AAEP Annual Convention Salt Lake City 2014
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Voluntary Surveillance Program for Equine Influenza Virus in the United States From 2010 to 2013

Author(s):

N. Pusterla, P. Kass, S. Mapes, C...

In: AAEP Annual Convention - Salt Lake City, 2014 by American Association of Equine Practitioners
Updated:
DEC 10, 2014
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This study provides valuable and contemporary information on the frequency of equine influenza virus (EIV) detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the U.S. The results also point to the fact that older and previously vaccinated horses were susceptible to EIV. Author’s addresses: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Pusterla, Mapes, Wademan, Akana) and Department of Population Health and Reproduction (Kass), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; and Merck Animal Health (Barnett, MacKenzie, Vaala), Summit, NJ 07901; email: npusterla@ucdavis.edu. 

1. Introduction

Recent surveillance studies for equine respiratory viruses have shown that EIV continues to be a prevalent viral respiratory pathogen of horses throughout the U.S. and Europe. Due to the highly contagious nature and rapid spread of EIV, this virus has severe financial implications for the horse industry. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of the prevalence and epidemiology of EIV shed by horses presented to veterinarians with an upper respiratory tract infection from March 2010 to November 2013.

2. Materials and Methods

Nasal secretions from 2375 equids with acute onset of respiratory disease were tested by qPCR for EIV. Categorical analyses were performed to determine the association between observations and EIV. Furthermore, observations from EIV positive study horses were compared to previous data from March 2008 to February 2010. Sequencing analysis of the HA1 gene of EIV was performed on 29 EIV isolates. 

3. Results and Discussion

A total of 230 (9.7%) equids tested qPCR positive for EIV. The EIV positive equids in the 1 to 5 and 6 to 10 year age group, as well as Quarter Horses, were over-represented. Fever, nasal discharge, and coughing were more commonly observed in EIV positive horses than the entire study population. The EIV qPCR positive study cases were significantly older and more often vaccinated against EIV compared to EIV qPCR positive animals from the 2008 to 2010 study period. All of the sequenced EIV isolates belonged to the clade 1 Florida sublineage.

Acknowledgments

Conflict of Interest

This study was supported by Merck Animal Health.

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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication

he fact that older and previously vaccinated horses were susceptible to EIV. Author’s addresses: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Pusterla, Mapes, Wademan, Akana) and Department of Population Health and Reproduction (Kass), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; and Merck Animal Health (Barnett, MacKenzie, Vaala), Summit, NJ 07901

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