Virological examination of conjunctival swabs in clinically healthy horses

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of the equine influenza virus (EIV), the equine arteritis virus (EAV), and the equine herpesvirus (EHV) in the conjunctival sac of clinically healthy horses. Fifty horses of both sexes and various breeds and ages were included in the study. Virus isolation was carried out in cell cultures (the Madin-Darby canine kidney, green monkey kidney and rabbit kidney cells) from conjunctival swabs. The hemaglutination assay was carried out in order to identify EI viral amplification. The study revealed no presence of the above listed viruses in the conjunctival sac of clinically healthy horses.