Evaluating African horse sickness virus in horses and field-caught Culicoides biting midges on the East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Authors

  • Anthony F Craig Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme,Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8177-4360
  • Glenn C Packer Private Veterinary Surgeon
  • Alan J Guthrie Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria,Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
  • Estelle H Venter Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme,Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1160.6400.3

Abstract

A prospective study was undertaken during 2013 and 2014, to determine the prevalence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in Culicoides midges and the incidence of infection caused by the virus in 28 resident horses on two equine establishments on the East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Field caught Culicoides midges together with whole blood samples from participating horses were collected every two weeks at each establishment. Culicoides midges and blood samples were tested for the presence of AHSV RNA by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Nine immunised horses became infected with AHSV during the study period, although infections were subclinical. African horse sickness virus was also identified from a field-collected midge pool. The observations recapitulate previously published data in another setting, where further investigation is warranted to determine what role subclinical infection plays in the diseases epidemiology.

Author Biographies

Anthony F Craig, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme,Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

DVTD MSc Garduate

Glenn C Packer, Private Veterinary Surgeon

Private Veterinary Surgeon

Alan J Guthrie, Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria,Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa

DirectorUniversity of Pretoria's Equine Research Centre

Estelle H Venter, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Programme,Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Australia

Senior SupivisorProfessor Emeritus, University of PretoriaExtraordinary Lecturer, University of Pretoria, South AfricaCurrently:Professor of Veterinary EducationCollege of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary SciencesDiscipline: Veterinary ScienceJames Cook University, Townsville Qld 4810, Australia

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Published

2019-04-11

How to Cite

Craig, A. F., Packer, G. C., Guthrie, A. J., & Venter, E. H. (2019). Evaluating African horse sickness virus in horses and field-caught Culicoides biting midges on the East Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Veterinaria Italiana, 55(1), 91–94. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1160.6400.3

Issue

Vol. 55 No. 1 (2019)

Topics*

Short communication