Equine viral arteritis

Description

Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is an acute, contagious disease caused by equine arteritis virus (EAV) of the genus arterivirus (Family Arteriviridae). Identification of seropositive horses and a semen-culture positive stallion in Australia suggest a low virulence form of this organism has been established in the horse population at a low level. Clinical disease has not yet been recorded.

EVA is usually subclinical, but clinical disease overseas is characterised by pyrexia lasting 1-5 days, subcutaneous oedema of limbs and ventral abdomen, rhinitis and conjunctivitis with nasal and ocular discharge and photophobia, a skin rash, anorexia, depression, dyspnoea and diarrhoea. Up to 70% of pregnant mares abort during the febrile stage. Affected animals usually recover.

Virus is spread by respiratory and venereal transmission. Infection can also spread through indirect contact with virus-contaminated equipment, hands or apparel of animal handlers. Virus is present in semen, respiratory secretions and also in urine, faeces and aborted foetuses.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is supported by history, clinical signs and virological tests

Tests available

Test	Sample(s) required	Days of the week test is conducted	Turnaround time¹
Equine viral arteritis VNT	Clotted blood (red top tube)	Batch tested Tuesday & Friday	3 - 7D
Equine arteritis virus PCR	Swabs in PBGS Fresh tissue EDTA blood (purple top tube) Semen	According to demand	2 - 3D
Equine arteritis virus isolation²	Semen	According to demand	2 - 3W
Histopathology examination	Fixed tissue	Monday – Friday	Up to 5D

Please Note: D= Working day(s)/ W= Week(s). TAT does not include weekends or public holidays.

¹Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

² This test is for export purposes only. Please contact Customer Service before submitting samples.

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Blood (without anti-coagulant)
10 ml of blood collected in a plain red top tube Submit chilled
Fixed tissue
Lung, liver, spleen, thymus and lymph node from aborted foetus Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue Lung, spleen, lymph nodes draining oedematous areas from adult horse Submit fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a ratio of 10:1 formalin: tissue
Fresh tissue
Lung, liver, spleen, thymus, lymph node, placenta and foetal fluid from aborted foetus Submit chilled
Semen
15-20 ml of sperm rich fraction of ejaculate Submit chilled
Swabs
Nasal / nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs collected in to PBGS Submit chilled

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPI's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

For Edible oil & oilseed or Feed quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wagga Wagga on (02) 6938 1957

For Plant nutrition, Soil health or Water quality quotations and pricing enquiries, please contact DPI AgEnviro Labs at Wollongbar on (02) 6626 1103

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpi.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the SVDL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568