George P. Allen, PhD

Gluck Equine Research Center
Department of Veterinary Science
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0099

E-mail: gallen@uky.edu
Phone: (859) 257-4757 ext 81119
Fax: (859) 257-8542

Curriculum Vitae | Projects | Related Links

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is the etiologic agent of important diseases of the horse – respiratory disease, abortion, neurological abnormalities, and fatal multisystemic infection in newborns (see link to poster). The worldwide distribution of EHV-1, its high prevalence in horse populations, and the serious impact it has on the equine industry and on the health of the horse make it one of the most significant infectious agents that horse owners and veterinarians have to contend with.

The goal of the Gluck Center’s research program on EHV-1 disease is the discovery of basic scientific information that may be directly applied toward diminishing the economic losses and the equine suffering associated with infection by this herpesvirus.

Essential to this practical research mission of reducing the EHV-1 disease burden is our focus on 3 key biological questions that are central to understanding the nature and prevention of EHV-1 diseases:

• How can the complex of specialized cells of the immune system of the horse be better programmed by vaccines to protect against EHV-1 disease?
  

• What are the biological mechanisms that allow EHV-1 to maintain a lifelong relationship with the horse by establishing a dormant, latent infection?
  

• What viral attributes and what genetic determinants endow some strains of EHV-1 with the capacity for causing the dreaded, high-mortality neurological manifestations of virus infection?

Projects

1. Biology of Neuropathogenic Strains of Equine Herpesvirus-1

2. Latency Reactivation Patterns of Equine Herpesvirus-1

3. Quantification of Leukocyte-Associated Viremia in Horses Infected with Paralytic Versus Non-Paralytic Strains of EHV-1

4. Development of Experimental Equine Disease Model for Studies on EHV-1 Neurological Disease

Other herpesvirus-relevant information

G Allen, “A Portrait of the Pathogenesis of Equine Herpesvirus Abortion,” Equine Disease Quarterly, October 1998, Vol 7 (#1), p 3-4.

G Allen and D Powell, “Equine Herpesvirus Neurological Disease in the USA and United Kingdom,” Equine Disease Quarterly, July 2003, Vol 12 (#3), p 2-3.

G Allen, “Respiratory infections by equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4,” Electronic, Web-accessible publication: http://ivis.org/special_books/Lekeux/allen/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1

Allen GP, "Equine rhinopneumonitis," 2004. IN: OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, 5th Edition (OIE Press, Paris), Chapter 2.5.7, p 707-716, 2004. http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mmanual/A_00085.htm

pdf files

Poster illustrating Gluck’s herpesvirus research program (pdf file).

Allen GP.  Epidemic disease caused by equine herpesvirus-1: recommendations for prevention and control.  Equine Veterinary Education / AE, 14:177-184, 2002.

Allen GP, JH Kydd, JD Slater and KC Smith.  Equid herpesvirus-1 and equid herpesvirus-4  infections.  IN  Infectious Diseases of Livestock, (Ed.) JAW Coetzer and RC Tustin.  Oxford Press (Cape Town), Chapter 76, pp 829-859, 2004.

Allen GP and MJ Murray.  Equid herpesvirus-2 and equid herpesvirus-5  infections.  IN Infectious Diseases of Livestock, (Ed.) JAW Coetzer and RC Tustin.  Oxford Press (Cape Town), Chapter 77, pp 860-867, 2004.

Allen GP and N Umphenour.  Equine coital exanthema.  IN  Infectious Diseases of Livestock, (Ed.) JAW Coetzer and RC Tustin.  Oxford Press (Cape Town), Chapter 78, pp 868-874, 2004.

Videos - Requires Windows Media Player® for viewing.

Allen GP.  Clinical signs of equine herpesvirus-1 neurological disease (video). 

Allen GP.  Antemortem detection of horses latently infected with neuropathogenic strains of equine herpesvirus-1:  Procedure for biopsy of equine submandibular lymph nodes for testing for EHV-1 latency (video).  Requires Windows Media Player® for viewing.