Equine herpes myeloencephalopathy in a 12-year-old American Quarter Horse

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is highly contagious in horses and has been responsible for causing respiratory tract infections, abortions, neonatal infection and death, and neurologic dysfunction. Although EHV-1 is ubiquitous in the equine population, with many young horses being infected in the first year of life, the incidence of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is relatively infrequent considering the widespread presence of this virus. Several recent outbreaks of EHM have exemplified the prevalence of EHV-1, its ability to act as an infectious disease, and its potential negative impact on neurologic function in horses, however. This case report describes a case of EHM and highlights various diagnostic and therapeutic options available for EHM; minimal emphasis is placed on specific viral characterization of EHV-1 and its pathophysiologic role in horses.