Prior to 2021, only three strains of equine herpes virus (EHV) had been confirmed in Icelandic horses living in their native country, which has been a closed herd for more than 1,000 years. Now, four strains have been reported to affect the native population: EHV-2, EHV-4, EHV-5 and EHV-3, the newest strain to be detected.
Scientists had previously speculated that the absence of EHV-1 in Icelandic horses suggested that the virus was not as common in Medieval Europe as it is today. However, with confirmation that EHV-1 does exist in the closed herd, it appears that the virus was common in horses in Europe in the 9th or 10th Century.
EHV is a family of viruses: EHV-1 can case neurologic problems, respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death. EHV-4 causes nonfatal respiratory disease in foals and EHV-3 causes venereal disease that doesn’t affect fertility.
Drs. Lilja Thorsteinsdóttir, Gunnar Örn Guðmundsson, Höskuldur Jensson, Sigurbjörg Torsteinsdóttir and Vilhjálmur Svansson took samples from a 3-year-old Icelandic mare that had blisters on her vulva. Testing was positive for EHV-3.
EHV-3 is non-invasive; lesions typically heal in 10 to 14 days. Infected horses may be dull, have a fever or go off their feed.
Researchers speculate the appearance of the new viral strain in the closed population may be connected to the growing popularity of Icelandic horses, which has led more horse people to travel to the country and interact with the population of Icelandics there.
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