Equine herpes virus 1 and 4 VNT

Species: Equine

Specimen: Serum

Container: Red top or gel tube

Collection protocol: Venepuncture

Special handling/shipping requirements: Standard

General information about the disease:

Equine herpes virus 1 (EHV-1) is endemic in all equine populations throughout the world including Australia and New Zealand. Adult horses are reservoirs for EHV-1, and latently infected mares are the most common source of reactivation and shedding of virus within the horse population. EHV-1 is predominantly associated with respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death and myeloencephalopathy (EHM).

With EHV1, abortion typically occurs without any warning. The first, and in most cases the only, sign of EHV1 is an aborted foetus.

EHV-4 mainly causes respiratory disease.

General information about when this test is indicated:

If EHV-1 abortion is suspected, but the foetus is not available for testing

> Collect initial blood sample (plain tube) for serum and transport to the laboratory within 12 hours of collection. Sample will be held before testing with convalescent sample.
> A second sample should be taken from the horse at between 2 weeks (no less) and four weeks (no longer) after the initial sample.
> After the second sample has been received, both samples will be referred together for paired serological analysis by VNT testing.

EHV 1-4 screening test

Collect blood sample (red top tube) for serum and transport to the laboratory within 12 hours of collection. The serum will be referred for VNT testing.

Comparison with other related tests:

The VNT test is reported as a positive or negative result. For abortion investigation, histopathology of a range of tissues (especially thymus, spleen, liver and lung) is recommended.