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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Clin Virol / Serological evidence of equine influenza infections among pe...
Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology2015; 67; 78-83; doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.04.009

Serological evidence of equine influenza infections among persons with horse exposure, Iowa.

Abstract: Equine influenza virus (EIV) is considered enzootic in North America and experimental studies have documented human EIV infections. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined 94 horse-exposed and 34 non-exposed controls for serological evidence of EIV infection. Sera were evaluated for antibodies against three EIV and two human H3N2 viruses using microneutralization (MN), neuraminidase inhibition (NI), enzyme-linked lectin (ELLA), and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) serological assays. Risk factor analyses were conducted using logistic regression and proportional odds modeling. Results: There was evidence of previous infection by MN assay against A/equine/Ohio/2003(H3N8) but not the other 2 EIVs. Eleven (11.7%, maximum titer 1:320) horse-exposed and 2 (5.9%, maximum titer 1:160) control subjects had MN titers ≥1:80. Among the horse-exposed, 18 (19.1%) were positive by NI assay and 8 (8.5%) had elevated ELLA titers ≥1:10. Logistic regression modeling among horse-exposed revealed that having an elevated MN or ELLA titer (≤1:10) was associated with having a positive NI titer (OR=4.9; 95% CI=1.3-18.7, and OR=53.2; 95% CI=5.9-478.5, respectively). Upon proportional odds modeling, having worked as an equine veterinarian (OR=14.0; 95% CI=2.6-75.9), having a history of smoking (OR=3.1; 95% CI=1.2-7.7), and receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine between 2000 and 2005 (OR=2.3; 95% CI=1.1-5.0) were important independent risk factors for elevations in MN assay. Conclusions: While we cannot rule out confounding exposures, these data support the premise that occupational exposure to EIV may lead to human infection.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-04-09 PubMed ID: 25959164DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.04.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • U.S. Gov't
  • 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 study indicates that there is tangible evidence of equine influenza virus (EIV) infections in humans who have been exposed to horses, with factors such as working as an equine veterinarian, a history of smoking, and receipt of the seasonal flu vaccine between 2000 and 2005 statistically indicating a higher risk.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a cross-sectional study comprising 94 individuals exposed to horses and 34 controls who were not.
  • Serological tests were conducted on the participants to screen for antibodies against three EIVs and two human H3N2 viruses.
  • The techniques employed for these tests include microneutralization (MN), neuraminidase inhibition (NI), enzyme-linked lectin (ELLA), and hemaglutination inhibition (HI) serological assays.
  • Risk factors were examined using logistic regression and proportional odds modeling.

Results and Interpretation

  • Evidence of prior EIV infection was found in participants, detected using the MN assay against one subtype of EIV (A/equine/Ohio/2003(H3N8)), but not the other two.
  • About 11.7% of the horse-exposed participants and 5.9% of the control subjects had MN levels indicating possible past infection.
  • Nearly one-fifth (19.1%) of the horse-exposed group tested positive through the NI assay, and 8.5% had significantly elevated ELLA titers, suggesting EIV exposure.
  • Statistical analysis found an association between elevated MN or ELLA levels and positive NI titers, which could indicate a higher susceptibility or likelihood of exposure to EIV.

Identified Risk Factors

  • An Occupation as an equine veterinarian significantly increased the risk of EIV infection.
  • A history of smoking was found to correlate with a higher likelihood of EIV detection.
  • Participants who received a seasonal influenza vaccine between 2000 and 2005 also had a higher risk of EIV infection.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The researchers concluded that while they cannot entirely rule out other potential confounding exposures, their results strongly suggest that occupational exposure to EIV can lead to human infection.
  • Increased awareness and potentially targeted vaccination efforts, particularly among those in frequent contact with horses such as veterinarians, could be beneficial in preventing EIV transmission.

Cite This Article

APA
Larson KR, Heil GL, Chambers TM, Capuano A, White SK, Gray GC. (2015). Serological evidence of equine influenza infections among persons with horse exposure, Iowa. J Clin Virol, 67, 78-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2015.04.009

Publication

Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
ISSN: 1873-5967
NlmUniqueID: 9815671
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 67
Pages: 78-83
PII: S1386-6532(15)00121-3

Researcher Affiliations

Larson, Kerry R Leedom
  • Center for Food Security and Public Health, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
Heil, Gary L
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and One Health Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Chambers, Thomas M
  • Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Capuano, Ana
  • Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
White, Sarah K
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and One Health Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Gray, Gregory C
  • College of Public Health and Health Professions, and One Health Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: gregory.gray@duke.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
  • Horse Diseases / transmission
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Iowa
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / transmission
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Serologic Tests
  • Young Adult
  • Zoonoses / diagnosis
  • Zoonoses / virology

Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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    doi: 10.3201/eid2901.220943pubmed: 36573615google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/vaccines10101718pubmed: 36298583google scholar: lookup
  4. Whitlock F, Murcia PR, Newton JR. A Review on Equine Influenza from a Human Influenza Perspective.. Viruses 2022 Jun 15;14(6).
    doi: 10.3390/v14061312pubmed: 35746783google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/v13112250pubmed: 34835056google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/v10010031pubmed: 29324680google scholar: lookup
  8. Meseko CA, Ehizibolo DO, Nwokike EC, Wungak YS. Serological evidence of equine influenza virus in horse stables in Kaduna, Nigeria.. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):99-105.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.27.99pubmed: 27703404google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/pathogens5030050pubmed: 27420100google scholar: lookup
  10. Solórzano A, Foni E, Córdoba L, Baratelli M, Razzuoli E, Bilato D, Martín del Burgo MÁ, Perlin DS, Martínez J, Martínez-Orellana P, Fraile L, Chiapponi C, Amadori M, del Real G, Montoya M. Cross-Species Infectivity of H3N8 Influenza Virus in an Experimental Infection in Swine.. J Virol 2015 Nov;89(22):11190-202.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.01509-15pubmed: 26311894google scholar: lookup
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