Equine herpesvirus type 1 infection - a reply

Authors: Fu ZF, Robinson AJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 8, pp 136, Aug 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Viral, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Respiratory system
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Thank you for the opportunity to reply to the comments of Dr Studdert concerning our letter to this Journal. The EHV-l which caused the respiratory disease of foals at around weaning time was assumed to be a respiratory rather than an abortion strain of EHV-1 although the latter was used as the ELISA antigen. This argument is based on that (i) EHV-1 associated abortion has never been reported to occur on that stud investigated, (ii) EHV-1 isolated so far from foals on this property have all been respiratory strains of EHV-1, and (iii) the two strains of EHV-1 cross react to a great extent in serum neutralisation. Furthermore the failure to isolate EHV-1 on RK-13 cells also indicated that it was respiratory strain of EHV-1 that was responsible for the antibody responses to EHV-1 and the respiratory symptoms observed in 4-5 month old foals. Dr Studdert also points out that he has proposed that the respiratory strain of EHV-1 be re-designated as EHV-4. We accept and understand the justice of his arguments, but until the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses makes its recommendations, we are content to describe two strains of EHV-I as above.

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