Equine Virology - Irish Equine Center

Virology in the Equine Industry

The Virology Unit is the only dedicated equine virology laboratory in Ireland and fills a role similar to that of the Virus Reference Laboratory (VRL) for human health. Regarded as an important national asset, the Unit is the only World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH founded as OIE) Reference Laboratory in the Republic of Ireland (https://www.woah.org/en/home). The Virology Unit is a Reference Laboratory for both equine influenza and equine herpesvirus (EHV). The Unit is the only WOAH Reference Laboratory in Europe for these two diseases, the other reference laboratories are located in Kentucky (equine influenza and EHV) and in Japan (equine influenza).

Since its establishment in 1987, the unit aims to protect the industry from financial loss due to endemic viral disease or the introduction of exotic viruses. The ability of the Unit to respond to a disease crisis rapidly and effectively was demonstrated after incursions of equine arteritis virus (EAV) and equine infectious anaemia (EIA) virus when high throughput testing ensured that the normal business of the horse industry including sales, breeding and racing continued. Similarly, during the 2019 influenza epidemic, the Unit performed the pre-movement tests required by the British Horseracing Authority for horses entering their properties for racing or sales.

The Virology Unit offers a comprehensive service to all sections of the Irish horse industry. Veterinary surgeons avail of the diagnostic service and professional advice on the prevention and management of viral diseases. Breeders avail of the expertise of the Virology Unit to investigate outbreaks of abortion, foal diarrhoea, venereal disease and paralysis and for advice on the implementation of the ITBA Code of Practice (https://itba.info/Codes-of-Practice/Index.html).

Trainers of racehorses and performance horses use the service to investigate outbreaks of respiratory disease and loss of performance, and to monitor vaccine efficacy.

Education and research are also areas in which the Virology Unit plays a prominent role. As an adjunct professor, the Head of the Unit teaches in the University of Limerick and University College Dublin and supervises MSc and PhD projects. Research funding provided by the Department of Agriculture and other bodies facilitates the introduction of improved diagnostic techniques, vaccine studies in the target population and virus characterisation. Molecular epidemiology has served the industry well in tracing the origins of viruses responsible for major disease outbreaks.

Many of the virus disease investigations are carried out for the common good and are heavily dependent on subsidies. The Virology Unit is ISO17025 accredited for many of the tests performed and contributes to the underwriting of the equine service by performing contract work for multinational vaccine companies

Education and research are also areas in which the Virology Unit plays a prominent role. As an adjunct professor, the Head of the Unit teaches in the University of Limerick and University College Dublin and supervises MSc and PhD projects. Research funding provided by the Department of Agriculture and other bodies facilitates the introduction of improved diagnostic techniques, vaccine studies in the target population and virus characterisation. Molecular epidemiology has served the industry well in the tracing of the origins of viruses responsible for major disease outbreaks.

Many of the virus disease investigations are carried out for the common good and are heavily dependent on subsidy. The Virology Unit is ISO17025 accredited for many of the tests performed and contributes to the underwriting of the equine service by performing contract work for multinational vaccine companies.

Virology in the Equine Industry

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