Wykorzystanie metody PCR i badania hodowlanego w diagnostyce i roznicowaniu zakazen herpeswirusowych koni [EHV1 i EHV4]

The aim of the study was the isolation and identification of herpesviruses (EHV1 and EHV4) in nasal swabs from horses with upper respiratory tract infections and organs of aborted foetus by using PCR and cell culture method. A total of 110 swab samples taken from 90 horses with upper respiratory tract infections and 20 healthy animals and tissue samples from aborted foetuses were included in the study. Sampled animals were selected from 12 horse farms located in the central and south-eastern part of Poland, with different geographical conditions, types of breeding and number of livestock. The collected samples were first examined with the use of PCR to detect DNA of equine herpesviruses type 1 and 4. DNA of EHV4 has been detected in 9 samples taken from 9 horses from two farms. DNA of EHV1 was detected in one swab sample and in tissue samples of aborted fetuses. A representative group of 58 samples taken from sick horses and tissue samples from the fetuses were examined for the virus isolation with the use of three cell lines (RK-13, EEL, MDBK). The positive effect of the virus isolation was obtained with regards to two EHV1 strains, one isolated from a swab sample and the second one from an aborted fetus. However, the isolation of EHV4 strains from 9 samples positive in PCR was unsuccessful. All samples taken from 20 horses from the control group were negative in both virological tests.