Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) infection of horses occurs worldwide and is recognized as a cause of acute respiratory disease with symptoms such as fever, nasal discharge, coughing and pharyngitis. These symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold in humans.
Cough - A symptom of equine rhinitis A
Equine rhinitis A virus which affects both upper and lower airways in horses may be spread by contact through nasal secretions and aerosol inhalation.
Equine rhinitis A virus is a potentially overlooked causative agent of respiratory diseases affecting horses. It may be a contributing or exacerbating factor of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and recurrent airway obstruction or heaves. ERAV which affects both upper and lower airways in horses may be spread by contact through nasal secretions and aerosol inhalation.
ERAV clinical signs may include:
- Fever
- Serous nasal discharge
- Coughing
- Abnormal lung sounds
- Anorexia
- Pharyngitis
- Lymphadenitis
- Increased tracheal mucus production, and
- Occasionally leg edema
ERAV should not be confused with rhinopneumonitis, also known as equine herpesvirus 1 and 4. ERAV is also different from equine influenza virus, although symptoms may be indistinguishable from EHV (1 and 4) and equine influenza.
ERAV has been isolated from nasal swabs, blood, feces and urine samples. ERAV can be detected from horses with acute, respiratory disease using virus isolation, PCR or serum virus neutralization assay testing (paired serological tests).
At the present time, it would be best to specifically request diagnostic testing for ERAV when sending respiratory samples to diagnostic laboratories.