Clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and outcome of adult horses with equine coronavirus infection at a veterinary teaching hospital: 33 cases (2012-2018).
Authors: Berryhill E H, Magdesian K G, Aleman M, Pusterla N
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
Between 2012 and 2018, researchers at UC Davis reviewed 33 adult horses (median age 11 years) diagnosed with equine coronavirus via faecal PCR testing to characterise the clinical disease and compare outcomes with ECoV-negative controls. Fever was the predominant presenting sign (83% of cases), followed by anorexia (47%) and colic (43%), whilst laboratory work consistently revealed marked leukopenia, neutropenia, and lymphopenia—with median white blood cell counts substantially lower than control animals—alongside variable electrolyte and metabolic disturbances and reduced faecal output. The cohort demonstrated excellent prognosis, with 96% of the 27 hospitalised horses surviving to discharge after a median stay of 5 days, though three animals had concurrent infections. ECoV warrants consideration as a differential diagnosis in adult horses presenting with the triad of fever, gastrointestinal signs, and unexplained leukopenia, with management focused on supportive care for systemic inflammation and metabolic complications rather than specific antivirals. The relatively benign outcome in this referral population suggests that whilst ECoV can cause significant clinical disease requiring intensive monitoring, most affected horses recover well with appropriate fluid and electrolyte correction.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider ECoV as a differential diagnosis in adult horses presenting with concurrent fever, colic, and anorexia, particularly if leukopenia is identified on bloodwork
- •Most horses recover well with supportive care, but anticipate need for intensive management of severe leukopenia, systemic inflammation, and metabolic disturbances during typical 5-day hospitalization
- •Use fecal real-time quantitative PCR to confirm ECoV diagnosis in suspect cases at referral facilities
Key Findings
- •33 adult horses with ECoV infection presented with fever (83%), anorexia (47%), and colic (43%) over a 6-year period
- •ECoV-positive horses had significantly lower white blood cell counts (median 3.0 × 10⁹/L) compared to negative controls
- •26 of 27 hospitalized horses (96%) survived to discharge with median hospitalization of 5 days
- •ECoV infection commonly caused leukopenia, electrolyte imbalances, and reduced fecal output requiring intensive supportive care