Equine rhinopneumonitis: pathogenetic, clinical & epidemiological features of a multisyndromic disease

Equid herpesviruses 1 and 4 are the two economically most important herpesvirus infections of equids. Ubiquitous in horse populations around the world, these viruses can cause respiratory disease, abortion/neonatal disease and infrequently, a myeloencephalopathy [3,4,7]. Equid herpesvirus 1 is the more significant pathogen, being the virus primarily implicated in herpesvirusrelated abortion, neonatal disease and neurological disease. Equid herpesvirus 4 is most commonly associated with respiratory disease. The pathogenetic, clinical and epidemiological features of these infections are reviewed. Both viruses continue to be a source of economic loss for horse industries worldwide in spite of the widespread use of a range of vaccines to immunize against them ...