An atypical case of equine herpes virus 1 received in the equine veterinary clinic of liege university

An atypical case of equine herpes virus 1 in a 6 year old warmblood gelding is admitted at the equine Veterinary Clinic of Liège University. The horse’s symptoms are of a respiratory nature with dry cough, serous secretions and an acute pulmonary hemorrhage with epistaxis.
This case also presents urinary symptoms with a polydipsia and polyuria and since at least 3 years prior according to his history, as well as a severe azotemia. Another symptom being the petechiae localized at the respiratory tract level is described and seems to be caused by a vasculitis of the respiratory tract.
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on complete blood and a nasopharyngeal swab provides positive results for equine herpes virus 1. The acute pulmonary hemorrhage seems to be linked to an inflammation and/or vasculitis of the respiratory tract probably caused by the viral infection. Acute renal insufficiency is diagnosed at the same time as respiratory symptoms appear and could be caused by a vasculitis of the urinary and/or renal tissue, although polydipsia and polyuria have been noticed by the owners for at least three years prior.
This case of equine herpes virus 1 shows an atypical respiratory form with a pulmonary hemorrhage allows to consider a possible vascular tropism in the respiratory presentation of the virus, and leads to suspect a multi systemic hit, including the pulmonary and renal tissues.