- Email: [email protected]
Biosecurity at Equine Events
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9th ICEID Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 32 (2012) S3-S95
ELR1 cDNA sequence, which resulted in a premature stop signal 813 codons downstream. This translational termination was predicted truncating the receptor at the C-terminus of the transmembrane domain. The other species (ELR1-DE) had a deletion of 109 nt and caused a shift of the open reading frame and an appearance of a stop codon 312 nt downstream. Because ELR1-DE presumably encoded a peptide of mere 23 residues, only ELR1-IN was further analyzed for potential functions on EIAV infection of target cells. Firstly, the expression of the soluble form ELR1 (sELR1) by ELR1-IN was confirmed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Like ELR1, the transcription level of ELR1-IN varied in different individuals of horse and at different time points in same individuals. The radio of ELR1-IN mRNA species to that of ELR1 was approximate 1:2. However, the expressions of both forms of the receptor were significantly regulated by the infection of EIAV. Additionally, pre-incubation of the recombinant sELR1 with EIAV significantly inhibited the infection of EIAV on equine macrophages, which is the primary in vivo target cell of the virus. Fetal horse dermal (FHD) cells are susceptible to EIAV in vitro. The replication of EIAV in FHD cells transiently transfected with ELR1-IN was markedly reduced when compared with the replication in cells transfected with the empty vector. Taken together, our data implicate that sELR1 is an important cellular factor that inhibits the infection of EIAV on host cells.
Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) gag gene evolution in vivo Z.A. Willand 1, X. Yu 2, S.J. Cook 1, J.K. Craigo 3, 4, R.C. Montelaro 3, 4, C.J. Issel 1, and R.F. Cook 1 1 Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA, 2 Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA, 3 Center for Vaccine
Research, 4 Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15261, USA
Introduction: There is less than 26% predicted amino acid identity in Gag p9 sequences between different EIAV isolates. This heterogeneity is probably associated with the unstructured configuration adopted by regions of this protein that may broaden the range of permissible amino acid substitutions at specific sites. Therefore, p9 coding sequences are hypothesized to evolve more rapidly in EIAV infected equids than those specifying Gag antigens where there is significantly more conservation between isolates. Material and methods: The complete viral gag gene from two ponies (564, 567) infected with a laboratory adapted (EIAVPV) strain and two horses (9807, E72) infected with different field isolates (EIAVPA, EIAVFL) of EIAV were amplified using a PCR-based technique and sequenced with overlapping primers. All sequences were assembled using ContigExpress (Vector NTI Advance 11, Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, CA) and aligned using AlignX (Vector NTI Advance 11). Results and Discussion: Nucleotide (nt) substitution rates in gag as a whole varied between subjects from 0.143 in 567 to 2.062 substitutions per year per 100 nt in 98-07 with the ratio of synonymous to non-synonymous changes for most animals being >2:1. The nucleotide substitution rate in p9 was not significantly different from the other gag coding sequences in EIAVPV or EIAVFL infected animals but did show significant differences from p26 (p ¼ 0.0018) and p11 (p ¼ 0.003) but not p15 (p ¼ 0.5153) in the EIAVPA infected horse 98-07. Conclusions: Host and or viral strain factors are important determinants of gag gene mutation rates in EIAV infected equids with the rate of non-synonymous changes being 10-fold higher in 98-07 than in all other subjects. With the exception of 98-07, gag gene sequences including those encoding p9 were relatively conserved over time.
Biosecurity Biosecurity at Equine Events K.A. Flynn 1, E.M. Wilson 1, and J.L. Traub-Dargatz 2 1 California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch, Sacramento, CA 95816, 2 Animal Population Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 and USDA:APHIS:VS Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, CO, 80525
The May 2011 Equine Herpesvirus-1 outbreak associated with the Western National Cutting Horse Event in Ogden, UT increased awareness and need for biosecurity measures at equine events. During the outbreak, the California
Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch (CDFA AHB), received numerous requests from equine industry stakeholders in the state for guidance on keeping horses healthy at equine events. The California Equine Medication Monitoring Program (EMMP) Advisory Committee, representing a broad range of equine disciplines regulated by the program, is responsible for addressing concerns of the California horse show industry. With more than 1600 shows that register with the EMMP each year, the EMMP Advisory Committee made a formal request for CDFA AHB development of a toolkit to help event organizers identify infectious disease risks for their event venue and determine the best mitigation measures. This industry request was key in the initiation of toolkit development to enhance biosecurity at equine events in
9th ICEID Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 32 (2012) S3-S95
California. An initial conference call with the EMMP advisory committee resulted in an outline of subjects for inclusion in the toolkit. Since a critical step to evoke change is the involvement of the end users, ten (10) California equine event venues were visited by a CDFA AHB veterinarian to observe current biosecurity and management practices and insight was sought from six (6) California equine event mangers on the type of resource materials they thought would be useful in the toolkit. In March 2012, the “Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events” was completed and posted on the CDFA website (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ ahfss/animal_health/equine_biosecurity.html). The document contains three sections. “Section 1- Basic Biosecurity” has recommendations for horse entry requirements, horse stabling, manure handling and disposal, feed and hay storage, equipment handling, cleaning and disinfection procedures, horse-to-horse contact, horse-to other species contact, isolation of sick horses, wildlife and vector control, visitor access to barns, traffic control and record keeping. “Section 2 - Enhanced Biosecurity and Infectious Disease Control” has recommendations for response to recognized disease to include prompt on-site isolation of suspect horses and the role of regulatory veterinarians in reportable disease outbreaks. “Section 3 – Appendix” provides valuable resource documents and event document templates. Since each equine event and venue is unique, the toolkit encourages equine event organizer consultation with a veterinarian for development of a biosecurity and infectious disease control plan tailored to their event. The toolkit provides guidance for the assessment and development of event-specific plans that address the specific disease risks identified for the event and venue. The availability of a biosecurity toolkit provides equine event organizers the opportunity to assess and make decisions on equine infectious disease risk management for their venue.
Exploration of issues surrounding equine disease transmission in Ireland, in particular at unregulated horse gatherings J.P. Johnson 1, S.J. More 2, J.A. Collins 1, and V.E. Duggan 1 1 School of Veterinary Medicine, 2 Center for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis University College Dublin, Ireland
Thousands of equine events take place in Ireland every year some of which are tightly regulated with excellent biosecurity but many of which are poorly regulated or unregulated with little or no regard for biosecurity. The potential for contagious disease transmission both at these events, and when horses return from these events to their farm of origin, is immense. Maintaining the health of the horse is an integral part of protecting its welfare. Control of infectious diseases should be seen not only in the important context of individual animal welfare but also with regard to the broader implications for the viability of the equine industry itself, particularly were an exotic disease to be introduced. The objective of this study was to provide early indication that different standards exist in different equine facilities in Ireland with regard to the prevention of disease
S91
transmission. Measures (risk factors) for the occurrence of disease transmission for a number of equine contagious diseases were defined. The frequency of occurrence of these measures was examined at a number of equine facilities, regulated and unregulated, in Ireland over the summer/ autumn months. Frequency was measured as a direct yes/no or by intensity i.e. on a scale. The frequency of occurrence of measures was examined in total and in different subsets of facilities for example regulated and unregulated events. A high percentage of events in all degrees of regulation were considered high risk for contact with fomites, public access and control of wild birds and vermin. A high percentage of partially regulated and unregulated events also were considered high risk in the areas of contact between horses and sanitation of stables, where relevant. Different standards exist relating to prevention of disease transmission among horses, between the types of equine facilities in Ireland; however, certain categories of risk need to be addressed across the entire industry.
Acknowledgments This work was generously funded by World Horse Welfare.
Development of communication plan for an equine infectious disease outbreak N.A. White DVM, MS, DACVS 1, and J.L. Traub-Dargatz DVM, MS, DACVIM 2 1 Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia Tech, Leesburg, Virginia, 2 Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado
The response to an equine infectious disease outbreak incorporates risk management, resource management, and horse management and is unique to each situation. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in 2006 developed guidelines for infection control to assist their veterinary members with planning for and responding to equine infectious disease outbreaks. Based on recent multi-state outbreaks of equine contagious disease there was a recognized need to have the ability to provide communication of factual information related to outbreak situations. In situations where the sharing of factual information about an outbreak is delayed unexposed horses could be put at risk. In addition, where there is a lack of sharing of factual information, the concern by equine owners, trainers, event organizers and veterinary practitioners can lead to decisions that could have an unwarranted negative impact on the industry as a whole due to cancellation of events and other equine activities. In the fall of 2011 an AAEP task force, made up of AAEP members with experience in outbreak investigation, veterinary hospital administration, western performance horse practice, racetrack practice and diagnostic laboratory testing was charged with development of a communication plan to be implemented during disease outbreaks. Because an equine veterinarian would be the first medical professional to
9th ICEID Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 32 (2012) S3-S95
ELR1 cDNA sequence, which resulted in a premature stop signal 813 codons downstream. This translational termination was predicted truncating the receptor at the C-terminus of the transmembrane domain. The other species (ELR1-DE) had a deletion of 109 nt and caused a shift of the open reading frame and an appearance of a stop codon 312 nt downstream. Because ELR1-DE presumably encoded a peptide of mere 23 residues, only ELR1-IN was further analyzed for potential functions on EIAV infection of target cells. Firstly, the expression of the soluble form ELR1 (sELR1) by ELR1-IN was confirmed by Western-blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Like ELR1, the transcription level of ELR1-IN varied in different individuals of horse and at different time points in same individuals. The radio of ELR1-IN mRNA species to that of ELR1 was approximate 1:2. However, the expressions of both forms of the receptor were significantly regulated by the infection of EIAV. Additionally, pre-incubation of the recombinant sELR1 with EIAV significantly inhibited the infection of EIAV on equine macrophages, which is the primary in vivo target cell of the virus. Fetal horse dermal (FHD) cells are susceptible to EIAV in vitro. The replication of EIAV in FHD cells transiently transfected with ELR1-IN was markedly reduced when compared with the replication in cells transfected with the empty vector. Taken together, our data implicate that sELR1 is an important cellular factor that inhibits the infection of EIAV on host cells.
Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) gag gene evolution in vivo Z.A. Willand 1, X. Yu 2, S.J. Cook 1, J.K. Craigo 3, 4, R.C. Montelaro 3, 4, C.J. Issel 1, and R.F. Cook 1 1 Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA, 2 Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA, 3 Center for Vaccine
Research, 4 Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15261, USA
Introduction: There is less than 26% predicted amino acid identity in Gag p9 sequences between different EIAV isolates. This heterogeneity is probably associated with the unstructured configuration adopted by regions of this protein that may broaden the range of permissible amino acid substitutions at specific sites. Therefore, p9 coding sequences are hypothesized to evolve more rapidly in EIAV infected equids than those specifying Gag antigens where there is significantly more conservation between isolates. Material and methods: The complete viral gag gene from two ponies (564, 567) infected with a laboratory adapted (EIAVPV) strain and two horses (9807, E72) infected with different field isolates (EIAVPA, EIAVFL) of EIAV were amplified using a PCR-based technique and sequenced with overlapping primers. All sequences were assembled using ContigExpress (Vector NTI Advance 11, Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, CA) and aligned using AlignX (Vector NTI Advance 11). Results and Discussion: Nucleotide (nt) substitution rates in gag as a whole varied between subjects from 0.143 in 567 to 2.062 substitutions per year per 100 nt in 98-07 with the ratio of synonymous to non-synonymous changes for most animals being >2:1. The nucleotide substitution rate in p9 was not significantly different from the other gag coding sequences in EIAVPV or EIAVFL infected animals but did show significant differences from p26 (p ¼ 0.0018) and p11 (p ¼ 0.003) but not p15 (p ¼ 0.5153) in the EIAVPA infected horse 98-07. Conclusions: Host and or viral strain factors are important determinants of gag gene mutation rates in EIAV infected equids with the rate of non-synonymous changes being 10-fold higher in 98-07 than in all other subjects. With the exception of 98-07, gag gene sequences including those encoding p9 were relatively conserved over time.
Biosecurity Biosecurity at Equine Events K.A. Flynn 1, E.M. Wilson 1, and J.L. Traub-Dargatz 2 1 California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch, Sacramento, CA 95816, 2 Animal Population Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 and USDA:APHIS:VS Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, CO, 80525
The May 2011 Equine Herpesvirus-1 outbreak associated with the Western National Cutting Horse Event in Ogden, UT increased awareness and need for biosecurity measures at equine events. During the outbreak, the California
Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch (CDFA AHB), received numerous requests from equine industry stakeholders in the state for guidance on keeping horses healthy at equine events. The California Equine Medication Monitoring Program (EMMP) Advisory Committee, representing a broad range of equine disciplines regulated by the program, is responsible for addressing concerns of the California horse show industry. With more than 1600 shows that register with the EMMP each year, the EMMP Advisory Committee made a formal request for CDFA AHB development of a toolkit to help event organizers identify infectious disease risks for their event venue and determine the best mitigation measures. This industry request was key in the initiation of toolkit development to enhance biosecurity at equine events in
9th ICEID Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 32 (2012) S3-S95
California. An initial conference call with the EMMP advisory committee resulted in an outline of subjects for inclusion in the toolkit. Since a critical step to evoke change is the involvement of the end users, ten (10) California equine event venues were visited by a CDFA AHB veterinarian to observe current biosecurity and management practices and insight was sought from six (6) California equine event mangers on the type of resource materials they thought would be useful in the toolkit. In March 2012, the “Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events” was completed and posted on the CDFA website (http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ ahfss/animal_health/equine_biosecurity.html). The document contains three sections. “Section 1- Basic Biosecurity” has recommendations for horse entry requirements, horse stabling, manure handling and disposal, feed and hay storage, equipment handling, cleaning and disinfection procedures, horse-to-horse contact, horse-to other species contact, isolation of sick horses, wildlife and vector control, visitor access to barns, traffic control and record keeping. “Section 2 - Enhanced Biosecurity and Infectious Disease Control” has recommendations for response to recognized disease to include prompt on-site isolation of suspect horses and the role of regulatory veterinarians in reportable disease outbreaks. “Section 3 – Appendix” provides valuable resource documents and event document templates. Since each equine event and venue is unique, the toolkit encourages equine event organizer consultation with a veterinarian for development of a biosecurity and infectious disease control plan tailored to their event. The toolkit provides guidance for the assessment and development of event-specific plans that address the specific disease risks identified for the event and venue. The availability of a biosecurity toolkit provides equine event organizers the opportunity to assess and make decisions on equine infectious disease risk management for their venue.
Exploration of issues surrounding equine disease transmission in Ireland, in particular at unregulated horse gatherings J.P. Johnson 1, S.J. More 2, J.A. Collins 1, and V.E. Duggan 1 1 School of Veterinary Medicine, 2 Center for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis University College Dublin, Ireland
Thousands of equine events take place in Ireland every year some of which are tightly regulated with excellent biosecurity but many of which are poorly regulated or unregulated with little or no regard for biosecurity. The potential for contagious disease transmission both at these events, and when horses return from these events to their farm of origin, is immense. Maintaining the health of the horse is an integral part of protecting its welfare. Control of infectious diseases should be seen not only in the important context of individual animal welfare but also with regard to the broader implications for the viability of the equine industry itself, particularly were an exotic disease to be introduced. The objective of this study was to provide early indication that different standards exist in different equine facilities in Ireland with regard to the prevention of disease
S91
transmission. Measures (risk factors) for the occurrence of disease transmission for a number of equine contagious diseases were defined. The frequency of occurrence of these measures was examined at a number of equine facilities, regulated and unregulated, in Ireland over the summer/ autumn months. Frequency was measured as a direct yes/no or by intensity i.e. on a scale. The frequency of occurrence of measures was examined in total and in different subsets of facilities for example regulated and unregulated events. A high percentage of events in all degrees of regulation were considered high risk for contact with fomites, public access and control of wild birds and vermin. A high percentage of partially regulated and unregulated events also were considered high risk in the areas of contact between horses and sanitation of stables, where relevant. Different standards exist relating to prevention of disease transmission among horses, between the types of equine facilities in Ireland; however, certain categories of risk need to be addressed across the entire industry.
Acknowledgments This work was generously funded by World Horse Welfare.
Development of communication plan for an equine infectious disease outbreak N.A. White DVM, MS, DACVS 1, and J.L. Traub-Dargatz DVM, MS, DACVIM 2 1 Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia Tech, Leesburg, Virginia, 2 Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, Colorado
The response to an equine infectious disease outbreak incorporates risk management, resource management, and horse management and is unique to each situation. The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in 2006 developed guidelines for infection control to assist their veterinary members with planning for and responding to equine infectious disease outbreaks. Based on recent multi-state outbreaks of equine contagious disease there was a recognized need to have the ability to provide communication of factual information related to outbreak situations. In situations where the sharing of factual information about an outbreak is delayed unexposed horses could be put at risk. In addition, where there is a lack of sharing of factual information, the concern by equine owners, trainers, event organizers and veterinary practitioners can lead to decisions that could have an unwarranted negative impact on the industry as a whole due to cancellation of events and other equine activities. In the fall of 2011 an AAEP task force, made up of AAEP members with experience in outbreak investigation, veterinary hospital administration, western performance horse practice, racetrack practice and diagnostic laboratory testing was charged with development of a communication plan to be implemented during disease outbreaks. Because an equine veterinarian would be the first medical professional to