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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2017; 6(4); 61; doi: 10.3390/pathogens6040061

Low Prevalence of Enzootic Equine Influenza Virus among Horses in Mongolia.

Abstract: Horses are critically important for Mongolian herders' livelihoods, providing transportation and food products, and playing important cultural roles. Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics have been frequent among Mongolia's horses, with five occurring since 1970. We sought to estimate the prevalence for EIV infection among horses and Bactrian camels with influenza-like illness between national epizootics. In 2016-2017, active surveillance for EIV was periodically performed in four aimags (provinces). Nasal swabs were collected from 680 horses and 131 camels. Seven of the horse swabs were "positive" for qRT-PCR evidence of influenza A (Ct value ≤ 38). Two more were "suspect positive" (Ct value > 38 and ≤ 40). These nine specimens were collected from four aimags. None of the camel specimens had molecular evidence of infection. Despite serial blind passage in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells (MDCK) cells, none of the nine horse specimens yielded an influenza A virus. None of the 131 herder households surveyed had recently vaccinated their horses against EIV. It seems likely that sporadic EIV is enzootic in multiple Mongolian aimags. This finding, the infrequent use of EIV vaccination, periodic prevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the mixing of domestic and wild equid herds suggest that Mongolia may be a hot spot for novel EIV emergence.
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Publication Date: 2017-11-30 PubMed ID: 29189713PubMed Central: PMC5750585DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6040061Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study aimed to assess how widespread the equine influenza virus (EIV) is among horses in Mongolia, where horses are integral to local livelihoods. The research found that the EIV is likely present sporadically in horses across Mongolia, a fact that, coupled with infrequent vaccination and mixing of domestic and wild herds, suggests Mongolia may be a hotspot for the emergence of novel strains of EIV.

Study Background and Purpose

The researchers noted the significant role horses play in the livelihood of Mongolian herders, providing transportation, food, and cultural relevance. EIV has historically caused frequent disease outbreaks in Mongolian horses, with five significant collapses since 1970. The aim of this study was to approximate how prevalent EIV infection was among horses and Bactrian camels displaying influenza-like symptoms, particularly during periods between national epidemics.

Methodology

  • In 2016 and 2017, the researchers performed active surveillance for EIV periodically in four aimags, or provinces in Mongolia.
  • Nasal swabs were collected from a total of 680 horses and 131 camels.
  • The swabs were then tested for evidence of the influenza A virus with a procedure called quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).
  • If a swab showed a Ct (Cycle threshold) value of less than or equal to 38, it was deemed “positive,” while swabs with Ct values greater than 38 but less than or equal to 40 were considered “suspect positive”.

Findings

  • Out of the 680 horse swabs taken, seven tested “positive” for EIV, while two more were dubbed “suspect positive”. These nine specimens came from all four aimags, indicating that the virus might be randomly scattered across the country.
  • No camel swabs showed any molecular signs of EIV infection.
  • Despite attempts to grow the virus in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, none of the nine “positive” or “suspect positive” horse specimens yielded an influenza A virus.
  • A survey revealed that none of the 131 herder families had recently vaccinated their horses against EIV.

Conclusion and Implications

The researchers concluded that EIV is likely enzootic, or present in a sporadic and localized manner, in various parts of Mongolia. They cautioned that the infrequent use of EIV vaccine, coupled with the periodic presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and the fact that domestic and wild equid herds often intermingle, might make Mongolia a hot spot for new strains of EIV to emerge.

Cite This Article

APA
Sack A, Daramragchaa U, Chuluunbaatar M, Gonchigoo B, Bazartseren B, Tsogbadrakh N, Gray GC. (2017). Low Prevalence of Enzootic Equine Influenza Virus among Horses in Mongolia. Pathogens, 6(4), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens6040061

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 4
PII: 61

Researcher Affiliations

Sack, Alexandra
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia. aesack16@gmail.com.
  • Division of Infectious Diseases, and Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. aesack16@gmail.com.
Daramragchaa, Ulziimaa
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia. ulzima_d@yahoo.com.
Chuluunbaatar, Maitsetseg
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia. ch.maitsetseg@gmail.com.
Gonchigoo, Battsetseg
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia. gotsetseg@mail.mn.
Bazartseren, Boldbaatar
  • Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 17024, Mongolia. boldoomglvet@yahoo.com.
Tsogbadrakh, Nyamdorj
  • National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Ulaanbaatar 18131, Mongolia. tsogoo_0210@yahoo.com.
Gray, Gregory C
  • Division of Infectious Diseases, and Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. gregory.gray@duke.edu.
  • Global Health Research Center, Duke-Kunshan University, Kunshan 215316, China. gregory.gray@duke.edu.
  • Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapur 169857, Singapore. gregory.gray@duke.edu.

Grant Funding

  • D43 TW009373 / FIC NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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