Name: Equine Viral Arteritis RTqPCR
Brand: Equigerminal
Price: 61.5 EUR

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Equine Viral Arteritis RTqPCR

Pathogen test This RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) to Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) virus. Sample 5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA blood 10 mL...

€61.50

Sample Requirements

5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA blood
10 mL - semen - sterile tube

Send your sample by regular mail or express delivery to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

Turnaround Time

2 to 5 working days

About the test

The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of the Equine Viral Arteritis Virus (EAV).

What is Equine Viral Arteritis?

Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) is an economically important viral disease of equids. Stallions can become long-term carriers of the virus and transmit it during breeding. Although carrier stallions can still be bred under controlled conditions, they are generally less desirable for breeding because they should only be mated with vaccinated or naturally seropositive mares. Acute disease can occur in some horses. Pregnant mares may abort following infection, while very young foals may develop severe pneumonia and enteritis. The prevalence of EVA has increased in recent years, partly due to the increased movement of horses and semen.

Why test?

The RT-qPCR test is recommended for:

Detection of active Equine Viral Arteritis infection.
Screening breeding stallions and semen.
Investigation of horses with compatible clinical signs.
Supporting breeding and disease control programmes.

How it works

🛒 Purchase the Test: Select and buy the test online.

📧 Receive Instructions: After payment confirmation, receive instructions for sample collection.

✨ Sample Collection: Your veterinarian collects blood or semen according to the test requirements.

📄 Download Submission Form: Download the printable submission form.

📮 Send Samples: Send your samples by regular mail or express delivery to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

📄 Receive Results: Get the result certificate by email.

Clinical signs

Most EAV infections, especially those that occur in mares bred to long-term carriers, are asymptomatic.
The clinical signs are generally more severe in old or very young animals, and in horses that are immunocompromised or in poor condition.
Fulminant infections with severe interstitial pneumonia and/ or enteritis can be seen in foals up to a few months of age.
Systemic illness also occurs in some adults. In adult horses, the clinical signs may include fever, depression, anorexia, limb edema (particularly in the hindlimbs), and dependent edema of the prepuce, scrotum, mammary gland and/or ventral body wall.
Conjunctivitis, photophobia, periorbital or supraorbital edema and rhinitis can also be seen.
Abortions or stillbirths can occur in mares that are pregnant when they are exposed. Abortions are not necessarily preceded by systemic signs.
Temporary decreases in fertility, including reduced quality sperm and decreased libido, may be seen in stallions during the acute stage of the disease.

Transmission

Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV) can be transmitted by the respiratory and the venereal routes.
Acutely affected horses excrete the virus in respiratory secretions; aerosol transmission is common when horses are gathered at racetracks, sales, shows and other events.
This virus has also been found in urine and feces during the acute stage.
It occurs in the reproductive tract of acutely infected mares, and both acutely and chronically infected stallions.
In mares, EAV can be found in vaginal and uterine secretions, as well as in the ovary and oviduct, for a short period after infection.
Mares infected late in pregnancy may give birth to infected foals.
Stallions shed EAV in semen, and can carry the virus for years. Transmission from stallions can occur by natural service or artificial insemination.
Some carriers may eventually clear the infection.
True carrier states have not been reported in mares, geldings or sexually immature colts; however, EAV can occasionally be found for up to six months in the reproductive tract of older prepubertal colts.
Equine arteritis virus can be transmitted on fomites including equipment, and may be spread mechanically by humans or animals.
Semen remains infectious after freezing.

Prevention

Acutely infected horses should be isolated to prevent transmission in secretions and excretions.
Precautions should also be taken to avoid spreading the virus on fomites.
EAV is readily inactivated by detergents, common disinfectants and lipid solvents.
No specific treatment is available; however, most healthy horses other than young foals recover on their own.
Good nursing and symptomatic treatment should be used in severe cases.
Vaccination can also help contain outbreaks.
Venereal transmission can be controlled by good management and vaccination.
To protect pregnant mares from abortion, they should be separated from other horses and maintained in small groups according to their predicted foaling dates.
Newly acquired horses should be isolated for 3 to 4 weeks.
Vaccination appears to prevent uninfected stallions from becoming long term carriers.
Stallions that are not carriers should be vaccinated before the start of the breeding season.
Prepubertal colts are given the vaccine when they are 6-12 months old.
Carrier stallions are identified and bred only to well vaccinated or naturally seropositive mares.
Similarly, semen that contains EAV should be used only in these mares.
Because first-time vaccinates may shed field viruses for a short time after exposure, these mares should be isolated from seronegative horses, particularly pregnant mares, for three weeks after breeding.
Naturally infected mares and those that are not first-time vaccinates are isolated for 24-48 hours, to protect other horses from the viruses present in semen.
Carrier stallions should be housed where they can be physically separated from uninfected horses; in one case, stallions apparently became infected by indirect exposure to semen. However, this appears to be rare.
EAV is sensitive to sunlight and low humidity, and uninfected stallions have been kept near carriers for years without infection.
Excellent hygiene and decontamination of fomites should be practiced when breeding infected horses or collecting semen.

Results

The RT-qPCR test detects the genome (RNA) of Equine Viral Arteritis Virus (EAV). Results are reported as Positive or Negative for the presence of viral RNA.

Additional information

Stallions may remain long-term carriers of Equine Viral Arteritis Virus and continue shedding the virus in semen for years. RT-qPCR is particularly useful for testing breeding stallions and semen samples to support disease control and breeding management.