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The Veterinary record2006; 158(6); 185-192; doi: 10.1136/vr.158.6.185

Description of the outbreak of equine influenza (H3N8) in the United Kingdom in 2003, during which recently vaccinated horses in Newmarket developed respiratory disease.

Abstract: Between March and May 2003, equine influenza virus infection was confirmed as the cause of clinical respiratory disease among both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses of different breeds and types in at least 12 locations in the UK. In the largest outbreak, 21 thoroughbred training yards in Newmarket, with more than 1300 racehorses, were affected, with the horses showing signs of coughing and nasal discharge during a period of nine weeks. Many of the infected horses had been vaccinated during the previous three months with a vaccine that contained representatives from both the European (A/eq/Newmarket/2/93) and American (A/eq/Newmarket/1/93) H3NN8 influenza virus lineages. Antigenic and genetic characterisation of the viruses from Newmarket and elsewhere indicated that they were all closely related to representatives of a sublineage of American viruses, for example, Kentucky/5/02, the first time that this sublineage had been isolated in the uk. In the recently vaccinated racehorses in Newmarket the single radial haemolysis antibody levels in acute sera appeared to be adequate, and there did not appear to be significant antigenic differences between the infecting virus and A/eq/Newmarket/1/93, the representative of the American lineage virus present in the most widely used vaccine, to explain the vaccine failure. However, there was evidence for significantly fewer infections among two-year-old horses than older animals, despite their having similar high levels of antibody, consistent with a qualitative rather than a quantitative difference in the immunity conveyed by the vaccination.
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Publication Date: 2006-02-14 PubMed ID: 16474051DOI: 10.1136/vr.158.6.185Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article analyzes the outbreak of equine influenza in the United Kingdom in 2003, which infected both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses, questioning the effectiveness of the vaccine used.

Outbreak of Equine Influenza

  • The infection occurred between March and May 2003 causing clinical respiratory disease in horses.
  • The disease was present in at least 12 UK locations, affecting different breeds of both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses.
  • The largest outbreak was at 21 thoroughbred training yards in Newmarket, affecting over 1300 racehorses.
  • The symptoms of the disease exhibited by the horses included coughing and nasal discharge over a period of nine weeks.

Vaccination Analysis

  • Most of the infected horses had been vaccinated within the last three months with a vaccine that contained strains from both European and American H3NN8 influenza virus lineages.
  • Even though the antibody levels in recently vaccinated horses appeared to be sufficient, the outbreak questioned the vaccine’s effectiveness.
  • There were no significant antigenic differences found between the infecting virus and A/eq/Newmarket/1/93—the virus present in the most widely used vaccine. This was an unexpected finding since it did not explain the vaccine failure.

Virus Characterisation and Age Factor

  • The examination of the viruses’ antigenic and genetic properties showed they were closely related to a sublineage of American viruses—for instance, Kentucky/5/02.
  • Interestingly, this was the first time this sublineage had been isolated in the UK.
  • It was observed that there were significantly fewer infections among two-year-old horses than older ones. This occurred despite similar high levels of antibodies, suggesting a qualitative difference in immunity provided by the vaccine rather than a quantitative one.

Cite This Article

APA
Newton JR, Daly JM, Spencer L, Mumford JA. (2006). Description of the outbreak of equine influenza (H3N8) in the United Kingdom in 2003, during which recently vaccinated horses in Newmarket developed respiratory disease. Vet Rec, 158(6), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.158.6.185

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 0042-4900
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 158
Issue: 6
Pages: 185-192

Researcher Affiliations

Newton, J R
  • Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU.
Daly, J M
    Spencer, L
      Mumford, J A

        MeSH Terms

        • Amino Acid Sequence
        • Animals
        • Antigens, Viral / analysis
        • Antigens, Viral / chemistry
        • Antigens, Viral / genetics
        • Chick Embryo
        • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
        • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
        • Ferrets
        • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / veterinary
        • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / chemistry
        • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
        • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / immunology
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / virology
        • Horses
        • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / classification
        • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / immunology
        • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
        • Molecular Sequence Data
        • Nucleoproteins / analysis
        • Nucleoproteins / immunology
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / diagnosis
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
        • Phylogeny
        • Polymerase Chain Reaction
        • Sequence Alignment / veterinary
        • United Kingdom / epidemiology
        • Vaccination / veterinary

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