TY - JOUR

T1 - A retrospective study on equine herpesvirus type-1 associated myeloencephalopathy in France (2008-2011)

AU - van Galen Verwilghen, Gaby

AU - Leblond, A.

AU - Tritz, P.

AU - Martinelle, Ludovic

AU - Pronost, Stéphane

AU - Saegerman, C.

PY - 2015/7/8

Y1 - 2015/7/8

N2 - Diagnosis of equine herpesvirus-1 associated myeloencephalopathy (EHM) can be troublesome, but earlyrecognition and knowledge of risk factors are essential for prevention and control. The objectives for thisstudy are to (1) describe EHM in France, (2) improve clinical recognition, (3) identify risk factors. Throughepidemiosurveillance of acute neurological cases (all considered to be potentially infectious cases) inFrance (2008–2011), 26 EHM cases were identified and 29 EHM negative control cases. EHM cases weredescribed and compared to controls with univariate, multivariate and classification and regression treeanalysis. EHM cases had a 46% fatality rate and were frequently isolated cases. Most showed ataxia,paresis and a cauda equina syndrome, yet presence of other neurological signs was variable. Statisticalanalysis identified the following variables to be significantly associated to EHM compared to controls:introduction of a new horse to the herd, cauda equina syndrome, larger herd size, saddle horses andmonth of occurrence. The presence of many isolated cases, and less typical and variable clinicalpresentations emphasize the difficulty in diagnosing EHM. Nevertheless, history and clinical examinationof acute neurological cases can be valuable in recognizing EHM early as well in order to select those casesthat need further laboratory testing and infection control measures. Moreover, with a different studyformat and geographic location, risk factors were found to be similar to previous studies, thereforestrengthening their significance to the spread of EHM.

AB - Diagnosis of equine herpesvirus-1 associated myeloencephalopathy (EHM) can be troublesome, but earlyrecognition and knowledge of risk factors are essential for prevention and control. The objectives for thisstudy are to (1) describe EHM in France, (2) improve clinical recognition, (3) identify risk factors. Throughepidemiosurveillance of acute neurological cases (all considered to be potentially infectious cases) inFrance (2008–2011), 26 EHM cases were identified and 29 EHM negative control cases. EHM cases weredescribed and compared to controls with univariate, multivariate and classification and regression treeanalysis. EHM cases had a 46% fatality rate and were frequently isolated cases. Most showed ataxia,paresis and a cauda equina syndrome, yet presence of other neurological signs was variable. Statisticalanalysis identified the following variables to be significantly associated to EHM compared to controls:introduction of a new horse to the herd, cauda equina syndrome, larger herd size, saddle horses andmonth of occurrence. The presence of many isolated cases, and less typical and variable clinicalpresentations emphasize the difficulty in diagnosing EHM. Nevertheless, history and clinical examinationof acute neurological cases can be valuable in recognizing EHM early as well in order to select those casesthat need further laboratory testing and infection control measures. Moreover, with a different studyformat and geographic location, risk factors were found to be similar to previous studies, thereforestrengthening their significance to the spread of EHM.

KW - Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

KW - neurology

KW - EHV

KW - EHM

KW - horse

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.07.003

DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.07.003

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26228835

VL - 179

SP - 304

EP - 309

JO - Veterinary Microbiology

JF - Veterinary Microbiology

SN - 0378-1135

IS - 3-4

ER -