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Viruses2023; 15(10); 2135; doi: 10.3390/v15102135

Assessment of Equine Influenza Virus Status in the Republic of Korea from 2020 to 2022.

Abstract: Equine influenza virus (EIV) causes acute respiratory disease in horses and belongs to the influenza A virus family , genus . This virus may have severe financial implications for the horse industry owing to its highly contagious nature and rapid transmission. In the Republic of Korea, vaccination against EIV has been practiced with the active involvement of the Korea Racing Authority since 1974. In this study, we monitored the viral RNA for EIV using PCR, as well as the antibody levels against 'A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8, clade 1)', from 2020 to 2022. EIV was not detected using RT-PCR. The seropositivity rates detected using a hemagglutination inhibition assay were 90.3% in 2020, 96.7% in 2021, and 91.8% in 2022. The geometric mean of antibody titer (GMT) was 83.4 in 2020, 135.7 in 2021, and 95.6 in 2022. Yearlings and two-year-olds in training exhibited lower positive rates (59.1% in 2020, 38.9% in 2021, and 44.1% in 2022) than the average. These younger horses may require more attention for vaccination and vaccine responses against EIV. Continuous surveillance of EIV should be performed to monitor the prevalence and spread of this disease.
Publication Date: 2023-10-23 PubMed ID: 37896912PubMed Central: PMC10612032DOI: 10.3390/v15102135Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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This study assesses the presence and spread of Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) in The Republic of Korea between 2020 and 2022. The research indicates that while there was no detection of EIV using RT-PCR, a high rate of seropositivity was observed through other assays, suggesting the necessity for continued monitoring and vaccination.

Introduction to Equine Influenza Virus (EIV)

  • The study focuses on the Equine Influenza Virus (EIV), a highly contagious virus belonging to the Influenza A virus family. This virus causes acute respiratory disease in horses and swift-transmission, resulting in severe financial implications for the horse industry.
  • In the Republic of Korea, the Korea Racing Authority actively practices vaccination against EIV since 1974.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted this study over a span of three years, from 2020 to 2022, to monitor the viral RNA for EIV using PCR. They tested the antibody levels against the virus strain ‘A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8, clade 1)’.
  • The seropositivity rates were detected using a hemagglutination inhibition assay, which is a standard serological test to detect antibodies in the plasma or serum.

Research Findings

  • No presence of EIV was detected using RT-PCR, a commonly used laboratory technique to detect viruses and other pathogens.
  • However, the seropositivity rates that were discovered using the hemagglutination inhibition assay were found to be high (90.3% in 2020, 96.7% in 2021, and 91.8% in 2022). This indicates that a significant number of horses had been exposed to EIV and produced antibodies against it.
  • The geometric mean of antibody titer (GMT), a measure of the average level of antibodies present in the serum, was found to be varying across the years (83.4 in 2020, 135.7 in 2021, and 95.6 in 2022).
  • Younger horses, specifically yearlings and two-year-olds in training, exhibited lower positive rates (59.1% in 2020, 38.9% in 2021, and 44.1% in 2022) compared to the average. This suggests a need for additional focus on vaccination and vaccine responses against EIV for these younger horses.

Conclusion and Recommendation

  • Based on the findings, the study suggests that continuous surveillance of EIV is a necessity to monitor the prevalence and spread of the disease.
  • As younger horses are found to be at greater risk, the gradient of their exposure should be carefully considered when devising and implementing vaccination programs.

Cite This Article

APA
Lim SI, Kim MJ, Kim MJ, Lee SK, Yang HS, Kwon M, Lim EH, Ouh IO, Kim EJ, Hyun BH, Lee YH. (2023). Assessment of Equine Influenza Virus Status in the Republic of Korea from 2020 to 2022. Viruses, 15(10), 2135. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15102135

Publication

ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 10
PII: 2135

Researcher Affiliations

Lim, Seong-In
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Kim, Min Ji
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Kim, Min-Ji
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Lee, Sang-Kyu
  • Veterinary Center, Korea Racing Authority, Gwacheon 13822, Republic of Korea.
Yang, Hyoung-Seok
  • Animal Health Diagnosis Division, Jeju Self-Governing Provincial Veterinary Research Institute, Jeju 63344, Republic of Korea.
Kwon, MiJung
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Lim, Eui Hyeon
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Ouh, In-Ohk
  • Division of Vaccine Development Coordination, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Cheongju 28160, Republic of Korea.
Kim, Eun-Jung
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Hyun, Bang-Hun
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.
Lee, Yoon-Hee
  • Viral Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Republic of Korea.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Vaccination / veterinary
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Horse Diseases

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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