Review Article
PREVALENCE OF EQUINE HERPESVIRUSES (EHVS) INFECTION IN EGYPT: SYSTEMATIC META-ANALYSIS
M. Marzok1, A. Al-mubarak2, M. Elgioushy3 and S. El-khodery4
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
3Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan 37916, Egypt.
4Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Manosura 35516, Egypt
Corresponding author’s email: mmarzok@kfu.edu.sa ; marzok2000@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
This report aimed to perform a meta-analysis on the occurrence of Equine herpesvirus (EHV) infection in Egypt. This systematic meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Data were retrieved after a complete search, and eligible articles were identified. Data analysis with random-effects model was performed using a comprehensive meta-analysis software program. The results were presented as effect size, confidence intervals (CI), heterogeneity, and publication bias. A total of 1760 horses from 20 accepted studies were investigated for EHVs infection. Of these, 740 horses were found positive for EHVs, with a prevalence of 42%. The highest prevalence (100%) was during 2016 and 2020. EHV-1 was the most prevalent strain affecting horses in Egypt (p < 0.05). The prevalence of isolated strains was as follows: EHV-1 (492, 66.48 %), EHV-2 (151, 20.40 %), EHV-4 (105, 14.19 %), and EHV-5 (88, 11.89 %). The mixed EHV-1 and EHV-4 infections were predominant. However, the EHV-3 was not detected in any of these studies. At random effects, the Z-value was -1.539 (p-value = 0.124). The Q-value (373.103), I-squared (95.17), and p-value (0.000) were the final heterogeneity variables. The Egger’s linear regression test did not imply a publication bias, and its outcomes were intercept (-3.66), and 95% confidence interval (-8.23 to -0.9). The results of the present meta-analysis indicated a high prevalence of EHV infection in Egypt, particularly EHV-1. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the prevention and control of this disease.
Keywords: Horse, Epidemiology, EHV, Systematic review |