Transmission of Equine Influenza Virus to Dogs

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-10, Vol.310 (5747), p.482-485
• Main Authors: Crawford, P. C., Dubovi, Edward J., Castleman, William L., Stephenson, Iain, Gibbs, E. P. J., Chen, Limei, Smith, Catherine, Hill, Richard C., Ferro, Pamela, Pompey, Justine, Bright, Rick A., Medina, Marie-Jo, Influenza Genomics Group, Johnson, Calvin M., Olsen, Christopher W., Cox, Nancy J., Klimov, Alexander I., Katz, Jacqueline M., Donis, Ruben O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Amino Acid Substitution; Analysis; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Canine influenza; Canines; Cell Line; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; Disease transmission; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dog Diseases - transmission; Dog Diseases - virology; Dogs; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Etiology; Florida - epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - chemistry; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus - genetics; Horse Diseases - transmission; Horse Diseases - virology; Horses; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype - classification; Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype - immunology; Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype - pathogenicity; Lungs; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Orthomyxoviridae; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - transmission; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - veterinary; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - virology; Pets; Phylogeny; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory System - pathology; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Species Specificity; United States - epidemiology; Virology; Virus Shedding; Viruses
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1117950

Molecular and antigenic analyses of three influenza viruses isolated from outbreaks of severe respiratory disease in racing greyhounds revealed that they are closely related to H3N8 equine influenza virus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the canine influenza virus genomes form a monophyletic group, consistent with a single interspecies virus transfer. Molecular changes in the hemagglutinin suggested adaptive evolution in the new host. The etiologic role of this virus in respiratory disease was supported by the temporal association of rising antibody titers with disease and by experimental inoculation studies. The geographic expansion of the infection and its persistence for several years indicate efficient transmission of canine influenza virus among greyhounds. Evidence of infection in pet dogs suggests that this infection may also become enzootic in this population.