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Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle caused by LSD virus (LSDV). This disease poses a significant threat to stockbreeding and is listed as one of bovine notifiable diseases by OIE. Before 2019, LSD has not been reported in China. The first LSD outbreak was determined in China on August 3, 2019. Since then, a total of 7 LSD outbreaks have been reported in other 6 provinces in China, infecting 91 and killing 7 cattle. As of now, LSDV was detected in western and eastern China and also in Taiwan Island outside Mainland China. LSD is undoubtedly an emerging threat to the cattle industry in China., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Varicellovirus equidalpha1 (formerly Equid alphaherpesvirus 1, EqAHV-1) is among the most important viruses responsible for respiratory disease outbreaks among horses throughout the world. No reports to date have detailed the association between EqAHV-1 and respiratory disease among horses in China. This study described one such outbreak among a population of horses in north Xinjiang that occurred from April 2021 - May 2023. Results: qPCR revealed that EqAHV-1 was detectable in all samples and this virus was identified as a possible source of respiratory disease, although a limited subset of these samples were also positive for EqAHV-2, EqAHV-4, and EqAHV-5. In total, three EqAHV-1 strains responsible for causing respiratory illness in horses were isolated successfully, and full-length ORF33 sequence comparisonsand phylogenetic analyses indicated that these isolates may have originated from EqAHV-1 strains detected in Yili horse abortions. ORF30 sequence data additionally suggested that these strains were neuropathic, as evidenced by the presence of a guanine residue at nucleotide position 2254 corresponding to the aspartic acid present at position 752 in the DNA polymerase encoded by this virus. Conclusion: This study is the first report of an outbreak of respiratory disease among horses in China caused by EqAHV-1. ORF30 sequence characterization revealed that these EqAHV-1 strains harbored a neuropathogenic genotype. Given the detection of this virus in horses suffering from respiratory disease, concern is warranted with respect to this neuropathogenic EqAHV-1 outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2018, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in foals at an equestrian club in Changji, northern Xinjiang, China. We applied viral metagenomics to investigate this outbreak and identify potential pathogens involved in this equine respiratory syndrome. The metagenomics data revealed the presence of sequences matching those of equid herpesvirus (EHV) 2, 4, and 5. PCR with specific primers targeting ORF33 of EHV-4 and ORF8 of EHV-2 and EHV-5 revealed coinfection with these viruses in this respiratory syndrome. To investigate the prevalence of these viruses in China, 453 nasal swabs from clinically healthy thoroughbred foals (36/453, 7.9%) and horses (417/453, 92.1%) were collected from several equestrian clubs. Forty-five (9.9%) of the samples tested positive for EHV-5 DNA, and seven (1.5%) tested positive for EHV-2, but all were negative for EHV-4 DNA. Forty-nine (10.8%) samples tested positive for both EHV-5 and EHV-2 DNA. Using these samples, one complete EHV-4 ORF33, 10 partial EHV-2 ORF8, and 50 partial EHV-5 ORF8 sequences from the 10 diseased foals and 50 thoroughbred horses were then determined. Sequence analysis indicated that EHV-4 ORF33 and EHV-5 ORF8, in contrast to EHV-2 ORF8, had high sequence similarity to those of published sequences. Our data provide the first evidence that EHV-2, -4, and -5 co-circulate in China and that EHV-4 is potentially involved in this respiratory disease in foals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]