Horsetalk.co.nz
The equine coronavirus should be considered as a possible cause of illness in horses in Israel affected by a poor appetite, lethargy, a fever and gastrointestinal problems, according to researchers.
The work by Gili Schvartz and her colleagues is believed to be the first to confirm the presence of the virus in horses in the country.
Equine coronavirus is known to cause gut inflammation in horses and can trigger diarrhoea in foals.
The disease is usually self-limiting, but complications can occasionally occur. Supportive care is often required for infected horses.
The researchers, writing in the journal
Animals, noted that other coronaviruses have been reported in cattle, camels and humans in Israel. However, until now, coronaviruses have not been reported in horses.