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. 2023 Nov 7;12(11):1324.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens12111324.

Characterization of Equine Rhinitis B Virus Infection in Clinically Ill Horses in the United States during the Period 2012-2023

Chrissie Schneider  1 , Kaitlyn James  1 , Bryant W Craig  1 , Duane E Chappell  1 , Wendy Vaala  1 , Philip D van Harreveld  1 , Cara A Wright  1 , Samantha Barnum  2 , Nicola Pusterla  2
Affiliations

Characterization of Equine Rhinitis B Virus Infection in Clinically Ill Horses in the United States during the Period 2012-2023

Chrissie Schneider et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Equine rhinitis B virus is a lesser-known equine respiratory pathogen that is being detected with increasing frequency via a voluntary upper respiratory biosurveillance program in the United States. This program received 8684 nasal swab submissions during the years 2012-2023. The nasal swabs were submitted for qPCR testing for six common upper respiratory pathogens: Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi), equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV), and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV). The overall ERBV qPCR-positivity rate was 5.08% (441/8684). ERBV was detected as a single pathogen in 291 cases (65.99% of positives, 291/441) and was detected as a coinfection with at least one other respiratory pathogen in 150 cases (34.01%, 150/441). Young horses, less than a year of age, with acute onset of fever and respiratory signs and horses used for competition are more likely to test qPCR-positive for ERBV. Horses with ERBV may present with fever, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, and/or cough. Coinfection is a common feature of ERBV infection and S. equi, EHV-4 and EIV were the most common pathogens coinfected with ERBV. This report provides important information regarding the clinical relevance of ERBV in the horse and begins investigating the impact of coinfection on clinical disease.

Keywords: equids; equine rhinitis B virus; prevalence factors; qPCR; respiratory tract; upper respiratory tract infection; viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

K.J., S.B. and N.P. declare no conflict of interest. C.S., B.W.C., D.E.C., W.V., P.D.v.H. and C.A.W. worked for Merck Animal Health at the time this data were collected.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percent of ERBV qPCR-positive cases per year from 2012–2023. Partial year data available for 2012 and 2023.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent ERBV qPCR-positive cases by season and year.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Presence and severity of nasal discharge in (a,b) ERBV qPCR-negative and ERBV qPCR-positive and (c,d) ERBV qPCR-negative, ERBV qPCR-positive–sole pathogen, and ERBV qPCR-positive–coinfection. * p < 0.05.
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