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First serological #evidence of equine #coronavirus and #SARS-CoV-2 in #horses in North #Africa

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By G.M.

 


Abstract

Viral diseases cause significant economic losses within the equine population. Horses are susceptible to equine coronavirus (ECoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), although only ECoV has been associated to clinical disease. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time in Algeria, the seroprevalence of ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the prevalence of ECoV infection in horses. In 2022, a total of 299 serum samples was collected from horses aged 1 to 27 years. Serological analysis for the presence of ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 was performed using a validated in-house and a commercially available ELISA, respectively. In addition, fecal samples of these animals were tested for the presence of ECoV RNA by RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2-ELISA positive sera with high S/P ratios and negative samples close to the doubtful threshold were retested using a virus neutralization test (VNT). The seroprevalence of ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 in the tested horses was 63.5% (190/299) and 4.3% (13/299), respectively. Among CoVs-seropositive horses, six were seropositive for both ECoV and SARS-CoV-2, thus 6/10 sera were VNT positive, including two ELISA-negative samples for SARS-CoV-2. ECoV seroprevalence varied according to age, breed and sex. None of the fecal samples tested positive for ECoV. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed by VNT in six samples (2%). One SARS-CoV-2-positive serum tested by ELISA and confirmed through VNT was cytotoxic for VERO cells. This study is the first to report the circulation of ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 in the Algerian horse population. Further studies are necessary to isolate and obtain molecular characterisation of ECoV and SARS-CoV-2 from horses in Algeria.

Source: Veterinary Research Communications, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11259-025-10928-0

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