Equine hepacivirus and equine parvovirus-hepatitis in hospitalised horses in Austria

Background: Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) and equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) are associated with subclinical to clinically relevant hepatitis in horses. Limited data exists on infection and viral shedding of these equine liver viruses. Objectives: To study the frequency of EqHV and EqPV-H occurrence, possible viral shedding routes, and co-infection in hospitalised horses. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Serum, faecal, nasal, and buccal swab samples of 116 hospitalised horses at the University Equine Hospital of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna between 02/2021–03/2022 were collected. Luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay (LIPS) was used to detect the presence of anti-EqHV and anti-EqPV-H antibodies in the serum. Equine hepaci virus RNA was detected by RT-qPCR and qPCR was used for EqPV-H DNA detection. Results: Seroprevalence of EqHV and EqPV-H was 35.3% (41/116) and 10.3% (12/116). Equine hepacivirus RNA was detected in 4.3% (5/116) of the hospitalised horses and 12.9% (15/116) tested positive for EqPV-H DNA. Two horses were co-infected with EqHV and EqPV-H and seroconversion was detected for both viruses. One co-infected horse's nasal and buccal sample tested positive for EqHV RNA. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis DNA was detected in both nasal and faecal samples of one horse, as well as in a nasal sample of another horse, both revealing EqPV-H viremia. Main limitations: Further infection studies are needed to assess the infectious potential of the viral material shed from the nasal, buccal, and faecal samples. Conclusions: In the hospitalised horse population studied, both subclinical co-infection and single infection of EqHV and EqPV-H were identified. There might be a risk of horizontal transmission since nucleic acids of both viruses were detected in nasal samples and EqPV-H DNA in one faecal sample. To prevent iatrogenic transmission, screening of donor horses for these hepatic viruses before using equid-derived products is advisable. Ethical animal research: Approved by the ethics committee of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (study reference number ETK-124/08/2020). Informed consent: Owner-informed consent was obtained. Competing interests: None declared. Funding: The Foundation PRO Pferd, Switzerland (PR 2020-11).

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Robert Koch Institut
Ruhr-Universität-Bochum
Universität Zürich