Emergence of H3N8 equine influenza virus in donkeys in China in 2017.
Abstract: Equine influenza virus is a major respiratory pathogen in horses. Although both horses and donkeys belong to the genus Equus, donkey infection with influenza viruses is rare. In March 2017, an influenza outbreak occurred in donkeys in Shandong province, China. The causative virus, A/donkey/Shandong/1/2017(H3N8), was isolated from a dead donkey. Genetic analysis indicated that the virus originated from influenza A (H3N8) clade 2 of the Florida sub-lineage that has been circulating in Asian equine populations. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the HA gene of this causative virus with that of the A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 vaccine strain showed that substitutions had occurred in the antigenic regions A, B, and C. This study provides insight into the currently circulating and newly emerging H3N8 strains in donkeys in China.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-11-27 PubMed ID: 29408020DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.033Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is about an outbreak of influenza in donkeys traced back to a specific virus, A/donkey/Shandong/1/2017(H3N8), previously understood to primarily infect horses, which occurred in Shandong province, China in 2017.
Background
- The article embarks upon an incident of influenza outbreak among donkeys, in Shandong province, China, in March 2017. This is rare, as donkeys, though part of the genus Equus like horses, seldom contract such infections.
- Equine influenza virus is a significant respiratory pathogen predominantly affecting horses.
Virus Identification and Isolation
- The virus responsible for the outbreak, designated as A/donkey/Shandong/1/2017(H3N8), was isolated from a donkey that did not survive the infection.
- This virus was identified as originating from the influenza A (H3N8) clade 2 of the Florida sub-lineage, which has been known to circulate in Asian equine populations.
Genetic Analysis
- The virus was further examined by comparing the genetic material. The researchers analyzed the deduced amino acid sequence of the HA gene of this virus.
- They compared it to the A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 vaccine strain, a pre-existing vaccine for equine influenza. The comparison revealed mutations or substitutions in antigenic regions A, B, and C.
Conclusions and Implications
- The study offered insights into the currently circulating and emerging H3N8 strains in donkeys in China. This suggests that H3N8 can cross species barriers, infecting not just horses but donkeys as well.
- This knowledge could be vital for monitoring influenza strains in the equine population, preventing potential further outbreaks, and enhancing vaccine development in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Yang H, Xiao Y, Meng F, Sun F, Chen M, Cheng Z, Chen Y, Liu S, Chen H.
(2017).
Emergence of H3N8 equine influenza virus in donkeys in China in 2017.
Vet Microbiol, 214, 1-6.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.033 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology-Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China.
- Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine-Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology-Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China.
- Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine-Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China.
- Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine-Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China.
- Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine-Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology-Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China.
- Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine-Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Shandong, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology-Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China. Electronic address: chenhualan@caas.cn.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- China / epidemiology
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging / veterinary
- Communicable Diseases, Emerging / virology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Equidae / virology
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / classification
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / genetics
- Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
- Phylogeny
Citations
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