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.
Publication Date: 2014-01-21 PubMed ID: 24465622PubMed Central: PMC3897462DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085616Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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
Researcher Affiliations
- Mongolian Association for Infectious Diseases Researchers, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
- National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- National Influenza Center, National Center of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
- 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.
References
This article includes 20 references
- Sakoda Y, Sugar S, Batchluun D, Erdene-Ochir TO, Okamatsu M, Isoda N, Soda K, Takakuwa H, Tsuda Y, Yamamoto N, Kishida N, Matsuno K, Nakayama E, Kajihara M, Yokoyama A, Takada A, Sodnomdarjaa R, Kida H. Characterization of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains isolated from migratory waterfowl in Mongolia on the way back from the southern Asia to their northern territory.. Virology 2010 Oct 10;406(1):88-94.
- Kang HM, Kim MC, Choi JG, Batchuluun D, Erdene-Ochir TO, Paek MR, Sodnomdarjaa R, Kwon JH, Lee YJ. Genetic analyses of avian influenza viruses in Mongolia, 2007 to 2009, and their relationships with Korean isolates from domestic poultry and wild birds.. Poult Sci 2011 Oct;90(10):2229-42.
- Ishtiaq F, Gilbert M, Brown J, Joyner P, Sodnomdarjaa R, Luttrell MP, Stallknecht D, Joly DO. Antibodies to influenza A virus in wild birds across Mongolia, 2006-2009.. J Wildl Dis 2012 Jul;48(3):768-75.
- Gilbert M, Jambal L, Karesh WB, Fine A, Shiilegdamba E, Dulam P, Sodnomdarjaa R, Ganzorig K, Batchuluun D, Tseveenmyadag N, Bolortuya P, Cardona CJ, Leung CY, Peiris JS, Spackman E, Swayne DE, Joly DO. Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus among wild birds in Mongolia.. PLoS One 2012;7(9):e44097.
- Yondon M, Heil GL, Burks JP, Zayat B, Waltzek TB, Jamiyan BO, McKenzie PP, Krueger WS, Friary JA, Gray GC. Isolation and characterization of H3N8 equine influenza A virus associated with the 2011 epizootic in Mongolia.. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013 Sep;7(5):659-65.
- Alford RH, Kasel JA, Lehrich JR, Knight V. Human responses to experimental infection with influenza A/Equi 2 virus.. Am J Epidemiol 1967 Jul;86(1):185-92.
- Khurelbaatar N, Krueger WS, Heil GL, Darmaa B, Ulziimaa D, Tserennorov D, Baterdene A, Anderson BD, Gray GC. Sparse evidence for equine or avian influenza virus infections among Mongolian adults with animal exposures.. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013 Nov;7(6):1246-50.
- Jernigan DB, Lindstrom SL, Johnson JR, Miller JD, Hoelscher M, Humes R, Shively R, Brammer L, Burke SA, Villanueva JM, Balish A, Uyeki T, Mustaquim D, Bishop A, Handsfield JH, Astles R, Xu X, Klimov AI, Cox NJ, Shaw MW. Detecting 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: availability of diagnostic testing led to rapid pandemic response.. Clin Infect Dis 2011 Jan 1;52 Suppl 1:S36-43.
- Kayali G, Setterquist SF, Capuano AW, Myers KP, Gill JS, Gray GC. Testing human sera for antibodies against avian influenza viruses: horse RBC hemagglutination inhibition vs. microneutralization assays.. J Clin Virol 2008 Sep;43(1):73-8.
- Kendal AP PM, Shekel J. Concepts and procedures for laboratory-based influenza surveillance. 1982.
- Rowe T, Abernathy RA, Hu-Primmer J, Thompson WW, Lu X, Lim W, Fukuda K, Cox NJ, Katz JM. Detection of antibody to avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in human serum by using a combination of serologic assays.. J Clin Microbiol 1999 Apr;37(4):937-43.
- Gill JS, Webby R, Gilchrist MJ, Gray GC. Avian influenza among waterfowl hunters and wildlife professionals.. Emerg Infect Dis 2006 Aug;12(8):1284-6.
- Myers KP, Setterquist SF, Capuano AW, Gray GC. Infection due to 3 avian influenza subtypes in United States veterinarians.. Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 1;45(1):4-9.
- Reed L, Muench H. A simple method of estimating fifty percent endpoints. The American Journal of Hygiene 1938 27: 493–497.
- Buchy P, Vong S, Chu S, Garcia JM, Hien TT, Hien VM, Channa M, Ha do Q, Chau NV, Simmons C, Farrar JJ, Peiris M, de Jong MD. Kinetics of neutralizing antibodies in patients naturally infected by H5N1 virus.. PLoS One 2010 May 27;5(5):e10864.
- Khuntirat BP, Yoon IK, Blair PJ, Krueger WS, Chittaganpitch M, Putnam SD, Supawat K, Gibbons RV, Pattamadilok S, Sawanpanyalert P, Heil GL, Friary JA, Capuano AW, Gray GC. Evidence for subclinical avian influenza virus infections among rural Thai villagers.. Clin Infect Dis 2011 Oct;53(8):e107-16.
- Gray GC, McCarthy T, Capuano AW, Setterquist SF, Alavanja MC, Lynch CF. Evidence for avian influenza A infections among Iowa's agricultural workers.. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2008 Mar;2(2):61-9.
- Blair PJ, Putnam SD, Krueger WS, Chum C, Wierzba TF, Heil GL, Yasuda CY, Williams M, Kasper MR, Friary JA, Capuano AW, Saphonn V, Peiris M, Shao H, Perez DR, Gray GC. Evidence for avian H9N2 influenza virus infections among rural villagers in Cambodia.. J Infect Public Health 2013 Apr;6(2):69-79.
- Burmaa A, Tsatsral S, Odagiri T, Suzuki A, Oshitani H, Nymadawa P. Cumulative incidence of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 by a community-based serological cohort study in Selenghe Province, Mongolia.. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2012 Nov;6(6):e97-e104.
- Nukiwa-Souma N, Burmaa A, Kamigaki T, Od I, Bayasgalan N, Darmaa B, Suzuki A, Nymadawa P, Oshitani H. Influenza transmission in a community during a seasonal influenza A(H3N2) outbreak (2010-2011) in Mongolia: a community-based prospective cohort study.. PLoS One 2012;7(3):e33046.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
