Source: NC State University
Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a novel kirkovirus that may be associated with colitis and small colon impactions in horses, offering a potential new direction for diagnosing unexplained gastrointestinal disease. Colitis is particularly dangerous in horses due to their large intestines, which can rapidly lead to dehydration and sepsis, yet more than half of cases have no known cause. Using metagenomic sequencing, scientists detected the virus in fecal samples from horses with enterocolitis, particularly during farm-wide outbreaks.
Follow-up testing of 218 samples found the virus in 24% of horses with colitis, compared with far lower rates in horses with colic or no clinical signs. Notably, 25% of virus-positive horses also had small colon impactions, a typically rare condition. While causation has not been proven, the findings suggest the virus may play a role in some outbreaks. Further research will explore whether the virus infects equine intestinal tissues and contributes directly to disease.
Read the full story HERE: https://news.ncsu.edu/2025/12/novel-kirkovirus-may-be-associated-with-colitis-in-horses/