Abstract: An outbreak of H3N8 Equine Influenza virus (EIV) that occurred in vaccinated horses in Japan was caused by a genetically divergent EIV isolate of the Florida clade 1 sub-lineage. This virus subsequently entered Australia where it infected thousands of immunologically naïve horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a non-updated whole inactivated equine influenza (EI) vaccine to protect if used in the face of an outbreak induced by a virus similar to the ones circulating in Japan and Australia in 2007. Seven naïve Welsh mountain ponies were immunised twice with the commercially available vaccine Duvaxyn IE-T Plus and experimentally infected with A/eq2/Sydney/2888-8/07. Five ponies remained unvaccinated as controls. The ponies were challenged in an ACDP (Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens) Category III containment facility by exposure to a nebulised aerosol of A/eq2/Sydney/2888-8/07 two weeks after the second vaccination. Clinical signs and virus shedding were monitored for 14 days post-challenge infection. After challenge infection, all control ponies developed clinical signs of disease with coughing being particularly noteworthy when compared with vaccinated ponies. Only 3 out of 5 controls developed pyrexia for up to 3 days, and 1 out of 7 vaccinates was pyretic for 1 day. Nasal discharge was evident in both control and vaccinated ponies with no significant difference between groups. Three different methods were used to measure virus shedding in nasal secretions (i.e. titration in embryonated hens' eggs, EIV NP ELISA and EIV NP qRT-PCR). The intensity and duration of EIV shedding significantly decreased in the vaccinated group when compared with the control ponies. All control ponies seroconverted after experimental infection with A/eq2/Sydney/2888-8/07 whereas only 1 out of 7 vaccinated ponies had a significant increase in antibody. Duvaxyn IE-T Plus therefore reduced clinical signs and virus shedding when ponies were challenged with A/eq2/Sydney/2888-8/07 (H3N8), 2 weeks after a second dose of vaccine.
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The research examines the efficacy of a non-updated equine influenza (EI) vaccine against an outbreak of H3N8 Equine Influenza virus in Japan and Australia in 2007. The results show that the vaccine reduces clinical signs and virus shedding when ponies were challenged with the virus.
Study Background
The research focuses on an outbreak of H3N8 Equine Influenza virus (EIV) that occurred among vaccinated horses in Japan and was caused by a genetically different EIV isolate from the Florida clade 1 sub-lineage.
This virus later found its way into Australia, affecting a large number of previously unexposed horses.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially available, non-updated equine influenza vaccine (Duvaxyn IE-T Plus) when used during an outbreak induced by a virus closely related to those that were in circulation in Japan and Australia in 2007.
Research Methodology and Results
The study involved seven Welsh mountain ponies. They were all immunised twice with the Duvaxyn IE-T Plus vaccine and were then infected with the A/eq2/Sydney/2888-8/07 virus.
A control group of five ponies was not vaccinated and was similarly infected with the virus.
The ponies were exposed to a nebulised aerosol containing the virus in a containment facility two weeks after the second vaccination round.
The clinical signs of the disease and virus shedding were monitored in the ponies for 14 days after the controlled infection.
All control ponies displayed signs of the disease after the controlled infection, whereas the vaccinated ponies showed reduced symptoms.
Virus shedding in the nasal secretions of the ponies were measured using three different methods. The results showed a significant reduction in the intensity and duration of virus shedding among the vaccinated group compared to the control group.
All control ponies seroconverted (developed measurable amounts of antibodies in response to infection) after infection with the virus, indicating a successful infection. Among the vaccinated group, only one out of seven exhibited a significant increase in antibody production.
Study Conclusion
The study concluded that the Duvaxyn IE-T Plus vaccine effectively reduced clinical signs and virus shedding in ponies after they were challenged with the H3N8 EIV, two weeks post-second vaccination dose.
This research sheds light on the potential of non-updated vaccines in reducing disease severity and transmission among horses, even in the context of new, divergent virus strains.
Cite This Article
APA
Paillot R, Prowse L, Donald C, Medcalf E, Montesso F, Bryant N, Watson J, Jeggo M, Elton D, Newton R, Trail P, Barnes H.
(2010).
Efficacy of a whole inactivated EI vaccine against a recent EIV outbreak isolate and comparative detection of virus shedding.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 136(3-4), 272-283.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.03.019