1043. [PMID: 37624003 PMCID: PMC10458731 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute abdominal pain (colic) is one of the major equine health threats worldwide and often necessitates intensive veterinary medical care and surgical intervention. Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infections can cause colic in horses but are rarely considered as a differential diagnosis. To determine the frequency of otherwise undetected ECoV infections in horses with acute colic, fresh fecal samples of 105 horses with acute colic and 36 healthy control horses were screened for viruses belonging to the Betacoronavirus 1 species by RT-PCR as well as for gastrointestinal helminths and bacteria commonly associated with colic. Horses with colic excreted significantly fewer strongyle eggs than horses without colic. The prevalence of anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive bacteria (Clostridium perfringens and Clostridioides difficile) was significantly higher in the feces of horses with colic. Six horses with colic (5.7%) and one horse from the control group (2.8%) tested positive for Betacoronaviruses. Coronavirus-positive samples were sequenced to classify the virus by molecular phylogeny (N gene). Interestingly, in three out of six coronavirus-positive horses with colic, sequences closely related to bovine coronaviruses (BCoV) were found. The pathogenic potential of BCoV in horses remains unclear and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Stummer
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria (K.D.); (T.R.)
| | - Vicky Frisch
- Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (V.F.); (J.-M.V.C.)
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (B.H.); (A.J.)
| | - Joachim Spergser
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.K.); (I.D.)
| | - Irina Diekmann
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.K.); (I.D.)
| | - Katharina Dimmel
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria (K.D.); (T.R.)
| | - Christiane Riedel
- CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS Lyon, 46 allée d’Italie, 69364 Lyon, France;
| | | | - Till Rümenapf
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria (K.D.); (T.R.)
| | - Anja Joachim
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (B.H.); (A.J.)
| | - Manolis Lyrakis
- Platform for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Angelika Auer
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria (K.D.); (T.R.)
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Hepworth-Warren KL, Erwin SJ, Moore CB, Talbot JR, Young KAS, Neault MJ, Haugland JC, Robertson JB, Blikslager AT. Risk factors associated with an outbreak of equine coronavirus at a large farm in North Carolina. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1060759. [PMID: 36937023 PMCID: PMC10020641 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1060759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Equine coronavirus (ECoV) leads to outbreaks with variable morbidity and mortality. Few previous reports of risk factors for infection are available in the literature. Objectives To describe unique clinical findings and risk factors for infection and development of clinical disease. Animals 135 horses on a farm affected by ECoV outbreak. Methods Retrospective cohort study. Data obtained included age, breed, gender, activity level, housing, and feed at the onset of the outbreak. Factors were evaluated for assessment of risk of infection using simple logistic regression or Fisher's exact test. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results and findings Forty-three of 54 (79.6%) horses tested on the farm were positive on fecal PCR for ECoV, and 17 horses (12.6%) developed clinical signs consistent with ECoV. Out of 17 horses in which the presence or absence of signs of colic was noted, 6 of 17 (35.3%) showed signs of colic. Three of these horses had small colon impactions, 2 of which required surgical intervention. Significant risk factors for having positive PCR results included being primarily stalled (OR 167.1, 95% CI 26.4-1719), housing next to a positive horse (OR 7.5, 95% CI 3.1-19.0), being in work (OR 26.9, 95% CI 4.6-281.9), being fed rationed hay vs. ad libitum (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8-15,593), and being fed alfalfa hay (OR 1,558, 95% CI 130.8-15,593). Conclusions and clinical importance This report describes risk factors for ECoV infection many of which were associated with intensive management of show horses. Clinicians should be aware that clinical signs vary and can include severe colic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Kate L. Hepworth-Warren
| | - Sara J. Erwin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | | | - Kimberly A. S. Young
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Michael J. Neault
- North Carolina Department of Agricultures and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Jennifer C. Haugland
- Rollins Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United States
- North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - James B. Robertson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Anthony T. Blikslager
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Kambayashi Y, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K, Ohta M, Bannai H. Serosurveillance of equine coronavirus infection among Thoroughbreds in Japan. Equine Vet J 2022; 55:481-486. [PMID: 35822940 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Equine coronavirus (ECoV) causes fever, lethargy, anorexia and gastrointestinal signs in horses. There has been limited information about the prevalence and seasonality of ECoV among Thoroughbreds in Japan. OBJECTIVES To understand the epidemiology and to evaluate the potential risk of ECoV infection to the horse industry in Japan. STUDY DESIGN Longitudinal. METHODS The virus-neutralisation (VN) test was performed using sera collected three times a year at 4 months intervals from 161 yearlings and at 6-7 months intervals from 181 active racehorses in Japan in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. VN titre ≥1:8 was defined as seropositive, and ≥ 4-fold increase in titres between paired sera was regarded as indicative of infection. RESULTS The VN test showed that 44.1% (71/161) of yearlings were seropositive in August, when they first entered the yearling farm. The infection rate was significantly higher between August and December (60.9%, 98/161) than between December and the following April (5.6%, 9/161; P = 0.002). Among the racehorses, it was significantly higher between November and the following May (15.5%, 28/181) than between the preceding April/May and November (0%; P = 0.02). The morbidity rates during the estimated periods of viral exposure were 39.2% in the yearlings and 4% in the racehorses. No horses showed any severe clinical signs. MAIN LIMITATIONS Clinical records did not cover the period during horses' absence from the training centre. CONCLUSIONS ECoV was substantially prevalent in Thoroughbred yearlings and racehorses in Japan, and there was a difference in epizootic pattern between these populations in terms of predominant periods of infection. ECoV infection was considered to be responsible for some of the pyretic cases in the yearlings. However, no diseased horses were severely affected in either population, suggesting that the potential risk of ECoV infection to the horse industry in Japan is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Kambayashi
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Manabu Nemoto
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Koji Tsujimura
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Minoru Ohta
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Bannai
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
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Shehata AA, Attia YA, Rahman MT, Basiouni S, El-Seedi HR, Azhar EI, Khafaga AF, Hafez HM. Diversity of Coronaviruses with Particular Attention to the Interspecies Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030378. [PMID: 35158701 PMCID: PMC8833600 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Coronaviruses are a broad group of viruses that may infect a wide range of animals, including humans. Despite the fact that each coronavirus has a limited host range, frequent interspecies transmission of coronaviruses across diverse hosts has resulted in a complex ecology. The recently discovered SARS-CoV-2 virus is the clearest evidence of the danger of a global pandemic spreading. Natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in a variety of domestic and wild animals, which may complicate the virus’s epidemiology and influence its development. In this review, we discussed the potential determinants of SARS-CoV-2 interspecies transmission. Additionally, despite the efforts that have been made to control this pandemic and to implement the One Health policy, several problems, such as the role of animals in SARS-CoV-2 evolution and the dynamics of interspecies transmission, are still unanswered. Abstract In December 2019, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China with serious impacts on global health and economy that is still ongoing. Although interspecies transmission of coronaviruses is common and well documented, each coronavirus has a narrowly restricted host range. Coronaviruses utilize different receptors to mediate membrane fusion and replication in the cell cytoplasm. The interplay between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of coronaviruses and their coevolution are determinants for host susceptibility. The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has also been reported in domestic and wild animals, raising the question about the responsibility of animals in virus evolution. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic might also substantially have an impact on animal production for a long time. In the present review, we discussed the diversity of coronaviruses in animals and thus the diversity of their receptors. Moreover, the determinants of the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 in several animals, with special reference to the current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in animals, were highlighted. Finally, we shed light on the urgent demand for the implementation of the One Health concept as a collaborative global approach to mitigate the threat for both humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awad A. Shehata
- Birds and Rabbit Medicine Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt;
- Research and Development Section, PerNaturam GmbH, 56290 Gödenroth, Germany
| | - Youssef A. Attia
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
- The Strategic Center to Kingdom Vision Realization, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Animal and Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22516, Egypt
| | - Md. Tanvir Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh;
| | - Shereen Basiouni
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13736, Egypt;
| | - Hesham R. El-Seedi
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China;
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32512, Egypt
| | - Esam I. Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit—BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center and Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21362, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Asmaa F. Khafaga
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina 22758, Egypt;
| | - Hafez M. Hafez
- Institute of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Nova N. Cross-Species Transmission of Coronaviruses in Humans and Domestic Mammals, What Are the Ecological Mechanisms Driving Transmission, Spillover, and Disease Emergence? Front Public Health 2021; 9:717941. [PMID: 34660513 PMCID: PMC8514784 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.717941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses cause respiratory and digestive diseases in vertebrates. The recent pandemic, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2, is taking a heavy toll on society and planetary health, and illustrates the threat emerging coronaviruses can pose to the well-being of humans and other animals. Coronaviruses are constantly evolving, crossing host species barriers, and expanding their host range. In the last few decades, several novel coronaviruses have emerged in humans and domestic animals. Novel coronaviruses have also been discovered in captive wildlife or wild populations, raising conservation concerns. The evolution and emergence of novel viruses is enabled by frequent cross-species transmission. It is thus crucial to determine emerging coronaviruses' potential for infecting different host species, and to identify the circumstances under which cross-species transmission occurs in order to mitigate the rate of disease emergence. Here, I review (broadly across several mammalian host species) up-to-date knowledge of host range and circumstances concerning reported cross-species transmission events of emerging coronaviruses in humans and common domestic mammals. All of these coronaviruses had similar host ranges, were closely related (indicative of rapid diversification and spread), and their emergence was likely associated with high-host-density environments facilitating multi-species interactions (e.g., shelters, farms, and markets) and the health or well-being of animals as end- and/or intermediate spillover hosts. Further research is needed to identify mechanisms of the cross-species transmission events that have ultimately led to a surge of emerging coronaviruses in multiple species in a relatively short period of time in a world undergoing rapid environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Nova
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Exposure to Equine Coronavirus in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030894. [PMID: 33800990 PMCID: PMC8004030 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is a β-coronavirus that, together with other coronaviruses, are pathogenic to both human and animals, as seen in the recent COVID-19 pandemic. ECoV is considered as a diarrheic pathogen in foals and is included in the list of viral causes of enteritis. During the last decade, outbreaks of ECoV were reported in adult horses in the USA, EU and Japan. In Israel, other coronaviruses were reported in cattle, camels and in humans; however, coronaviruses have not been reported in horses. In this study, we aimed to determine the exposure of healthy horses to ECoV and determine the selected risk factors for infection. For this purpose, serum samples were collected from 333 healthy horses, 41 (12.3%) of which had anti-ECoV antibodies. Seropositive horses were found in more than half (58.6%) of the farms and horses located in central Israel were more likely to be positive. ECoV should be included in the differential diagnosis list of pathogens in cases of adult horses with acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, fever and gastrointestinal signs in Israel. Abstract Equine coronavirus (ECoV) infection is the cause of an emerging enteric disease of adult horses. Outbreaks have been reported in the USA, EU and Japan, as well as sporadic cases in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Infection of ECoV in horses in Israel has never been reported, and the risk of exposure is unknown. Importation and exportation of horses from and into Israel may have increased the exposure of horses in Israel to ECoV. While the disease is mostly self-limiting, with or without supportive treatment, severe complications may occur in some animals, and healthy carriers may pose a risk of infection to other horses. This study was set to evaluate the risk of exposure to ECoV of horses in Israel by using a previously validated, S1-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 41 out of 333 horses (12.3%) were seropositive. Exposure to ECoV was detected in 17 of 29 farms (58.6%) and the seroprevalence varied between 0 and 37.5% amongst farms. The only factor found to be significantly associated with ECoV exposure in the multivariable model was the geographical area (p < 0.001). ECoV should be included in the differential diagnosis list of pathogens in cases of adult horses with anorexia, lethargy, fever and gastrointestinal signs in Israel.
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Khamassi Khbou M, Daaloul Jedidi M, Bouaicha Zaafouri F, Benzarti M. Coronaviruses in farm animals: Epidemiology and public health implications. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:322-347. [PMID: 32976707 PMCID: PMC7537542 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are documented in a wide range of animal species, including terrestrial and aquatic, domestic and wild. The geographic distribution of animal CoVs is worldwide and prevalences were reported in several countries across the five continents. The viruses are known to cause mainly gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases with different severity levels. In certain cases, CoV infections are responsible of huge economic losses associated or not to highly public health impact. Despite being enveloped, CoVs are relatively resistant pathogens in the environment. Coronaviruses are characterized by a high mutation and recombination rate, which makes host jumping and cross-species transmission easy. In fact, increasing contact between different animal species fosters cross-species transmission, while agriculture intensification, animal trade and herd management are key drivers at the human-animal interface. If contacts with wild animals are still limited, humans have much more contact with farm animals, during breeding, transport, slaughter and food process, making CoVs a persistent threat to both humans and animals. A global network should be established for the surveillance and monitoring of animal CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Médiha Khamassi Khbou
- Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonoses, and Sanitary RegulationUniv. Manouba. Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi ThabetSidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Monia Daaloul Jedidi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniv. ManoubaEcole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi ThabetSidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Faten Bouaicha Zaafouri
- Department of Livestock Semiology and MedicineUniv. ManoubaEcole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi ThabetSidi ThabetTunisia
| | - M’hammed Benzarti
- Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonoses, and Sanitary RegulationUniv. Manouba. Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi ThabetSidi ThabetTunisia
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Poudel U, Subedi D, Pantha S, Dhakal S. Animal coronaviruses and coronavirus disease 2019: Lesson for One Health approach. Open Vet J 2020; 10:239-251. [PMID: 33282694 PMCID: PMC7703617 DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v10i3.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are a group of enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that are broadly classified into alpha, beta, gamma, and delta coronavirus genera based on the viral genome. Coronavirus was not thought to be a significant problem in humans until the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2002, but infections in animals, including pigs, cats, dogs, and poultry, have been problematic for a long time. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, drew special attention towards this virus once again. The intermediate host of this novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is yet to be determined, but it has a very close genomic relationship with the bat coronavirus (Bat-CoV), RaTG13 strain, and the pangolin coronaviruses. As veterinary medicine has a long-term experience dealing with coronaviruses, this could be helpful in better understanding and detecting the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and drive human medicine towards the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs through the collaborative and transdisciplinary approaches of One Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddab Poudel
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Campus, Tribhuvan University, Siddharthanagar, Nepal
| | - Deepak Subedi
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Campus, Tribhuvan University, Siddharthanagar, Nepal
| | - Saurav Pantha
- Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Campus, Tribhuvan University, Siddharthanagar, Nepal
| | - Santosh Dhakal
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Mattei DN, Kopper JJ, Sanz MG. Equine Coronavirus-Associated Colitis in Horses: A Retrospective Study. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 87:102906. [PMID: 32172908 PMCID: PMC7126555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is a known cause of fever, anorexia, and lethargy in adult horses. Although there are multiple reports of ECoV outbreaks, less is known about the clinical presentation of individual horses during a nonoutbreak situation. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of horses diagnosed with ECoV infection that were not associated with an outbreak. Medical records of all horses admitted to Washington State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, during an 8-year period were reviewed (2010-2018). The five horses included in this study were older than 1 year of age, were diagnosed with colitis, tested positive for ECoV using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and were negative to other enteric pathogens. Interestingly, 4 of 5 horses had moderate to severe diarrhea, 3 had abnormal large colon ultrasonography, 2 had transient ventricular tachycardia and 2 had clinicopathologic evidence of liver dysfunction. ECoV should be included as a differential diagnosis for individual horses presenting with anorexia, fever, lethargy, and colitis. Early identification of ECoV cases is key to implement appropriate biosecurity measures to prevent the potential spread of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora N Mattei
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jamie J Kopper
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Macarena G Sanz
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
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Development and Validation of a S1 Protein-Based ELISA for the Specific Detection of Antibodies against Equine Coronavirus. Viruses 2019; 11:v11121109. [PMID: 31801275 PMCID: PMC6950238 DOI: 10.3390/v11121109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is considered to be involved in enteric diseases in foals. Recently, several outbreaks of ECoV infection have also been reported in adult horses from the USA, France and Japan. Epidemiological studies of ECoV infection are still limited, and the seroprevalence of ECoV infection in Europe is unknown. In this study, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method utilizing ECoV spike S1 protein was developed in two formats, and further validated by analyzing 27 paired serum samples (acute and convalescent sera) from horses involved in an ECoV outbreak and 1084 sera of horses with unknown ECoV exposure. Both formats showed high diagnostic accuracy compared to virus neutralization (VN) assay. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the best cut-off values for both ELISA formats, assuming a test specificity of 99%. Employing the developed ELISA method, we detected seroconversion in 70.4% of horses from an ECoV outbreak. Among the 1084 horse sera, seropositivity varied from 25.9% (young horses) to 82.8% (adult horses) in Dutch horse populations. Further, sera of Icelandic horses were included in this study and a significant number of sera (62%) were found to be positive. Overall, the results demonstrated that the ECoV S1-based ELISA has reliable diagnostic performance compared to the VN assay and is a useful assay to support seroconversion in horses involved with ECoV outbreaks and to estimate ECoV seroprevalence in populations of horses.
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12
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Sanz MG, Kwon S, Pusterla N, Gold JR, Bain F, Evermann J. Evaluation of equine coronavirus fecal shedding among hospitalized horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019; 33:918-922. [PMID: 30788861 PMCID: PMC6430884 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, diagnosis of equine coronavirus (ECoV) relies on the exclusion of other infectious causes of enteric disease along with molecular detection of ECoV in feces or tissue. Although this approach is complete, it is costly and may not always be achievable. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the overall fecal shedding of ECoV in hospitalized horses is low. Our objective was to determine whether systemically healthy horses and horses with gastrointestinal disorders shed ECoV in their feces at the time of admission to a referral hospital and after 48 hours of stress associated with hospitalization. ANIMALS One-hundred thirty adult horses admitted to the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for gastrointestinal disease (n = 65) or for imaging under anesthesia (n = 65) that were hospitalized for 48 hours. Owner consent was obtained before sampling. METHODS Fecal samples were collected at admission and 48 hours later. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for ECoV and electron microscopy (EM) were performed on all samples. RESULTS Only 1 of 258 fecal samples was PCR-positive for ECoV. Electron microscopy identified ECoV-like particles in 9 of 258 samples, parvovirus-like particles in 4 of 258 samples, and rotavirus-like particles in 1 of 258 samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The presence of ECoV in feces of hospitalized adult horses was low. Thus, fecal samples that are PCR-positive for ECoV in adult horses that have clinical signs consistent with this viral infection are likely to be of diagnostic relevance. The clinical relevance of the viruses observed using EM remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena G. Sanz
- Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - SoYoung Kwon
- Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - Nicola Pusterla
- Department of Medicine and EpidemiologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
| | - Jenifer R. Gold
- Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - Fairfield Bain
- Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
| | - Jim Evermann
- Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic LaboratoryWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington
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