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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / First Reported Circulation of Equine Influenza H3N8 Florida ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(4); 598; doi: 10.3390/ani14040598

First Reported Circulation of Equine Influenza H3N8 Florida Clade 1 Virus in Horses in Italy.

Abstract: Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious viral disease of equids characterized by pyrexia and respiratory signs. Like other influenza A viruses, antigenic drift or shift could lead to a vaccine-induced immunity breakdown if vaccine strains are not updated. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize EIV strains circulating in Italy, detected in PCR-positive samples collected from suspected cases, especially in the absence of formal active surveillance. Methods: Between February and April 2019, blood samples and nasal swabs collected from each of the 20 symptomatic horses from North and Central Italy were submitted to the National Reference Centre for Equine Diseases in Italy to confirm preliminary analysis performed by other laboratories. Results: None of the sera analysed using haemagglutination inhibition and single radial haemolysis presented a predominant serological reactivity pattern for any antigen employed. All nasal swabs were positive with IAV RRT-PCR. Only one strain, isolated in an embryonated chicken egg from a sample collected from a horse of a stable located in Brescia, Lombardy, was identified as H3N8 Florida lineage clade 1 (FC1). In the constructed phylogenetic trees, this strain is located within the FC1, together with the virus isolated in France in 2018 (MK501761). Conclusions: This study reports the first detection of H3N8 FC1 in Italy, highlighting the importance of monitoring circulating EIV strains to verify the vaccine composition appropriateness for maximum efficacy.
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Publication Date: 2024-02-12 PubMed ID: 38396566PubMed Central: PMC10886299DOI: 10.3390/ani14040598Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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Equine influenza virus (EIV) strains circulating in Italy were genetically characterized, and for the first time, the H3N8 Florida Clade 1 (FC1) virus was detected in horses, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance to ensure vaccine effectiveness.

Introduction to Equine Influenza and Study Purpose

  • Equine influenza (EI) is a contagious viral disease affecting horses and related animals, primarily causing fever and respiratory symptoms.
  • The virus responsible, equine influenza A virus (EIV), can mutate through processes called antigenic drift or shift, potentially reducing the effectiveness of existing vaccines.
  • This study aimed to genetically analyze EIV strains present in Italy, especially since there was no formal active surveillance in place at the time, to understand which virus variants are infecting horses.

Methods and Sample Collection

  • Between February and April 2019, researchers collected blood samples and nasal swabs from 20 symptomatic horses located in North and Central Italy.
  • Samples were submitted to the National Reference Centre for Equine Diseases, the official body in Italy for confirming preliminary results from other laboratories.
  • Blood sera were tested via haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and single radial haemolysis (SRH) assays to detect antibody responses to different EIV antigens.
  • Nasal swabs underwent real-time reverse transcription PCR (RRT-PCR) to detect influenza A virus (IAV) genomic material.
  • Virus isolation attempts were made by inoculating samples into embryonated chicken eggs, a common technique used to culture influenza viruses.

Results Overview

  • Serological tests (HI and SRH) did not reveal a dominant antibody response pattern to any of the tested influenza antigens in the sera, indicating a complex or mixed antibody response or recent infections.
  • All nasal swabs tested positive for influenza A virus RNA by RRT-PCR, confirming active infection in those horses.
  • Only one virus strain was successfully isolated from a nasal swab of a horse in Brescia, Lombardy.
  • This isolate was genetically identified as belonging to the H3N8 Florida lineage clade 1 (FC1), marking the first ever detection of this virus clade in Italy.

Genetic and Phylogenetic Analysis

  • Phylogenetic trees were constructed using genetic sequences to classify the isolated strain.
  • The Italian isolate clustered closely with the FC1 virus that had been isolated in France in 2018, indicating possible regional circulation or recent spread within Europe.

Conclusions and Implications

  • This is the first report of H3N8 Florida Clade 1 virus in horses from Italy, expanding the known presence of this virus lineage in Europe.
  • The detection emphasizes the necessity of continuous monitoring and genetic characterization of equine influenza viruses to track their evolution.
  • Regular surveillance information is critical for verifying whether the strains included in vaccines are up to date and capable of providing effective protection against circulating viruses.
  • Maintaining effective vaccines reduces the risk of outbreaks and severe disease in horse populations.

Cite This Article

APA
(2024). First Reported Circulation of Equine Influenza H3N8 Florida Clade 1 Virus in Horses in Italy. Animals (Basel), 14(4), 598. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14040598

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
PII: 598

Researcher Affiliations

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Branda F, Yon DK, Albanese M, Binetti E, Giovanetti M, Ciccozzi A, Ciccozzi M, Scarpa F, Ceccarelli G. Equine Influenza: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Strategies for Prevention and Control.. Viruses 2025 Feb 21;17(3).
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