Equine Herpesvirus Types 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) RealPCR™ Tests
New weapons in the fight against infectious diseases
Equine Herpesvirus Types 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) RealPCR™ Tests are sensitive tests that use real-time PCR technology to deliver speed and accuracy in detecting the presence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 DNA.
Equine Herpesvirus Type 1
Numerous outbreaks of EHV-1 have hit the equine industry, resulting in great loss.
EHV-1, a virus often found latent in normal horses, can present as respiratory disease or neurologic disease, or cause abortions. Once in a population of horses, the virus is spread quickly and can cause devastating results.
The Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) RealPCR™ Test helps you confidently:
- Diagnose horses exhibiting clinical signs consistent with EHV-1 disease
- Diagnose horses exposed to confirmed EHV-1 cases
- Isolate infected or exposed horses from other susceptible horses in a timely manner
- Identify EHV-1 strains containing a mutation that is highly associated with neurologic clinical signs
Equine Herpesvirus Type 4
Equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4; equine rhinopneumonitis virus) is a health risk to equine populations worldwide. Disease severity depends on multiple factors and may be latent in normal horses. And because clinical signs are similar to other respiratory diseases, it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis from clinical presentation alone.
The Equine Herpesvirus Type 4 (EHV-4) RealPCR™ Test identifies:
- EHV-4 in horses presenting with respiratory clinical signs
- Horses that have been exposed to confirmed EHV-4 cases
PCR methods help distinguish between EHV-4, EHV-1 and EHV-1 neuropathogenic strains
Horses presenting with respiratory disease may have a dual infection with both EHV-1 and EHV-4. With the EHV-4 and EHV-1 RealPCR™ Tests, an equine practitioner can quickly distinguish between EHV-4, EHV-1, and the EHV-1 neuropathogenic mutant strain, to manage disease and prevent the spread of the virus to other horses.
Specimen requirements
2 mL EDTA whole blood and/or deep nasopharyngeal swabs (one from each nostril). Please submit dry, plastic-stemmed swabs, without transport media, in an RTT or an empty, sterile tube; keep refrigerated.
Note: Nasal swabs are used to detect animals shedding the virus or that were recently exposed to a confirmed case. A whole blood specimen is recommended from symptomatic animals to detect viremia.
Turnaround time
1–3 working days
IDEXX RealPCR™ Tests—Definite answers through accurate, fast real-time PCR
With IDEXX RealPCR tests, you can count on:
- The latest innovation in PCR technology, with the virtual elimination of false positives.
- Fast answers, so you can work through your list of differential diagnoses faster.
Reference Library
Speed: A Necessity for EHV-1 Diagnosis
Educational Partner
IDEXX is an Educational Partner of the American Association of Equine Practitioners
PCR testing is a service performed pursuant to an agreement with Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.