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Equine viral arteritis

What is equine viral arteritis?

Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is caused by arterivirusand affects horses. It is a notifiable disease in stallions and a vaccine is licensed for use in the UK.

Clinical signs

Clinical signs include fever, respiratory problems, severe coughing and the accumulation of fluid in the body. The virus is transmitted by secretions from infected animals. Control measures are primarily aimed at stallions because they spread the disease via semen.

VLA's work on EVA includes:

• providing a diagnostic service,
• monitoring the national prevalence of the disease by serological testing,
• improving diagnostic methods for detection and characterisation,
• improving our understanding of virulence and persistence.

Current research includes studies of the cellular immune response and investigations of the genetic basis of virulence, ultimately with a view to vaccine development.