Influenza D Virus Circulation Among Bovines, Swine, Equines, and Wild Boars in Italy: A Sero-Epidemiological Study.
Abstract: Influenza D virus (IDV), belonging to the family, was first discovered in 2011 in pigs. Surveys in humans and animals have been carried out to decipher IDV ecology. In this seroepidemiological study, we investigated the circulation of IDV lineages across Italy in livestock and wildlife animals. A total of 1038 animal serum samples (from 246 bovines, 249 swine, 98 equines, and 445 wild boars) were tested using hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization assays. The results confirm bovines as the primary reservoir for IDV, with high seroprevalence for both D/660 (87%) and D/OK (80%) strains. Swine and equines demonstrated limited exposure, suggesting they are infrequent spillover hosts. Notably, wild boars showed high seroprevalence, especially for the D/660 lineage (80%), indicating their potential role in a wildlife transmission cycle. Continuous surveillance in both livestock and wildlife is essential to monitor the spread and evolution of IDV.
Publication Date: 2025-09-05 PubMed ID: 41011791PubMed Central: PMC12472503DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14090891Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This study investigated the presence and spread of Influenza D virus (IDV) in different animal species in Italy, including domestic livestock and wild boars.
- The research identified bovines as the main reservoirs for IDV and highlighted the significant exposure of wild boars, suggesting their role in maintaining the virus in wildlife populations.
Background and Objective
- IDV is a relatively recently discovered virus in the Orthomyxoviridae family, first identified in pigs in 2011.
- Understanding IDV ecology, including which animal species carry and spread the virus, is essential for preventing potential outbreaks.
- The study aimed to evaluate the circulation of IDV lineages (specifically D/660 and D/OK strains) among livestock (bovines, swine, equines) and wildlife (wild boars) across Italy through a sero-epidemiological approach.
Methodology
- Sample Collection:
- 1038 serum samples were collected from four animal groups: 246 bovines, 249 swine, 98 equines, and 445 wild boars.
- Testing Techniques:
- Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays were used to detect antibodies that block virus binding to red blood cells, indicating past exposure to the virus.
- Virus neutralization (VN) assays measured the ability of serum antibodies to inhibit virus replication, confirming immunity or past infection.
Key Findings
- Bovines:
- High seroprevalence rates were observed for both IDV strains tested: 87% for D/660 and 80% for D/OK.
- This supports the role of bovines as the primary natural reservoir of IDV in Italy.
- Swine and Equines:
- Both species showed limited exposure to IDV, suggesting they are not primary hosts but rather occasional spillover hosts.
- The low seroprevalence implies limited relevance in the maintenance or spread of IDV at a population level.
- Wild Boars:
- Unexpectedly high seroprevalence was detected, particularly for the D/660 lineage (80%).
- This indicates that wild boars may serve as a significant wildlife reservoir or play a role in a sylvatic (wildlife-based) transmission cycle for IDV.
Significance and Implications
- The confirmation of bovines as the primary reservoir helps target control and monitoring efforts in cattle farms to manage IDV circulation.
- The finding of high IDV exposure among wild boars highlights the importance of including wildlife surveillance in understanding virus ecology and potential cross-species transmission.
- Swine and equines’ low exposure suggests they pose a limited risk for sustaining or amplifying IDV in the animal population.
- Continuous surveillance is crucial to:
- Track spread and evolution of different IDV strains.
- Prevent potential spillover events that could impact livestock health and possibly human health in the future.
Conclusion
- The study successfully delineated the circulation patterns of IDV among multiple species in Italy, emphasizing bovines and wild boars as key reservoirs.
- Implementing ongoing sero-epidemiological surveillance in both domestic and wild animal populations is essential for early detection and control of IDV transmission dynamics.
Cite This Article
APA
Falsini A, Coppola C, Fiori A, Buonavoglia D, Marchi S, Montomoli E, Pellegrini F, Lanave G, Martella V, Camero M, Trombetta CM.
(2025).
Influenza D Virus Circulation Among Bovines, Swine, Equines, and Wild Boars in Italy: A Sero-Epidemiological Study.
Pathogens, 14(9), 891.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090891 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- VisMederi srl, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Italy / epidemiology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Swine
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
- Sus scrofa / virology
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Horses
- Thogotovirus / immunology
- Thogotovirus / isolation & purification
- Thogotovirus / classification
- Thogotovirus / genetics
- Animals, Wild / virology
- Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
- Deltainfluenzavirus
Conflict of Interest Statement
EM is founder and Chief Scientific Officer of VisMederi srl. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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