The present study was carried out for studying the prevalence of equine herpes
virus-1 infection among equines in different Governorates of Egypt. One hundred
eighty two equines of different ages, sexes, localities and breeds showing signs of
fever, respiratory manifestations, abortions, ataxia, dog sitting position, limb
edema, foal depression and death were examined for the isolation of EHV-1 on
both embryonated chicken eggs and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell culture, the
aborted fetuses were histologically examined for the detection of inclusion bodies.
Serum samples were collected to detect immunoglobulin-G specific to EHV-1 by
using ELISA. Nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus and the aborted fetal tissues
were tested by PCR using specific primers to prove the infection with EHV-1. The
prevalence of EHV-1 infection in the examined animals was recorded as 4.94%. It
was prevalent in Cairo, Giza, Kafr Elsheikh, Monofeia, El Sharkia Governorates. The
EHV-1 was isolated on the embryo chicken eggs and the pock lesion was appeared
on the chorio-allantoic membranes. The cytopathic effects were also observed in
tissue cultures. The Liver of aborted fetuses showed necrosis of all hepatic tissue
and activation of Kupffer cells with hemosiderin and the detection of eosinophilic
intranuclear inclusion bodies. Indirect ELISA could detect IgG in all infected equines
(n=9) from which EHV-1 isolated. PCR proved the infection with EHV-1 in the
aborted fetal (n=3) tissues and gave similar results by using the horses
nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus where 489 bp PCR products were detected in
both. In conclusion, EHV-1 is prevalent in different Governorates in Egypt. EHV-1
infection could be diagnosed by intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the
aborted fetal tissues. The indirect ELISA could diagnose EHV-1 infection in all ages
and sexes groups. PCR applied on aborted fetal tissues is better for the diagnosis of
EHV-1 infection than that based on the horse nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus
due to saving time and money.