How do foals typically contract equine herpesvirus?

Foals typically contract equine herpesvirus from their mother, which is a key mode of transmission for the virus. When foals are born, they can be exposed to the virus during delivery or through maternal fluids. Additionally, if the mare has a latent infection or an active outbreak of the virus, the foal can also be infected through contact with respiratory secretions or by nursing. This direct maternal transmission underscores the importance of monitoring the health of pregnant mares and understanding the dynamics of viral spread among horses.

While exposure from other horses in the barn is also a significant risk for older horses due to direct contact or respiratory secretions, foals have a unique vulnerability given their dependence on their mothers during the early stages of life. Contaminated feed and environmental exposure are less common routes and typically do not play as central a role in the transmission of equine herpesvirus to foals.