Herpesvirus is a particularly well-evolved virus that occurs in many mammals, such as humans, horses, cats and cows. Viruses infecting one animal species do not usually infect another species. Respiratory disease, abortion, and neurologic disease in horses can all be caused by equine herpesviruses. Herpesvirus has also developed its own adaptation: It maintains itself within its host by evading detection by the host’s immune system. And herpesvirus is unique in its ability to persist in the host in a latent form, recurring at intermittent periods that correspond with stress events.

In this free report, we provide the horse owner and caretaker with an overview of EHV-1 and EHV-4, the strains associated with viral respiratory disease, and EHV-1 can also cause neurologic disease.