Comprehensive Serology Based on a Peptide ELISA to Assess the Prevalence of Closely Related Equine Herpesviruses in Zoo and Wild Animals.
Authors: Abdelgawad Azza, Hermes Robert, Damiani Armando, Lamglait Benjamin, Czirják Gábor Á, East Marion, Aschenborn Ortwin, Wenker Christian, Kasem Samy, Osterrieder Nikolaus, Greenwood Alex D
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Herpesvirus Host Range and Seroprevalence in Zoo and Wild Animals Equine herpesvirus types 1 and 9 (EHV-1 and EHV-9) present an unusual epidemiological challenge because they transcend typical host boundaries, causing severe neurological disease in incidental hosts with high mortality rates—particularly EHM (equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy) in horses—yet their true host range has remained poorly defined until now. Researchers developed a peptide-based ELISA capable of distinguishing between these closely related viruses and screened 428 serum samples from 30 species across zoo and wild populations to establish seroprevalence patterns. Wild zebra populations showed significantly higher EHV-1 seroprevalence than captive zebras, suggesting natural exposure in unrestricted environments, whilst African rhinoceroses demonstrated unexpectedly high EHV-9 antibody prevalence in both captive and wild settings—implicating them as potential reservoir hosts. Members of Equidae, Rhinocerotidae and Bovidae families tested positive for both viruses, indicating a broader host range centred on African herbivores, particularly where wild equids and perissodactyls coexist. For equine professionals, these findings underscore that EHV-1 and EHV-9 represent cross-species zoonotic risks in mixed-grazing systems and wildlife facilities, with rhinoceroses potentially serving as unrecognised reservoir populations capable of maintaining and transmitting EHV-9 to domestic horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •EHV-1 and EHV-9 have broader host ranges than previously understood, affecting multiple herbivore species; practitioners managing mixed species collections should be aware of cross-species transmission risks
- •Captive animals may have reduced exposure to EHV-1 compared to wild populations; biosecurity protocols should account for differential disease exposure based on management type
- •African rhinoceros may be natural reservoirs for EHV-9; facilities housing multiple perissodactyls should implement species-specific screening and isolation protocols
Key Findings
- •EHV-1 and EHV-9 antibodies detected in members of Equidae, Rhinocerotidae, and Bovidae families across 30 species, demonstrating broad host range beyond equines
- •Wild zebra populations showed significantly higher EHV-1 seroprevalence than zoo zebras, suggesting captivity reduces exposure
- •EHV-1 seroprevalence was significantly higher than EHV-9 in zebras, but EHV-9 showed high prevalence in captive and wild African rhinoceros species
- •African rhinoceros species may serve as natural reservoir or host for EHV-9, indicating novel host acquisition in ecosystems with wild equids