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Veterinary research communications2021; 45(4); 423-430; doi: 10.1007/s11259-021-09822-2

Clinical observations and molecular detection of Type-A influenza virus in some of the family Equidae in eastern Saudi Arabia winter-2019.

Abstract: In the current study, we are investigating the viral causes of some respiratory clinical signs in some animals belongs to the family Equidae in eastern Saudi Arabia (ESA) during winter- 2019. We observed the progression of severe respiratory clinical signs among some horses, donkeys, and ponies in the ESA. Animals showed rapid respiration, fever, nasal discharges (started as serous then changed into mucopurulent with the progression of the infection per some animals). We conducted a longitudinal study to monitor the progression of this outbreak. We conducted molecular surveillance for the influenza virus Type-A using real-time PCR and regular RT-PCR. We also conducted a serosurveillance of the virus in sera of the tested animals using the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The molecular detection of the Influenza virus type-A virus from nasal swabs of the affected animals using the real-time PCR results clearly showing that 35.1% of the tested horses, donkeys, and ponies were positives. Further confirmation was achieved by reporting the seroconversion of some of the affected animals. Several attempts were conducted to isolate the circulating influenza strains using the embryonated chicken eggs were unsuccessful. This was based on the absence of any amplicons in the harvested embryonated egg fluids using some oligonucleotides for the common influenza virus genes (HA, NA, M, and N). Meanwhile, ELISA results revealed the detection of the antibodies in sera of horses and donkeys 72.9%. Seroconversion was reported in many animals several weeks after the onset of the outbreak. Taken together all these pieces of evidence, we confirm an influenza virus type-A outbreak among the tested animals during winter 2019.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2021-08-26 PubMed ID: 34435308PubMed Central: 5480115DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09822-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses an investigation into a respiratory outbreak in horses, donkeys, and ponies of eastern Saudi Arabia during winter 2019, which revealed the presence of Influenza virus type-A in 35.1% of the tested animals, confirmed by molecular detection and seroconversion.

Research Context and Methodology

  • The investigation stemmed from observations of severe respiratory clinical signs in the animals, such as rapid respiration, fever, and nasal discharges, implicating a viral infection. To understand the progression and nature of the disease, a longitudinal study was conducted.
  • To detect the potential viral agent, the team employed molecular surveillance techniques, specifically real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and regular Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), targeting Influenza virus Type-A.
  • In addition to direct molecular detection, a serosurveillance study was also undertaken using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), a technique to measure the antibodies produced in response to the virus. This assists in confirming exposure to the virus by revealing the immune response of the animals.

Research Findings

  • From the nasal swabs of the affected animals, molecular detection through real-time PCR showed a 35.1% positivity rate for Influenza virus Type-A. However, attempts to isolate the circulating influenza strains using embryonated chicken eggs, a common method for growing viruses, were not successful.
  • The ELISA serosurveillance test revealed the presence of antibodies against Influenza virus type-A from the sera of horses and donkeys at a rate of 72.9%. This indicated that many animals had been exposed to the virus and had mounted an immune response.
  • The reported seroconversion, which refers to the change from a seronegative condition to a seropositive condition due to the production of specific antibodies against the virus, further confirmed the virus’s presence among the animals.

Conclusion

  • Through the combined use of molecular detection and serosurveillance, the research confirmed an outbreak of Influenza virus type-A among horses, donkeys, and ponies during the winter of 2019 in eastern Saudi Arabia.
  • Though this study contributes valuable information to the field, it also implicates the need for continued surveillance and prevention strategies for equine influenza, considering the impact on animal health and potential economic repercussions in the equine industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Alnaeem A, Shawaf T, Ali AM, Hemida MG. (2021). Clinical observations and molecular detection of Type-A influenza virus in some of the family Equidae in eastern Saudi Arabia winter-2019. Vet Res Commun, 45(4), 423-430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-021-09822-2

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 4
Pages: 423-430

Researcher Affiliations

Alnaeem, Abdelmohsen
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Shawaf, Turke
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Ali, Ali M
  • Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
  • Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt.
Hemida, Maged Gomaa
  • Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahasa, Saudi Arabia. mhemida@kfu.edu.sa.
  • Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt. mhemida@kfu.edu.sa.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Equidae
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Prevalence
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology

Grant Funding

  • 20-0004/24-1 / king abdulaziz city for science and technology

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Alaql FA, Alhafufi AN, Kasem S, Alhammad YMO, Albaqshi H, Alyousaf A, Alsubaie FM, Alghamdi AN, Abdel-Moneim AS, Alharbi SA. Full-Length Genome of the Equine Influenza A Virus Subtype H3N8 from 2019 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 10;12(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12192720pubmed: 36230462google scholar: lookup
  2. Al-Mubarak AIA, Hussen J, Kandeel M, Al-Kubati AAG, Falemban B, Hemida MG. Avian encephalomyelitis virus in backyard chickens. Vet World 2023 Sep;16(9):1866-1870.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1866-1870pubmed: 37859953google scholar: lookup
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