Characterisation of three equine influenza A H3N8 viruses from Germany (2000 and 2002): evidence for frozen evolution.
Abstract: Reported here are the results of antigenic and genetic characterisation of equine influenza strains causing local outbreaks reported to the Equine Diagnostic Centre in Berlin, Germany. In 2000, equine influenza virus was detected in a nasal swab from a non-vaccinated horse using a rapid diagnostic kit, but was not successfully isolated. Partial direct sequencing of the haemagglutinin (HA1) gene, indicated that the virus was a European lineage H3N8 subtype strain representative of strains isolated in several European countries during 2000. In 2002, two equine influenza viruses were isolated from nasal swabs both taken from unvaccinated horses with acute respiratory symptoms housed at the same stables. Antigenic characterisation using a panel of ferret antisera suggested that these isolates also belonged to the European lineage of H3N8 viruses. Analysis of deduced HA1 amino acid sequences confirmed that the HA1 of both isolates were identical and belonged to the European lineage. However, from phylogenetic analysis, both strains appeared to be more closely related to viruses isolated between 1989 and 1995 than to viruses isolated more recently in Europe. These results suggested that viruses with fewer changes than those on the main evolutionary lineage may continue to circulate. The importance of expanding current equine influenza surveillance efforts is emphasised.
Publication Date: 2005-03-30 PubMed ID: 15795074DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.01.010Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article reports on the genetic and antigenic characterization of three equine influenza strains from Germany. The study also highlights the importance of expanding current surveillance efforts for equine influenza.
Research Methods and Findings
- The researchers analyzed equine influenza strains that caused local outbreaks in Germany. These strains were reported to the Equine Diagnostic Centre in Berlin.
- In 2000, an equine influenza virus was found in a nasal swab from a non-vaccinated horse. Despite the inability to successfully isolate the virus, partial direct sequencing of the HA1 gene revealed that it was a European lineage H3N8 subtype strain, which was similar to strains found in several European countries during that year.
- In 2002, two more equine influenza viruses were isolated from nasal swabs of unvaccinated horses with acute respiratory symptoms. These two horses were housed at the same stables.
- Antigenic characterization was conducted using a panel of ferret antisera, which suggested that these two isolates also belonged to the European lineage of H3N8 viruses.
- The analysis of the HA1 amino acid sequences confirmed the aforementioned finding, as it showed that the HA1 of both isolates were identical and belonged to the European lineage.
- However, a phylogenetic analysis indicated that both strains were more closely related to viruses isolated between 1989 and 1995 than to viruses isolated more recently in Europe.
- The findings suggest that viruses with fewer changes than those on the main evolutionary lineage may continue to circulate.
Importance of Surveillance Efforts
- The study emphasizes the importance of expanding current equine influenza surveillance efforts.
- This is crucial as it brings attention to the evolutionary characteristics of the virus strain, which could inform prevention and treatment strategies.
- Increased surveillance efforts could also lead to early detection and mitigation of outbreaks.
Cite This Article
APA
Borchers K, Daly J, Stiens G, Kreling K, Kreling I, Ludwig H.
(2005).
Characterisation of three equine influenza A H3N8 viruses from Germany (2000 and 2002): evidence for frozen evolution.
Vet Microbiol, 107(1-2), 13-21.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.01.010 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut für Virologie, Equine Diagnostic Centre (EDC), FU Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany. borchers@zedat.fu-berlin.de
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Germany / epidemiology
- Hemagglutinins / chemistry
- Hemagglutinins / genetics
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype
- Influenza A virus / classification
- Influenza A virus / genetics
- Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
- Male
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Viral / analysis
- Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / veterinary
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Oladunni FS, Oseni SO, Martinez-Sobrido L, Chambers TM. Equine Influenza Virus and Vaccines. Viruses 2021 Aug 20;13(8).
- Kwaśnik M, Góra IM, Żmudziński JF, Rola J, Polak MP, Rożek W. Genetic Analysis of the M Gene of Equine Influenza Virus Strains Isolated in Poland, in the Context of the Asian-like Group Formation. J Vet Res 2018 Dec;62(4):405-412.
- Alves Beuttemmüller E, Woodward A, Rash A, Dos Santos Ferraz LE, Fernandes Alfieri A, Alfieri AA, Elton D. Characterisation of the epidemic strain of H3N8 equine influenza virus responsible for outbreaks in South America in 2012. Virol J 2016 Mar 19;13:45.
- Pouwels HG, Van de Zande SM, Horspool LJ, Hoeijmakers MJ. Efficacy of a non-updated, Matrix-C-based equine influenza subunit-tetanus vaccine following Florida sublineage clade 2 challenge. Vet Rec 2014 Jun 21;174(25):633.
- Lu G, Guo W, Qi T, Ma J, Zhao S, Tian Z, Pan J, Zhu C, Wang X, Xiang W. Genetic analysis of the PB1-F2 gene of equine influenza virus. Virus Genes 2013 Oct;47(2):250-8.
- Bountouri M, Fragkiadaki E, Ntafis V, Kanellos T, Xylouri E. Phylogenetic and molecular characterization of equine H3N8 influenza viruses from Greece (2003 and 2007): evidence for reassortment between evolutionary lineages. Virol J 2011 Jul 14;8:350.
- Chambers TM. Equine Influenza. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2022 Jan 4;12(1).
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