Abstract

Abstract Novel viruses belonging to the genera Hepacivirus and Pegivirus have recently been discovered in horses and other animal species. Viral genomes of non-primate hepaciviruses (NPHV), equine pegivirus 1 (EPgV 1) and Theiler's disease associated virus (TDAV) were detected in a horse serum routinely used for cell culture propagation in our laboratory. Therefore, a study was carried out to further investigate the presence of these human Hepatitis C virus (HCV) related viruses in equine serum based products used in veterinary medicine and for research and to characterize the viral genomes. Without exception all commercially available equine sera purchased for cell culture propagation (n = 6) were tested positive for NPHV, \EPgV\ 1 or \TDAV\ genomes by qRT-PCR. Molecular analyses of one single commercial horse serum from Europe confirmed multiple viral genomes, including two \TDAV\ genomes significantly different from the only published \TDAV\ sequence. Furthermore, multiple batches of horse serum pools (n = 35) collected for manufacturing of biological products turned out to be positive for \NPHV\ and \EPgV\ 1 genomes. Nevertheless, the final commercial products (n = 9) were exclusively tested qRT-PCR negative. Field samples (n = 119) obtained from two premises located in the same region as the donor horses were analyzed, demonstrating the frequent presence of \NPHV\ and \EPgV\ 1, but the absence of \TDAV\ genomes. The presence of NPHV, \EPgV\ 1 and \TDAV\ in commercial equine sera and serum based products could have considerable consequences for biosecurity and may also bias the outcome of research studies conducted with related viruses.

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