Identification and genetic characterization of equine infectious anemia virus in Western Balkans.
Authors: Lupulovic Diana, Savić Sara, Gaudaire Delphine, Berthet Nicolas, Grgić Živoslav, Matović Kazimir, Deshiere Alexandre, Hans Aymeric
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Equine Infectious Anemia Virus in the Western Balkans: Establishing EIAV Presence in Serbia Equine infectious anemia, caused by a lentivirus that establishes lifelong persistent infection, represents a significant disease risk in horse populations worldwide, yet its presence in the Balkans had never been documented until this investigation. Researchers screened 316 serum samples from the approximately 5,000-horse population of Vojvodina in northern Serbia using serological testing, subsequently performing full-genome sequencing on a positive case to characterise the circulating strain. The study confirmed EIAV circulation in Serbian horses for the first time, extending the known geographical range of this notifiable disease eastward into the region and raising questions about prevalence and transmission patterns in adjacent countries. The identification of a characterised viral genome provides crucial epidemiological data for understanding EIAV distribution across Europe, particularly in areas where surveillance has previously been absent. For equine professionals operating in or importing horses from the Balkans, these findings underscore the need for robust serological screening protocols and heightened awareness of EIA risk, as infected animals remain infectious to other horses regardless of clinical presentation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •EIA is now confirmed to be present in Serbia and the Balkans region; veterinarians and horse owners must consider EIAV in differential diagnoses and implement appropriate biosecurity measures
- •Infected horses remain lifelong carriers and contagious even without clinical signs; serological screening is essential for disease control and movement restrictions must be enforced
- •Current geographic risk zones for EIAV now extend further east than previously documented; practitioners should implement testing protocols and maintain awareness of disease status in their region
Key Findings
- •EIAV was identified and genetically characterized in a horse from the Vojvodina region of Serbia, confirming the first documented presence of the virus in this geographic area
- •Serological testing of 316 serum samples from approximately 5,000 horses in Vojvodina detected EIA-positive cases, indicating circulation of EIAV in the region
- •Full genome sequencing of the positive case was successfully performed using next-generation sequencing, enabling genetic characterization of the EIAV strain