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Peer-reviewedCC BYViruses

Detection of Shamonda Virus in Two Horses with Neurological Signs in Germany.

  • Marielle Elen Volkwein1
  • Judith Köster1
  • Ernst Großmann1
  • Nathalie Hafner2
  • Thomas Miller1
  • Andreas Salditt1
  • Petra Benz1
  • Martin Beer3
  • Angele Breithaupt4
  • Kerstin Wernike3
4 affiliations
  1. 1Aulendorf State Veterinary Diagnostic Centre, Löwenbreitestraße. 18/20, 88326 Aulendorf, Germany.
  2. 2Animal Disease Fund Baden-Württemberg, Horse Health Service Aulendorf, Talstraße 17, 88326 Aulendorf, Germany.
  3. 3Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, Insel Riems, 17493 Greifswald, Germany.
  4. 4Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, Insel Riems, 17493 Greifswald, Germany.
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Abstract

Shamonda virus (SHAV), which has recently emerged in Central Europe and has caused disease in numerous cattle herds, was detected in brain tissue from two horses that showed clinical signs, including neurological disorder, and underwent pathological examination. The horses reportedly exhibited seizure-like episodes (Horse A) as well as fever and ataxia (Horse B). In both horses, severe lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis with hemorrhages was observed in various parts of the central nervous system (CNS), while outside the CNS no abnormalities were found. The virus genome could be detected by RT-qPCR in all examined parts of the CNS of both horses. In a postmortem cerebrospinal fluid sample of one horse, the virus could only be detected with a very low genome load; however, postmortem contamination cannot be completely ruled out. Consistent with the histological findings, no SHAV genome was detected in either the blood or organs outside the CNS. Postmortem, CNS material-especially brainstem tissue-is suitable for detection of histological lesions and virus genomes via RT-qPCR, while intravital diagnostics of a SHAV infection in horses exhibiting neurological signs is at the moment only possible to a very limited extent. The epidemiological role of horses in the SHAV outbreak is currently unclear.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{volkwein2026detection,
  title = {{Detection of Shamonda Virus in Two Horses with Neurological Signs in Germany.}},
  author = {Marielle Elen Volkwein and Judith Köster and Ernst Großmann and Nathalie Hafner and Thomas Miller and Andreas Salditt and Petra Benz and Martin Beer and Angele Breithaupt and Kerstin Wernike},
  journal = {Viruses},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/v18101125},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944045},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Detection of Shamonda Virus in Two Horses with Neurological Signs in Germany.
AU  - Marielle Elen Volkwein
AU  - Judith Köster
AU  - Ernst Großmann
AU  - Nathalie Hafner
AU  - Thomas Miller
AU  - Andreas Salditt
AU  - Petra Benz
AU  - Martin Beer
AU  - Angele Breithaupt
AU  - Kerstin Wernike
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/10
JO  - Viruses
DO  - 10.3390/v18101125
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944045
AB  - Shamonda virus (SHAV), which has recently emerged in Central Europe and has caused disease in numerous cattle herds, was detected in brain tissue from two horses that showed clinical signs, including neurological disorder, and underwent pathological examination. The horses reportedly exhibited seizure-like episodes (Horse A) as well as fever and ataxia (Horse B). In both horses, severe lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis with hemorrhages was observed in various parts of the central nervous system (CNS), while outside the CNS no abnormalities were found. The virus genome could be detected by RT-qPCR in all examined parts of the CNS of both horses. In a postmortem cerebrospinal fluid sample of one horse, the virus could only be detected with a very low genome load; however, postmortem contamination cannot be completely ruled out. Consistent with the histological findings, no SHAV genome was detected in either the blood or organs outside the CNS. Postmortem, CNS material-especially brainstem tissue-is suitable for detection of histological lesions and virus genomes via RT-qPCR, while intravital diagnostics of a SHAV infection in horses exhibiting neurological signs is at the moment only possible to a very limited extent. The epidemiological role of horses in the SHAV outbreak is currently unclear.
SN  - 1999-4915
ER  -