An epizootic of equine influenza in Upper Egypt in 2000.

The research paper is about a severe outbreak of equine influenza that affected a large equine population in Luxor and Aswan, Upper Egypt, in the year 2000. The study identifies the absence of a vaccination program as a significant contributor to the spread of the disease in the region.

Outbreak and Peak Infection

• The study begins by outlining the timeline and spread of the equine influenza outbreak in Upper Egypt. The disease surfaced in January and the infection rate peaked in February, subsiding gradually until late April.
• The influenza virus impacted horses, donkeys and mules of all ages and both genders.
• The disease was propagated rapidly due to the free movement of the infected equines and direct contact between the animals in markets.

Identification of the Virus

• The researchers used serological testing and identification of the influenza virus in nasal secretions to confirm the cause of the epizootic.
• Egg inoculation and the haemagglutination test were deployed for the detection of the influenza virus.
• Haemagglutination inhibition and agar gel precipitation tests were conducted to identify the isolated influenza virus. Reference antisera against A/Equi-1 (H7N7) and A/Equi-2 (H3N8) were used in the identification process.
• The study found antibodies against the equine influenza virus in 416 (95.6%) out of 435 collected sera using the HI test.

Common Clinical Manifestations

• Most common symptoms of the influenza virus were high rectal temperature, inappetence, conjunctivitis, redness of nasal mucosa, a serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge and a harsh dry cough.
• External factors such as heavy transport use and drawing triggered the disease, exacerbated the clinical syndrome, delayed recovery and enabled secondary bacterial infection.

Vaccination Necessity

• The study suggests that the lack of a vaccination regime against equine influenza largely caused the disease’s spread in this outbreak.
• The paper concludes by stressing the importance of implementing an equine influenza vaccination programme in Egypt and recommends using an up-to-date, effective vaccine in this proposed regime.