The alphaherpesvirus, equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), is a highly prevalent cause of equine infectious abortion and encephalomyelopathy. These syndromes have been attributed to ischemic necrosis from thrombosis in placental and neural vessels, although the mechanisms underlying thrombosis are unknown. After inhalation, EHV-1 establishes a peripheral blood mononuclear cell-associated viremia,...

Common viral antigens were detected, by fluorescent-antibody studies, in cells infected with herpes simplex virus 1, squirrel monkey herpesvirus 1, bovine rhinotracheitis, and equine abortion viruses. The two primate viruses showed slight cross-neutralization.

i Acknowledgements iii Chapter 1 General introduction 1 Chapter 2 Literature review 5 Chapter 3 A nested multiplex PCR for the detection and differentiation of equine herpesvirus 1, 2, 4 and 5. 73 Chapter 4 The prevalence of equine herpesviruses in clinically normal horses 90 Chapter 5 The association of equine herpesviruses with respiratory disease and poor performance in adult horses in Weste...