A 2015 outbreak of Getah virus infection occurring among Japanese racehorses sequentially to an outbreak in 2014 at the same site.
Authors: Bannai Hiroshi, Ochi Akihiro, Nemoto Manabu, Tsujimura Koji, Yamanaka Takashi, Kondo Takashi
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Sequential Getah Virus Outbreaks in Japanese Racehorses Following a 31-year absence from Japan, Getah virus re-emerged at the Miho training centre in 2014, and researchers investigated a recurrent outbreak occurring at the same facility in 2015 to characterise the epidemiological patterns and assess future outbreak risk. The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding both consecutive outbreaks, documenting transmission dynamics and infection characteristics across the two-year period. Key findings revealed that the sequential nature of these outbreaks—occurring at an identical location within a 12-month interval—suggested either persistent environmental conditions favouring transmission or inadequate vector control measures between seasons, with implications for biosecurity protocols at high-density training facilities. The authors' analysis of epizootiological data provides evidence-based insight into Getah virus persistence and re-emergence patterns, enabling equine professionals and stud managers to identify critical risk periods and implement targeted vector management strategies. Understanding these outbreak dynamics is particularly important for facilities housing multiple horses in close proximity, where arthropod-borne viral transmission can rapidly affect athletic performance and competition schedules across racing and training populations.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Training facilities experiencing arboviral outbreaks should implement enhanced biosecurity and vector control measures, as recurrence at the same location within 12 months is possible
- •Japanese equestrian operations should maintain heightened surveillance for Getah virus and similar emerging/re-emerging diseases given the demonstrated pattern of recurrence
- •Work with veterinary authorities to establish outbreak response protocols and epidemiological tracking, as this may aid prediction of future outbreak timing and location
Key Findings
- •Getah virus re-emerged in Japanese racehorses in 2015, one year after a 2014 outbreak at the same training facility
- •This represented the first confirmed cases of Getah virus in Japan in 31 years prior to 2014
- •Sequential outbreak at identical location suggests persistent environmental or vector-related transmission risk