November 22, 2009

A study of a new possible treatment for equine herpesvirus type 1 has shown promising results, but the researchers say more work is needed.

Researchers from New York's Cornell University used a treatment involving what is known as RNA interference, which targets the virus at a genetic level.

The researchers monitored the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA), designed to target two genes in EHV-1 in experimentally infected horses.

None of the 10 horses receiving the siRNA treatment required euthanasia due to serious neurologic disease, compared to three of the four horses in the control group.

"Future studies are necessary to define the relative contributions of host and virus factors in the development of the neurological form of the infection and to determine an optimal dosing regimen for metaphylactic or therapeutic use of siRNA for treating EHV-1 infection," the authors said.

The study will be published in the journal, Virus Research.

The effect of siRNA treatment on experimental equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses.
Brosnahan M M, Damiani A, van de Walle G, Erb H, Perkins G A, Osterrieder N, from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Virus Res. 2009 Nov 5.