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Influenza and other respiratory viruses2013; 7(5); 659-665; doi: 10.1111/irv.12069

Isolation and characterization of H3N8 equine influenza A virus associated with the 2011 epizootic in Mongolia.

Abstract: Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics affect 2.1 million Mongolian horses approximately every 10 years and critically impact economy and nomadic livelihood of Mongolia. Objective: An active surveillance program was established in 2011 to monitor influenza viruses circulating among Mongolian horses. Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from horses in free-ranging horse herds in Töv, Khentii, and Dundgovi aimags (provinces) from January to September 2011. Real-time reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was used to determine the presence of influenza A virus. Influenza A-positive specimens were cultured to amplify virus; viral RNA was extracted, and gene segments were amplified and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. Results: A total of 745 horses were swabbed; most horses were without clinical signs of illness. In July 2011, reports of influenza-like illnesses emerged among horses in Mongolia's capital, and subsequently, surveillance efforts were adjusted to swab horses associated with the epizootic. Thirty-four specimens of rRT-PCR influenza-positive virus were collected in May, June, August, and September. Three specimens yielded detectable virus. Gene sequence studies suggested that all three isolates were identical H3N8 viruses. Phylogenetic analyses indicated the strain was very similar to other H3N8 EIVs circulating in central Asia between 2007 and 2008. Conclusions: As large Mongolian equine herds often seem to suffer from EIV epizootics, it seems prudent to continue such routine equine influenza surveillance. Doing so will provide an early warning system, should novel viruses emerge, help in assessing if EIV is crossing over to infect humans and provide data to assess the likely effectiveness of current EIV vaccines.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2013-01-04 PubMed ID: 23289427PubMed Central: PMC3626732DOI: 10.1111/irv.12069Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
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  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article covers a study on the Equine Influenza Virus (EIV), specifically the H3N8 variant found in Mongolia during an epizootic event in 2011. The study analyzes the strain’s genetic makeup and discusses the need for continued surveillance due to the potential economic and public health implications.

Objective and Methods Used

  • The research aimed to monitor the presence and characteristics of influenza viruses in Mongolian horse populations, given the severe economic and societal implications of EIV outbreaks in the country.
  • Researchers used real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) tests on nasal swabs collected from horses in several Mongolian provinces.
  • The research was carried out over a significant portion of 2011, during an outbreak of influenza-like illnesses among horses in Mongolia’s capital.
  • Specimens that tested positive for influenza A were cultivated to amplify the virus, after which the viral RNA was extracted, and gene segments were amplified and sequenced.

Results and Findings

  • Among 745 horses, 34 specimens tested positive for influenza.
  • Out of these, three samples contained detectable virus.
  • All three isolates were found to be identical H3N8 viruses. Their genetic sequence was closest to other H3N8 EIVs circulating in Central Asia between 2007 and 2008.
  • Almost all horses tested were without clinical signs of the disease, which suggests the virus was circulating in the population before the detection of significant clinical signs.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The presence of EIV in Mongolian horses, given their high population and their tendency to suffer epizootics, indicates the necessity of ongoing surveillance in these populations.
  • Such surveillance would provide an early warning system for novel virus emergence, help in assessing the risk of viruses crossing over to infect humans, and provide data to evaluate existing EIV vaccines’ probable effectiveness.

Cite This Article

APA
Yondon M, Heil GL, Burks JP, Zayat B, Waltzek TB, Jamiyan BO, McKenzie PP, Krueger WS, Friary JA, Gray GC. (2013). Isolation and characterization of H3N8 equine influenza A virus associated with the 2011 epizootic in Mongolia. Influenza Other Respir Viruses, 7(5), 659-665. https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12069

Publication

Influenza and other respiratory viruses
ISSN: 1750-2659
NlmUniqueID: 101304007
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 5
Pages: 659-665

Researcher Affiliations

Yondon, Myagmarsukh
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Veterinary & Animal Breeding, Government of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Heil, Gary L
    Burks, John P
      Zayat, Batsukh
        Waltzek, Thomas B
          Jamiyan, Bekh-Ochir
            McKenzie, Pamela P
              Krueger, Whitney S
                Friary, John A
                  Gray, Gregory C

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Female
                    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                    • Horse Diseases / virology
                    • Horses
                    • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / classification
                    • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / genetics
                    • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
                    • Male
                    • Molecular Sequence Data
                    • Mongolia / epidemiology
                    • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
                    • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
                    • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
                    • Phylogeny

                    Grant Funding

                    • HHSN266200700005C / NIAID NIH HHS
                    • R01 AI068803 / NIAID NIH HHS
                    • R01 AI068803-ARRA / NIAID NIH HHS

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