EXOone Hepacivirus

Description

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, closely related to hepatitis C virus, that infects horses worldwide.
Infection is primarily associated with subclinical or mild hepatic alterations, although it may lead to hepatitis and liver enzyme elevations in some cases. The clinical impact is generally low, but persistent infections may occur and contribute to viral circulation within equine populations.
Conventional detection methods based on serology may not reliably identify active infections. Real-time RT-PCR enables rapid, sensitive and specific detection of EqHV RNA directly from clinical samples, supporting analytical detection and monitoring.