biostudies-literatureHu Lthe Key R&D Project of Shandong ProvinceKey R&D Project of Shandong ProvinceOpen Project of Liaocheng University Animal Husbandry Disciplinethe Open Project of Liaocheng University Animal Husbandry Discipline2495https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9559255biostudies-literatureUnknown12(19)Equine herpesvirus type 8 (EHV-8), associated with abortion and severe respiratory disease in donkeys and horses, causes significant economic losses in the global equine industry. However, the pathogenicity of EHV-8 is still unknown. Mice are widely used as an animal model to evaluate virus replication and virulence. The present study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the EHV-8 SDLC66 strain in BALB/c mice. Mice were used to test for infection-associated parameters (such as clinical signs, body weights, virus replication in tissues, viremia, and cytokines) and sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days post-infection (dpi). The mice inoculated with EHV-8 exhibited lethargy, dyspnea signs, loss in body weight, and viremia. EHV-8 was detected in the liver, spleen, brain, and lung by PCR at 4 dpiAnimals : an open access journal from MDPICharacterizing the Pathogenesis and Immune Response of Equine Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Lung of Mice.PMC9559255319312101-22319312101-23319312101-23, 319312101-222021TZXD012Ren HLi YWang CWang THu LLi LLiu WfalseCharacterizing the Pathogenesis and Immune Response of Equine Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Lung of Mice.Equine herpesvirus type 8 (EHV-8), associated with abortion and severe respiratory disease in donkeys and horses, causes significant economic losses in the global equine industry. However, the pathogenicity of EHV-8 is still unknown. Mice are widely used as an animal model to evaluate virus replication and virulence. The present study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the EHV-8 SDLC66 strain in BALB/c mice. Mice were used to test for infection-associated parameters (such as clinical signs, body weights, virus replication in tissues, viremia, and cytokines) and sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days post-infection (dpi). The mice inoculated with EHV-8 exhibited lethargy, dyspnea signs, loss in body weight, and viremia. EHV-8 was detected in the liver, spleen, brain, and lung by PCR at 4 dpi2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2026-04-08T12:08:42.483Z2025-04-06T09:23:13.077ZS-EPMC95592553623023410.3390/ani12192495