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PloS one2014; 9(1); e85616; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085616

Little evidence of avian or equine influenza virus infection among a cohort of Mongolian adults with animal exposures, 2010-2011.

Abstract: Avian (AIV) and equine influenza virus (EIV) have been repeatedly shown to circulate among Mongolia's migrating birds or domestic horses. In 2009, 439 Mongolian adults, many with occupational exposure to animals, were enrolled in a prospective cohort study of zoonotic influenza transmission. Sera were drawn upon enrollment and again at 12 and 24 months. Participants were contacted monthly for 24 months and queried regarding episodes of acute influenza-like illnesses (ILI). Cohort members confirmed to have acute influenza A infections, permitted respiratory swab collections which were studied with rRT-PCR for influenza A. Serologic assays were performed against equine, avian, and human influenza viruses. Over the 2 yrs of follow-up, 100 ILI investigations in the cohort were conducted. Thirty-six ILI cases (36%) were identified as influenza A infections by rRT-PCR; none yielded evidence for AIV or EIV. Serological examination of 12 mo and 24 mo annual sera revealed 37 participants had detectable antibody titers (≥1∶10) against studied viruses during the course of study follow-up: 21 against A/Equine/Mongolia/01/2008(H3N8); 4 against an avian A/Teal/Hong Kong/w3129(H6N1), 11 against an avian-like A/Hong Kong/1073/1999(H9N2), and 1 against an avian A/Migrating duck/Hong Kong/MPD268/2007(H10N4) virus. However, all such titers were <1∶80 and none were statistically associated with avian or horse exposures. A number of subjects had evidence of seroconversion to zoonotic viruses, but the 4-fold titer changes were again not associated with avian or horse exposures. As elevated antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses were high during the study period, it seems likely that cross-reacting antibodies against seasonal human influenza viruses were a cause of the low-level seroreactivity against AIV or EIV. Despite the presence of AIV and EIV circulating among wild birds and horses in Mongolia, there was little evidence of AIV or EIV infection in this prospective study of Mongolians with animal exposures.
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Publication Date: 2014-01-21 PubMed ID: 24465622PubMed Central: PMC3897462DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085616Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 investigates the potential transmission of avian and equine influenza viruses to Mongolian adults who are exposed to animals. Despite there being a known circulation of these viruses among Mongolia’s migratory birds and domestic horses, the study found minimal evidence of infection among the investigated cohort.

Study Design and Procedures

  • The researchers set up a prospective cohort study involving 439 Mongolian adults who frequently interact with animals due to their occupation.
  • Participants had their blood drawn at the start of the study, and then again at 12 and 24 months.
  • They were contacted every month for two years and were asked about any flu-like illnesses (FLIs) they got.
  • Those confirmed to have acute influenza A infections allowed the researchers to collect respiratory swabs that were then tested for influenza A using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR).
  • They performed serological tests against equine, avian, and human influenza viruses.

Study Findings

  • The research carried out 100 inquiries into individuals with FLIs during the two-year follow-up period.
  • Out of these, 36% were identified as influenza A infections, but none showed evidence of avian or equine influenza virus (AIV or EIV).
  • In the 12 and 24-month serological examinations, 37 participants showed detectable antibody titers against the investigated viruses over the progression of the study.
  • However, all the levels were below 1∶80, suggesting they were not statistically associated with exposure to birds or horses.
  • Multiple participants showed signs of seroconversion to zoonotic viruses, but the four-fold titer changes were also not linked to bird or horse exposure.

Interpretation and Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that, despite AIV and EIV being present among wild birds and horses in Mongolia, there’s little evidence of these viruses infecting the Mongolians in this study who are exposed to animals.
  • The study suggests high antibodies against seasonal human influenza viruses during the research period, which may have resulted in low-level seroreactivity towards avian or equine influenza viruses.
  • This might suggest that cross-reacting antibodies against human influenza viruses might have been mistaken as traces of animal flu infection.

Cite This Article

APA
Khurelbaatar N, Krueger WS, Heil GL, Darmaa B, Ulziimaa D, Tserennorov D, Baterdene A, Anderson BD, Gray GC. (2014). Little evidence of avian or equine influenza virus infection among a cohort of Mongolian adults with animal exposures, 2010-2011. PLoS One, 9(1), e85616. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085616

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: e85616
PII: e85616

Researcher Affiliations

Khurelbaatar, Nyamdavaa
  • Mongolian Association for Infectious Diseases Researchers, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Krueger, Whitney S
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Heil, Gary L
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Darmaa, Badarchiin
  • National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Ulziimaa, Daramragchaa
  • National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Tserennorov, Damdindorj
  • National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Baterdene, Ariungerel
  • National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Anderson, Benjamin D
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Gray, Gregory C
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Birds
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / classification
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
  • Influenza in Birds / virology
  • Influenza, Human / blood
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mongolia / epidemiology
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology

Grant Funding

  • R01 AI068803 / NIAID NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 18 times.
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