Researchers from the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment reported on May 11 that air sampling at large equestrian events may provide a new method for monitoring equine herpesviruses.
The findings are important because they suggest a practical way to detect viral presence in shared spaces, potentially improving biosecurity at competitions where horses from many locations gather. The research was published in Equine Veterinary Journal and involved sampling temporary stabling facilities at eight international events in Spain and the United States over ten months.
Study author Lutz Goehring, professor at the UK Gluck Equine Research Center, said, “EHV-1 remains a major concern across the horse industry. The virus can cause respiratory disease, abortion and equine herpesvirus-associated myeloencephalopathy, a neurologic condition that can leave horses unable to stand.” Goehring also said, “Our goal was to find out whether there are other options besides daily nasal swab sampling. Air sampling gives you a way to look at a group environment without going horse to horse.”
Air samples collected over six hours revealed EHV-1 in most samples from Spain and all those taken in Florida; EHV-4 detection varied by location. Researchers did not find significant differences between daytime and overnight samples. The study relied on molecular detection rather than virus isolation so it could not determine infectivity or direct transmission risk.
Goehring said, “We were surprised by the outcome. Herpesviruses can reactivate from a sleeper state, similar to the reappearance of a ‘cold sore’ in people. We thought reactivation in horses would be rare. We were surprised by the frequency of detection. We did not detect the numbers we typically see with induced, experimental infections. Our results suggest a fairly small plume present at event centers or barn areas, even without reported clinical problems at the time.”
Traditional surveillance often uses repeated nasal swabs which require more labor and time compared with air sampling methods used during COVID-19 public health efforts. However, Goehring noted that current air-sampling equipment is too expensive for widespread use: “It could offer a practical, noninvasive way to monitor group settings such as a barn aisle… however, sampling equipment is currently too pricey to be implemented on a large scale.” He added that owners should keep vaccinations current and avoid sharing equipment while maintaining good biosecurity practices: “There’s no reason to panic but we need to take this information and find better ways to make sure horses are safe at these events… That can mean clearer do’s and don’ts for horse people…”
The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment functions as part of the University of Kentucky’s land-grant system; it includes more than 2,600 students and receives over $48.7 million annually in external research funding while extending programs reaching about 4.8 million contacts worldwide according to its official website.
Broader implications may include enhanced safety protocols for future equestrian gatherings if further studies confirm these findings.
