Molecular detection of infectious agents responsible for abortions in mares on Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

. Argentina is the third global producer of Thoroughbred racehorses (PSC– by its acronym in Spanish) and first in the polo horses industry; it is also among the most outstanding exporter of horse meat. Safeguarding the health status is important to consolidate and promote internal production and international trading. The overall rate of pregnancy loss in the horse population varies from 5 to 15%, with the main agents involved being Equine Herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV), Salmonella abortus equi and Leptospira spp., which can cause epizootic outbreaks. The use of quick and specific diagnostic techniques are essential to decide which prophylactic and therapeutic methods need to be employed. The objective of this study was to detect genetic material from infectious agents in equine abortion products from different establishments in Corrientes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 24 samples from 6 clinical cases of abortion were analysed. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted and amplification rounds of specific sequences of different infectious agents were performed. Analysis of the corresponding electrophoretic runs showed bands compatible with HVE-1 in 13 samples, 3 of which also were detectable for HVE-4. No specific bands for Salmonella spp were detected in any of the samples analysed. The technique demonstrated sensitivity and specificity, becoming a useful tool for identifying the genetic material of the analysed agents.