As part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) ongoing work to expedite the identification and control of disease, the College Park Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory is now able to perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), the causal agent of a common equine respiratory disease that’s often called “rhino” (short for rhinopneumonitis). This test includes the capability to detect the neuropathic strain of the virus that causes neurologic herpes (equine herpes myeloencephalopathy), a form of EHV-1 that is often fatal.

The ability to detect the neurologic form of EHV-1 with PCR analysis will enable the industry and MDA to more quickly detect and more effectively respond to suspected and actual cases, reducing the adverse economic impact associated with actual and suspected outbreaks of this disease. Previously, samples collected in the field would be sent across the country for analysis using this same technique. The delay in receiving results meant that animals implicated in the disease investigation, but not infected, would be restricted (by quarantine) longer while awaiting results. Reducing the turnaround time of the samples significantly reduces the time between identification of suspect cases and a determination that the virus is or is not present, allowing the response activities to more properly focus on the infected animals.

The MDA intends to make this test available to equine veterinary practitioners soon and will also have this valuable asset available to assist in the management of suspected outbreaks of EHV myeloencephalitis. The goal is to provide same-day results for swabs and blood submitted before noon on most business days. The PCR testing method is a common and often indispensable technique used in medical and biological research labs for a variety of applications