Lateral transmission of equine arteritis virus among Lipizzaner stallions in South Africa.
Authors: Guthrie A J, Howell P G, Hedges J F, Bosman A M, Balasuriya U B R, McCollum W H, Timoney P J, MacLachlan N J
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Lateral transmission of equine arteritis virus among Lipizzaner stallions in South Africa Between 1981 and 1995, equine arteritis virus (EAV) spread horizontally among seven stallions housed at the Lipizzaner Centre in Gauteng, South Africa, despite one carrier stallion being subjected to life-long breeding quarantine following its importation from Yugoslavia and confirmation of chronic infection in 1988. Through serological testing, researchers identified that the virus had been transmitted between animals through non-breeding routes—a finding that challenges the conventional assumption that EAV spreads exclusively through sexual contact or venereal transmission. This case demonstrates that stallion-to-stallion contact, whether through direct interaction, shared facilities, or indirect exposure, can facilitate EAV dissemination in group housing situations. The practical implication is significant: comprehensive biosecurity measures beyond breeding restrictions are essential when managing known or suspected EAV-positive stallions, particularly in stud operations where multiple entire males cohabit. For farriers, vets and facility managers, this work underscores the importance of strict hygiene protocols and segregation strategies that prevent lateral transmission pathways, not merely venereal ones.
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Practical Takeaways
- •EAV can spread between stallions through routes other than breeding; standard quarantine procedures may be insufficient to prevent lateral transmission
- •Carriers of EAV require enhanced biosecurity measures beyond breeding quarantine, including consideration of segregation and non-contact management
- •Serological screening of all stallions in a facility is essential when EAV carrier status is identified, as lateral transmission may have already occurred
Key Findings
- •Seven stallions at a South African Lipizzaner Centre were seropositive for EAV antibodies in 1995, despite quarantine measures
- •EAV was laterally transmitted between stallions at the facility despite life-long breeding quarantine of a known carrier stallion imported in 1981
- •A stallion confirmed as an EAV carrier in 1988 continued to transmit virus to other stallions despite isolation protocols