The first report of myloencephalopathy caused by equine herpes virus type 1 in Iran

The prevalence rate and etiology of EHV-1 and EHV-4 are essentially unknown in Iran. Also، according to the incredible distribution of horse supplies and breeding in recent years in the country and presence of several outbreaks of clinical nervous infections in horses of some areas of Iran، this study for the first time in Iran was carried out in order to isolate of EHV-1 from susceptible cases of myeloencephalopathy in horse clubs of Golpayegan city. In this study the blood samples were collected from three horses of Golpayegan’s horse clubs which had anorexia، depression، ataxia، and recumbence and were suspicious to herpes viral encephalitis. Samples extracted bufly-coat were used for inoculation in allantoic cavity of embryonated eggs and RBK cell culture. Genomic DNA was extracted from both allantoic and cell culture fluids and was evaluated for detection of EHV-1 using PCR method. Results showed the presence of EHV-1 in all three samples.