Which infections may be associated with both respiratory disease and abortions?

Which infections may be associated with both respiratory disease and abortions?

• A. Equine influenza and equine adenovirus
• B. Equine viral arteritis and African horse sickness
• C. Equine viral arteritis and equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)
• D. Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) and equine influenza

Answer: (C)

When a pathogen can affect both the respiratory system and the reproductive tract, pregnant mares are at risk of abortion during outbreaks even if the same agent also causes respiratory signs in other horses. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) fits this pattern: it often presents with fever and respiratory symptoms, and in pregnant mares it can cause abortion outbreaks. Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a classic example of a dual-role pathogen, causing respiratory disease in horses and abortion in late-gestation mares, with additional potential for neurologic disease in some strains. The other listed infections are largely associated with respiratory disease alone (like equine influenza and EHV-4) or with different clinical patterns, so they don’t consistently link respiratory disease and abortion as EVA and EHV-1 do.

When a pathogen can affect both the respiratory system and the reproductive tract, pregnant mares are at risk of abortion during outbreaks even if the same agent also causes respiratory signs in other horses. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) fits this pattern: it often presents with fever and respiratory symptoms, and in pregnant mares it can cause abortion outbreaks. Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a classic example of a dual-role pathogen, causing respiratory disease in horses and abortion in late-gestation mares, with additional potential for neurologic disease in some strains. The other listed infections are largely associated with respiratory disease alone (like equine influenza and EHV-4) or with different clinical patterns, so they don’t consistently link respiratory disease and abortion as EVA and EHV-1 do.