Serological survey of equid herpesvirus 3 infection in Turkish horses

Sera from 1133 Turkish horses were obtained and tested for equid herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) antibodies using a sero-neutralisation test. The sample consisted of 420 privately owned working horses from 2 regions of Turkey, 428 brood horses from private stud farms and breeding stations, and 285 racehorses from private stud farms. Neutralising antibodies against EHV-3 were found in 287 (25.3%) of the 1133 analysed sera. The highest seroprevalence for EHV-3 was detected in the brood horses (51.2%), followed by the racehorses (10.2%), and the working horses (9.3%). The seroprevalence rates tended to be higher in female horses than in male horses for all 3 horse populations tested (P < 0.01). The findings indicate significant differences in EHV-3 seropositivity rates between horses used for breeding and those used for work and racing (P < 0.001), suggesting that the intended use of horses may be an important factor in the epidemiological assessment of EHV-3 infection.