African horse sickness virus

African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is the cause of one of the most devastating infectious diseases of horses and related species such as zebra and donkeys. Several different forms of African horse sickness occur, and in some cases can kill up to 90% of the infected animals. In contrast to the severe clinical prognosis in horses, donkeys and zebra are generally resistant to AHSV and can act as viral reservoirs.

AHSV is an Orbivirus related to bluetongue virus (BTV). There are nine distinct AHSV serotype strains (AHSV-1 to -9) circulating worldwide. Like BTV, AHSV is an arbovirus transmitted between infected and uninfected animals by the biting midge.

Researchers in the CVR focus on developing new vaccines for AHSV. 

Contact: Massimo Palmarini