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Veterinary microbiology2008; 133(1-2); 164-171; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.06.009

Vaccine failure caused an outbreak of equine influenza in Croatia.

Abstract: In April 2004 an outbreak of equine influenza occurred at the Zagreb hippodrome, Croatia. Clinical respiratory disease of the same intensity was recorded in vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses. The equine influenza vaccine used in Croatia at the time of the outbreak contained the strains A/equine/Miami/63 (H3N8), A/equine/Fontainebleau/79 (H3N8) and A/equine/Prague/56 (H7N7). At the same time, the usual strains in vaccines used in Europe were, in accordance with the recommendation of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Expert Surveillance Panel on equine influenza, A/equine/Newmarket/1/93 (H3N8) and A/equine/Newmarket/2/93 (H3N8). At the same time, some current vaccines in the USA contained A/equine/Kentucky/97 (H3N8). Genetic characterization of the HA1 portion of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of virus isolated from the outbreak indicated that the isolate (A/equine/Zagreb/04) was an H3N8 strain closely related to recent representative viruses of the American lineage Florida sub-lineage. In comparison with both H3N8 vaccine strains used in horses at the Zagreb hippodrome, A/equine/Zagreb/04 displayed amino acids changes localised to 4 of the 5 described antigenic sites (A-D) of subunit protein HA1. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the HA1 subunit protein of the outbreak strain with that of A/equine/Newmarket/1/93 displayed three amino acids changes localised in antigenic sites B and C, while antigenic sites A, D and E were unchanged. The Zagreb 2004 outbreak strain had the same amino acids at antigenic sites of the HA1 subunit protein as the strain A/equine/Kentucky/97. Amino acid changes in antigenic sites between HA1 subunit of the outbreak strain and the strains used in the vaccines likely accounted for the vaccine failure and the same clinical signs in vaccinated and unvaccinated horses. Use of a recent strain in vaccines should limit future outbreaks.
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Publication Date: 2008-06-12 PubMed ID: 18632226DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.06.009Google 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.

In 2004, Croatia experienced an Equine Influenza outbreak due to vaccination failure. The study found that the strain of the virus in the utilized vaccine didn’t match the strain causing the outbreak, suggesting the importance of using the most current strain in vaccines to prevent future outbreaks.

Background

  • The paper focuses on an outbreak of equine influenza that occurred at the Zagreb hippodrome, Croatia in April 2004.
  • It was observed that the clinical respiratory disease affected both vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses, pointing to a case of vaccine failure.

Vaccine Strains in Use

  • The equine influenza vaccine that was being used in Croatia at the time of the outbreak contained the strains A/equine/Miami/63 (H3N8), A/equine/Fontainebleau/79 (H3N8), and A/equine/Prague/56 (H7N7).
  • However, in Europe, the typical vaccines as recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Expert Surveillance Panel on equine influenza were strains A/equine/Newmarket/1/93 (H3N8) and A/equine/Newmarket/2/93 (H3N8).
  • On the other hand, some vaccines used in the USA contained the strain A/equine/Kentucky/97 (H3N8).

Outbreak Virus Strain

  • The researchers isolated the virus responsible for the outbreak and through genetic characterization found that it was an H3N8 strain, closely related to the recent representative viruses of the American lineage Florida sub-lineage, named A/equine/Zagreb/04.
  • Upon comparison, it was discovered that the outbreak strain displayed different amino acid changes localized to 4 of the 5 described antigenic sites (A-D) of subunit protein HA1 compared to both H3N8 vaccine strains used in horses at the Zagreb hippodrome.

Significance of the Findings

  • The study found the outbreak strain also had the same amino acids at antigenic sites of the HA1 subunit protein as the strain A/equine/Kentucky/97.
  • The differences in amino acid changes in the antigenic sites between the HA1 subunit of the outbreak strain and the strains used in the vaccines likely led to the vaccine’s ineffectiveness.
  • Therefore, the study suggests that using a more recent strain in vaccines should limit similar outbreaks in the future, as the same clinical signs were observed in both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Barbic L, Madic J, Turk N, Daly J. (2008). Vaccine failure caused an outbreak of equine influenza in Croatia. Vet Microbiol, 133(1-2), 164-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.06.009

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 0378-1135
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 133
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 164-171

Researcher Affiliations

Barbic, Ljubo
  • Department for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ljubo.barbic@vef.hr
Madic, Josip
    Turk, Nenad
      Daly, Janet

        MeSH Terms

        • Amino Acid Sequence
        • Animals
        • Croatia / epidemiology
        • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
        • Female
        • Hemagglutinins / chemistry
        • Hemagglutinins / genetics
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
        • Horse Diseases / virology
        • Horses
        • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / immunology
        • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / immunology
        • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage
        • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
        • Male
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
        • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
        • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
        • Respiratory Tract Diseases / prevention & control
        • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
        • Respiratory Tract Diseases / virology
        • Treatment Failure

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