EQUINE ARTERITIS VIRUS - A REVIEW OF CLINICAL-FEATURES AND MANAGEMENTASPECTS

Sero-epidemiological surveys have revealed that equine arteritis virus (EAV) is prevalent in most European countries, The virus causes spora dic cases of respiratory disease and abortion in horses, the incidence of which has increased in recent years, Mares and geldings eliminate virus after acute infection, but 30% to 60% of stallions become persis tently infected, In these animals, EAV is maintained within the reprod uctive tract and is shed continuously in the semen, Persistent infecti on with EAV in stallions has no negative consequences for fertility bu t mares inseminated with virus-contaminated semen can have an acute in fection, These mares shed large amounts of virus in respiratory secret ions and urine, leading to lateral spread of the virus to other suscep tible horses, Acute infection at later stages of gestation can lead to abortion, Effective control of the spread of EAV infection depends on the identification of virus-shedding stallions. Persistently infected stallions should not be used for breeding or should be bred only to s eropositive mares, Mares bred to shedding stallions should be isolated from other animals for a period of 3 weeks following insemination to prevent the lateral spread of EAV.