J Vet Sci.  2008 Dec;9(4):381-385. 10.4142/jvs.2008.9.4.381.

Serosurveillance for Japanese encephalitis, Akabane, and Aino viruses for Thoroughbred horses in Korea.

• Yang DK
• Kim BH
• Kweon CH
• Nah JJ
• Kim HJ
• Lee KW
• Yang YJ
• Mun KW

• KMID: 1104913
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2008.9.4.381

Abstract

Recent global warming trends may have a significant impact on vector-borne viral diseases, possibly affecting vector population dynamics and disease transmission. This study measured levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) and Aino virus (AINV) for Thoroughbred horses in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 989 racehorses in several provinces, between October 2005 and March 2007. Sera were tested using either an HI assay or a virus neutralization test. Approximately half (49.7%; 492/989) of the horses tested were antibody-positive for JEV. The HI titer against JEV was significantly correlated with racehorse age (p < 0.05). Horses with an HI antibody titer of 1: 160 or higher accounted for 3.9% of the animals tested, indicating that vectors transmitting arthropod- borne viruses bit relatively few horses. In contrast, 3.8% (19/497) and 19.5% (97/497) of horse sera collected in March 2007 were positive against AKAV and AINV, respectively. The presence of antibodies against AKAV and AINV may indicate the multiplication of AKAV and AINV in these horses.

Keyword

arbovirus; racehorse; erosurveillance

MeSH Terms

Aging
Animals
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/*isolation & purification
Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests/veterinary
Horse Diseases/blood/*epidemiology
Horses
Korea/epidemiology
Orthobunyavirus/*isolation & purification
Seroepidemiologic Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of hemagglutination-inhibition titer by age among Thoroughbred horses that were positive against Japanese encephalitis virus in 2006 and 2007.

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  Fig. 2 Seropositive rates for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Aino virus (AINV) and Akabane virus (AKAV) grouped by gender among 497 Thoroughbred horses whose blood samples were collected in 2007.

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  Fig. 3 Regional distribution of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Aino virus (AINV) and Akabane virus (AKAV) antibodies from Thoroughbred horses in 2007. GG:Gyeonggi province, GN: Gyeungnam province, JJ: Jeju province.

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