Prevalence of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Strains of Neuropathogenic Genotype in a Major Breeding Area of Japan

抄録

A single non-synonymous nucleotide substitution of guanine (G) for adenine (A) at position 2254 in the viral DNA polymerase gene (encoded by open reading frame [ORF] 30) of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) has been significantly associated with neuropathogenic potential in strains of this virus. To estimate the prevalence of EHV-1 strains with the neuropathogenic genotype (ORF30 G₂₂₅₄) in the Hidaka district—a major horse breeding area in Japan—we analyzed the ORF30 genomic region in cases of EHV-1 infection in this area during the years 2001–2010. Of the 113 cases analyzed, 3 (2.7%) were induced by ORF30 G₂₂₅₄ strains. This prevalence is lower than those observed in the USA (10.8–19.4%), Argentina (7.4%), France (24%), and Germany (10.6%).