THE PATHOGENESIS OF ED71, A DEFINED DELETION MUTANT OF EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-1, IN A MURINE INTRANASAL INFECTION MODEL FOR EQUINE ABORTION

A series of mutants of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) which contain dele tions in non-essential genes was previously characterized in a murine intranasal infection model, One mutant, ED71 which was shown to be att enuated in the model, was further characterized by inoculation into pr egnant mice, Despite the attenuation previously reported, intranasal i noculation of pregnant mice resulted in premature parturition and the birth of dead or dying foetuses, Furthermore, mice inoculated before p regnancy with the same mutant, and subsequently challenged 14 days aft er conception with wild-type virus, were not protected from abortion.