Equine herpesvirus-9 (EHV-9), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and zebra-borne EHV-1 are members of the family Herpesviridae and cause encephalitis and rhinopneumonitis in a range of animal species. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the rhinopneumonitis induced by experimental intranasal inoculation of groups of hamsters with EHV-9, EHV-1 strain Ab4p or zebra-borne EHV-1 viruses. Animals inoculated with EHV-9 had earlier and more severe neurological and respiratory signs than those inoculated with EHV-1 strain Ab4p or zebra-borne EHV-1. At 4–5 days post inoculation (dpi), hamsters inoculated with EHV-9 had significantly increased expression of open reading fame (ORF) 30, the viral gene encoding the DNA polymerase, in lung tissue. ORF 30 expression at these time points was higher in the hamsters infected with EHV-9 than in those inoculated with the other two viruses. Severe, mild or very mild rhinitis was seen in animals inoculated with EHV-1 strain Ab4p, EHV-9 and zebra-borne EHV-1, respectively. Viral antigen was detected in olfactory receptor neurons, inflammatory cells and desquamated epithelial cells in animals in all groups until 5 dpi. Tracheitis was also seen in all three virus-infected groups with viral antigen detected in tracheal epithelium. Inoculated hamsters developed interstitial pneumonia of increasing severity over the course of the experiment. Bronchopneumonia and vasculitis were also seen in all three infected groups. These results confirm that, in addition to their neurotropism, EHV-9 and zebra-borne EHV-1 are pneumotropic viruses. EHV-1 strain Ab4p caused more severe upper respiratory tract disease, but no significant differences were detected in the severity of pneumonia induced by each virus.

马疱疹病毒 9 (EHV-9)、马疱疹病毒 1 (EHV-1) 和斑马传播的 EHV-1 是疱疹病毒科的成员，可引起多种动物的脑炎和鼻肺炎。本研究的目的是表征和比较由实验性鼻内接种 EHV-9、EHV-1 株 Ab4p 或斑马传播的 EHV-1 病毒的仓鼠组引起的鼻肺炎。与接种 EHV-1 菌株 Ab4p 或斑马传播的 EHV-1 的动物相比，接种 EHV-9 的动物具有更早和更严重的神经和呼吸系统症状。在接种后 4-5 天 (dpi)，接种 EHV-9 的仓鼠在肺组织中的开放阅读声名 (ORF) 30（编码 DNA 聚合酶的病毒基因）的表达显着增加。在这些时间点，感染 EHV-9 的仓鼠的 ORF 30 表达高于接种其他两种病毒的仓鼠。在分别接种 EHV-1 菌株 Ab4p、EHV-9 和斑马传播的 EHV-1 的动物中观察到严重、轻微或非常轻微的鼻炎。在所有组动物的嗅觉受体神经元、炎症细胞和脱屑的上皮细胞中检测到病毒抗原，直到 5 dpi。在所有三个病毒感染组中也观察到气管炎，在气管上皮中检测到病毒抗原。在实验过程中，接种的仓鼠发展出越来越严重的间质性肺炎。在所有三个感染组中也观察到支气管肺炎和血管炎。这些结果证实，除了它们的嗜神经性外，EHV-9 和斑马传播的 EHV-1 是嗜肺病毒。