EquiFluNet | News and Events

Two outbreaks of equine influenza in the Al Qahirah (Heliopolis) and Al Jizah regions of Egypt, have been reported to the OIE by the Chairman of the General Organisation for Veterinary Services (GOVS), Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt.

According to the OIE report, equine influenza virus infection was confirmed by real-time PCR at the Animal Health Research Institute, on 10/07/08 and 21/07/08. The serotype of the virus has not yet been confirmed.

Equine Influenza – Scotland, UK
29th May 2008

In mid May eight cases of equine influenza in Scotland were diagnosed by NP ELISA at the Animal Health Trust from nasal swabs submitted to the diagnostic unit. The samples were submitted from two different locations with suspected recent horse movement involved.

Genetic characterisation performed at the AHT has shown that the isolates are similar to strains isolated in the UK during 2007 and therefore belong to the Clade II cluster of the H3N8 Florida sub-lineage.

Antigenic characterisation is currently underway following successful virus isolation.

Equine Influenza – Czech Republic
January 2008
The following information was kindly supplied by MVDr. Petr Lany from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno in the Czech Republic.In January around 50 thoroughbred racehorses in the Velka Chuchle training centre displayed clinical signs of influenza virus infection. Nasal swabs from half of the horses were tested by real-time RT-PCR for the detection of matrix RNA. The samples with positive results were further tested by nested PCR for H3 RNA, and swab material was inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs.

H.P.Meier* and H.J.Heiz°
* Pferdeklinik der Universitaet Bern, °Bundesamt für Veterinaerwesen Liebefeld

These notifications originate from the monitoring- and surveillance-system “Equi-nella“ of the University of Berne, the Federal Veterinary Office and members of the Swiss Equine Veterinary Association. There are only a very few thoroughbreds represented and they mostly include the wide range of breeds used in Switzerland (n = approx. 80‘000).

An outbreak with clinically mild to more severe symptoms was reported in November 2007, affecting approximately a dozen non-thoroughbreds in two neighbouring stables only. The animals had been vaccinated according to FEI regulations and showed signs from coughing, apathy, light inappetence and intermittent fever to severe dyspnoea and foamy nasal discharge. Diagnosis was made by clinical signs and isolation of an A/equi-2/H3N8-virus by the Virology Unit of the Veterinary Faculty of Berne. However, there is a possibility that the wide range of clinical symptoms was due to secondary bacterial infection(s) as well. Moreover, one got the impression that the disease awareness and the diagnostic approach were fairly poor. These observations most probably are due to the fact that the last outbreak of influenza occurred a few years before (in 2000).

In the past 10 days there have been 7 samples submitted to the Animal Health Trust that have proven positive for EIV by NP ELISA. The samples have been submitted from 3 main locations in the UK: Berkshire, Lincolnshire and Cheshire. So far there has been no link found between the outbreaks at these three locations.

Virus isolation, antigenic and genetic characterisation is currently underway at the AHT.

Equine influenza has been reported in the Xinjiang province of China. A total of 5500 cases have been identified and it is estimated that there are 130,000 susceptible animals in the area. Screening of horses for disease is occurring and affected animals have been quarantines to try to restrict the spread of disease. The first case was diagnosed on October 30th. No further information is available at this time, but this report will be updated when new information becomes available.

Equine influenza (EI) was first detected at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station (ECQS), Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, on 17 August 2007. Sick horses were seen on 22 August 2007 at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) in Sydney. Affected horses were identified in New South Wales and in the south-eastern area of Queensland. In total, over 40,000 horses were affected by influenza. The number of new cases peaked in late September and has been declining since that time.

No new cases have been identified since Christmas 2007 and Australia is now thought to be free of equine influenza. Areas of Queensland and New South Wales remain classed as ‘green’ zones and ‘white’ zones and requirements for registering movement of horses within these zones remain, however movement freedom has been substantially increased. New South Wales was declared free of EI on February 28th and Queensland was declared disease free on March 14th. Surveillance will continue throughout the rest of 2008 and Australia will not be officially declared free of EI until this has been completed.

An outbreak of suspected equine influenza virus was reported in Kazakhstan on August 26th. Horses are showing signs of pyrexia, sneezing and coughing and samples have been taken from 300 horses for further investigation. Local vets suspect the horses are suffering from equine influenza however a definitive diagnosis has not yet been reached. A ban of horse movement has been imposed on all affected villages to try to control the spread of the disease.

This information is taken from an International Collating Centre report published following a report received from Japan.
On 15th August at the Miho Training Centre (TC), a nasal swab sample taken from a febrile Thoroughbred race horse reacted positively to the influenza A detection kit, Espline (Fuji-revio, Japan). The nasal sample was sent to the Epizootic Research Centre, Equine Research Institute, JRA and subjected to an RT-PCR test to detect HA gene of equine influenza 2 virus (H3N8). A positive result was obtained and virus isolation from PCR positive samples using embryonated eggs is underway.
Japan has been free of equine influenza for 36 years and all racehorses in the country are vaccinated twice a year. The outbreak affected thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred horses throughout the country. It is estimated that a total of 2042 horses have been clinically or sub-clinically affected by EI. Six race meetings were cancelled on August 18th-19th at Sappolo, Niigata and Kokura racecourses. Japanese Racing Authority (JRA) race meetings resumed on August 25th under strict biosecurity conditions. A subclinical case of EI in a racehorse was detected in late September. No further cases were identified in racehorses for 2 months however on the 17th November an outbreak in 20 horses occurred that lasted for 2 weeks. Since this time there has only been one subclinically affected horse detected in JRA facilities.

The National Sports Federation began on October 5th. EIV was detected in participating horses despite reinforced precautions. All equestrian events were cancelled. Since this time a number of small scale outbreaks have occurred around the country, but all are now resolved.

The origin of the Japanese virus and means by which it entered the country are still under investigation. The virus is known to be of the variant American sublineage of EI viruses. The authorities are aiming to eliminate the virus from Japan.
The Animal Health Trust is an OIE reference laboratory for equine influenza virus and has a great deal of experience in working with this virus. We have been in contact with the Epizootic Research Centre at the Equine Research Institute of the Japanese Racing Association.

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