FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics)1999; 18(1); 179-185; doi: 10.20506/rst.18.1.1155

The circumstances surrounding the outbreak and spread of equine influenza in South Africa.

Abstract: Equine-2 influenza A virus (H3N8) infection first occurred among naïve horses in South Africa in December 1986. The virus was introduced following the importation of six horses from the United States of America. While the release of in-contact horses from quarantine three days after the arrival of these six horses played a role in the rapid spread of the disease in South Africa, other outbreaks of disease were associated with viral introduction by personnel or contaminated instruments. The control measures and implications of the introduction of equine influenza to South Africa are also discussed.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1999-04-06 PubMed ID: 10190213DOI: 10.20506/rst.18.1.1155Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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.

The research article explores the outbreak and spread of equine influenza in South Africa in 1986, highlighting how the epidemic started from imported horses and discussing the outbreak’s control measures.

Outbreak Origins

  • The outbreak of equine influenza in South Africa started in December 1986. The equine-2 influenza A virus (H3N8) was a new phenomenon in the South African horse population.
  • The virus was introduced into the local horse population following the importation of six horses from the United States of America. The horses carried the virus unknowingly, causing a spread among the unexposed or naive horses in South Africa.

Spread of the Disease

  • The authors attribute the rapid spread of the disease to the early release of horses from quarantine, which occurred three days after the arrival of the imported horses. This premature release provided a perfect opportunity for the undetected virus to spread among other horses in South Africa.
  • However, not all outbreaks were entirely associated with the direct contact with the infected horses. Other situations that spread the virus included exposure through infected personnel or the use of contaminated instruments.

Control Measures and Implications

  • The study also discusses efforts to control the spread of the disease after the outbreak. However, these management strategies are not elaborated in the abstract.
  • Additionally, the authors discuss the implications of the equine influenza outbreak in South Africa, including impacts on the horse industry and potential risks for future virus transmission. These potential impacts were likely critical in shaping the country’s policies on horse importation and disease management.

Cite This Article

APA
Guthrie AJ, Stevens KB, Bosman PP. (1999). The circumstances surrounding the outbreak and spread of equine influenza in South Africa. Rev Sci Tech, 18(1), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.18.1.1155

Publication

Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics)
ISSN: 0253-1933
NlmUniqueID: 8712301
Country: France
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 179-185

Researcher Affiliations

Guthrie, A J
  • Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Stevens, K B
    Bosman, P P

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
      • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
      • Emergencies / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
      • Horses
      • Influenza A virus / immunology
      • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
      • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
      • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
      • Quarantine / veterinary
      • South Africa / epidemiology
      • Viral Vaccines

      References

      This article includes 6 references

      Citations

      This article has been cited 19 times.
      1. Ireland HM, Ruxton GD. Zebra stripes: the questions raised by the answers. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2025 Dec;100(6):2660-2680.
        doi: 10.1111/brv.70063pubmed: 40745963google scholar: lookup
      2. Ahmed BM, Bayoumi MM, Farrag MA, Elgamal MA, Daly JM, Amer HM. Emergence of equine influenza virus H3Nx Florida clade 2 in Arabian racehorses in Egypt. Virol J 2022 Nov 12;19(1):185.
        doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01917-9pubmed: 36371185google scholar: lookup
      3. Oladunni FS, Oseni SO, Martinez-Sobrido L, Chambers TM. Equine Influenza Virus and Vaccines. Viruses 2021 Aug 20;13(8).
        doi: 10.3390/v13081657pubmed: 34452521google scholar: lookup
      4. Cullinane A, Gahan J, Walsh C, Nemoto M, Entenfellner J, Olguin-Perglione C, Garvey M, Huang Fu TQ, Venner M, Yamanaka T, Barrandeguy M, Fernandez CJ. Evaluation of Current Equine Influenza Vaccination Protocols Prior to Shipment, Guided by OIE Standards. Vaccines (Basel) 2020 Feb 29;8(1).
        doi: 10.3390/vaccines8010107pubmed: 32121419google scholar: lookup
      5. Brister H, Barnum SM, Reedy S, Chambers TM, Pusterla N. Validation of two multiplex real-time PCR assays based on single nucleotide polymorphisms of the HA1 gene of equine influenza A virus in order to differentiate between clade 1 and clade 2 Florida sublineage isolates. J Vet Diagn Invest 2019 Jan;31(1):137-141.
        doi: 10.1177/1040638718822693pubmed: 30803412google scholar: lookup
      6. Spence KL, O'Sullivan TL, Poljak Z, Greer AL. A longitudinal study describing horse demographics and movements during a competition season in Ontario, Canada. Can Vet J 2018 Jul;59(7):783-790.
        pubmed: 30026628
      7. Paillot R, Garrett D, Lopez-Alvarez MR, Birand I, Montesso F, Horspool L. The Immunity Gap Challenge: Protection against a Recent Florida Clade 2 Equine Influenza Strain. Vaccines (Basel) 2018 Jul 2;6(3).
        doi: 10.3390/vaccines6030038pubmed: 30004410google scholar: lookup
      8. Spence KL, O'Sullivan TL, Poljak Z, Greer AL. Using a computer simulation model to examine the impact of biosecurity measures during a facility-level outbreak of equine influenza. Can J Vet Res 2018 Apr;82(2):89-96.
        pubmed: 29755187
      9. 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
      10. Yamanaka T, Nemoto M, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T, Gildea S, Cullinane A. Evaluation of twenty-two rapid antigen detection tests in the diagnosis of Equine Influenza caused by viruses of H3N8 subtype. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016 Mar;10(2):127-33.
        doi: 10.1111/irv.12358pubmed: 26568369google scholar: lookup
      11. Perglione CO, Gildea S, Rimondi A, Miño S, Vissani A, Carossino M, Cullinane A, Barrandeguy M. Epidemiological and virological findings during multiple outbreaks of equine influenza in South America in 2012. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2016 Jan;10(1):37-46.
        doi: 10.1111/irv.12349pubmed: 26406274google scholar: lookup
      12. Kim EJ, Kim BH, Yang S, Choi EJ, Shin YJ, Song JY, Shin YK. Antibody responses after vaccination against equine influenza in the Republic of Korea in 2013. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Nov;77(11):1517-21.
        doi: 10.1292/jvms.15-0192pubmed: 26062436google scholar: lookup
      13. Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Wademan C, Akana N, Barnett C, MacKenzie C, Vaala W. Voluntary surveillance program for equine influenza virus in the United States from 2010 to 2013. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):417-22.
        doi: 10.1111/jvim.12519pubmed: 25586234google scholar: lookup
      14. Galvin P, Gildea S, Nelly M, Quinlivan M, Arkins S, Walsh C, Cullinane A. The evaluation of three diagnostic tests for the detection of equine influenza nucleoprotein in nasal swabs. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2014 May;8(3):376-83.
        doi: 10.1111/irv.12235pubmed: 24512560google scholar: lookup
      15. Gildea S, Fitzpatrick DA, Cullinane A. Epidemiological and virological investigations of equine influenza outbreaks in Ireland (2010-2012). Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013 Dec;7 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):61-72.
        doi: 10.1111/irv.12192pubmed: 24224821google scholar: lookup
      16. Firestone SM, Christley RM, Ward MP, Dhand NK. Adding the spatial dimension to the social network analysis of an epidemic: investigation of the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza in Australia. Prev Vet Med 2012 Sep 15;106(2):123-35.
        doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.01.020pubmed: 22365721google scholar: lookup
      17. Diaz-Mendez A, Viel L, Hewson J, Doig P, Carman S, Chambers T, Tiwari A, Dewey C. Surveillance of equine respiratory viruses in Ontario. Can J Vet Res 2010 Oct;74(4):271-8.
        pubmed: 21197227
      18. Gildea S, Arkins S, Cullinane A. A comparative antibody study of the potential susceptibility of Thoroughbred and non-Thoroughbred horse populations in Ireland to equine influenza virus. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2010 Nov;4(6):363-72.
        doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2010.00163.xpubmed: 20958930google scholar: lookup
      19. Quinlivan M, Cullinane A, Nelly M, Van Maanen K, Heldens J, Arkins S. Comparison of sensitivities of virus isolation, antigen detection, and nucleic acid amplification for detection of equine influenza virus. J Clin Microbiol 2004 Feb;42(2):759-63.
        doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.2.759-763.2004pubmed: 14766849google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.