Equine herpesvirus abortion

Description

Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1) is the most important viral cause of abortion in horses. The virus is also the cause of respiratory disease (Equine rhinopneumonitis) and equine herpes virus encephalomyelitis (neurologic EHV-1)

EHV-1 is important to the equine industry, as it typically infects a wide range of cells and can potentially cause severe systemic illness. It has been proposed that there are two different variants of EHV-1: neuropathogenic and abortigenic. While the neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1 is considered exotic to Australia, the abortigenic strain is endemic in certain areas.

EHV-1 abortions usually occur in the last trimester of gestation, although they may occur earlier. Infected mares are typically asymptomatic although some can be pyrexic before aborting. Rarely, live foals are born with clinical signs of weakness and respiratory distress before death. An abortion storm involving several late gestation mares occurs infrequently due to the availability of rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for management of disease, and widespread vaccination.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical history, histopathology and virology.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
EHV1_PCR	Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV1) Real–time PCR*	Equine Herpes Abortion Investigation: Fresh tissue Liver, lung, spleen, thymus and placenta Submit chilled Equine Rhinopneumonitis Respiratory/Neurological Investigation: Swab in PBGS (preferred) Nasal/nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred sample type for the diagnosis of equine rhinopneumonitis Send in viral transport media (PGBS) Horse Export Testing EDTA blood (purple top)- 10 ml of EDTA blood collected into a purple top tube. Submit chilled	Equine	2-3D	$109.35	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	According to demand
EHV1_VNT	Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV1) Virus Neutralisation test (VNT)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10 ml of blood collected into a plain red top tube submitted chilled.	Equine	1-2W	$55.15	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Batch tested on Thursday
HIST_HE1	Histopathology – Preparation & Examination	Fixed Tissues- General Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases. Fresh Tissues Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue	All species	Up to 10D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday - Friday

Code

Name

Samples required

Species

Turnaround time

Price (excl. GST)

Notes

Test days

EHV1_PCR

Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV1) Real–time PCR*

Equine Herpes Abortion Investigation:

Fresh tissue

Liver, lung, spleen, thymus and placenta
- Submit chilled

Equine Rhinopneumonitis Respiratory/Neurological Investigation:

Swab in PBGS (preferred)

Nasal/nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred sample type for the diagnosis of equine rhinopneumonitis
- Send in viral transport media (PGBS)

Horse Export Testing

EDTA blood (purple top)-

10 ml of EDTA blood collected into a purple top tube.
- Submit chilled

Equine

2-3D

$109.35

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

According to demand

EHV1_VNT

Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV1) Virus Neutralisation test (VNT)

Clotted blood (Red top)

10 ml of blood collected into a plain red top tube submitted chilled.

Equine

1-2W

$55.15

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Batch tested on Thursday

HIST_HE1

Histopathology – Preparation & Examination

Fixed Tissues- General

Fresh tissues immediately placed in formalin
Tissue pieces should not be greater than 1cm cubed to ensure proper fixation
- Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue

Fixed Tissues- Nervous tissues

Submission of whole brain is required to ensure preservation of TSE target sites
- submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue
Brains submitted for Nervous tissues are processed once a week, separate to general tissues to ensure consistent and reliable results. Urgent cases can be processed out of cycle if clearly marked on the Submission Form however this may reduce the quality of the brain histology results, so should only be requested in extremely urgent cases.

Fresh Tissues

Fresh tissues can be submitted following necropsy
The quality of the tissues will be reduced due to the effects of autolysis so ideally fixed tissue should be submitted in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue

All species

Up to 10D

$84.95

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Monday - Friday

Additional Information

Histopathology samples- Fixed tissue and Aborted foetus

Fixed tissue
Liver, lung and placenta Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin: tissue
Aborted foetus
Whole, if possible Submit chilled (not frozen) in leak proof bag

Please Note:

Additional testing information
Fees for tests undertaken to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of EHV-1 abortion are paid by NSW Department of Primary Industries Regional Development (DPIRD). Extra testing to establish an alternative diagnosis is at submitters’ expense.
The EHV-1 PCR provides a definitive diagnosis of EHV-1 abortion. The virus neutralisation test (VNT) detects antibodies to EHV-1, but will also detect antibodies to EHV-4 (Equine rhinopneumonitis). A greater than four-fold increase in titre between acute and convalescent samples collected 3 weeks apart confirms recent infection (Acute samples should ideally be collected within the first 3-4 days of observable disease)

Additional testing information

Fees for tests undertaken to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of EHV-1 abortion are paid by NSW Department of Primary Industries Regional Development (DPIRD). Extra testing to establish an alternative diagnosis is at submitters’ expense.

The EHV-1 PCR provides a definitive diagnosis of EHV-1 abortion. The virus neutralisation test (VNT) detects antibodies to EHV-1, but will also detect antibodies to EHV-4 (Equine rhinopneumonitis). A greater than four-fold increase in titre between acute and convalescent samples collected 3 weeks apart confirms recent infection (Acute samples should ideally be collected within the first 3-4 days of observable disease)

Additional Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568