The full genome sequences of 8 equine herpesvirus type 4 isolates from horses in Japan

J Vet Med Sci. 2017 Jan 24;79(1):206-212. doi: 10.1292/jvms.16-0506. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

Abstract

Equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) is one of the most important pathogens in horses. To clarify the key genes of the EHV-4 genome that cause abortion in female horses, we determined the whole genome sequences of a laboratory strain and 7 Japanese EHV-4 isolates that were isolated from 2 aborted fetuses and nasal swabs of 5 horses with respiratory disease. The full genome sequences and predicted amino acid sequences of each gene of these isolates were compared with of the reference EHV-4 strain NS80567 and Australian isolates that were reported in 2015. The EHV-4 isolates clustered in 2 groups which did not reflect their pathogenicity. A comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the genes did not reveal any genes that were associated with EHV-4-induced abortion.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Equid / isolation & purification
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology*
  • Horses / virology
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary