| Autor: |
Olufemi OT; One Virology, Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos 930003, Nigeria., Edeh ER; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos 930003, Nigeria., Isyaku MS; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bayero University Kano, Kano 700006, Nigeria., Haliru M; Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Usman Faruk Secretariat, Sokoto 840103, Nigeria., Samaila S; Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Usman Faruk Secretariat, Sokoto 840103, Nigeria., Mshelia PW; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria., Owolodun OA; Biotechnology Centre, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom 930103, Nigeria., Newton JR; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK., Daly JM; One Virology, Wolfson Centre for Global Virus Research, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK. |
| Abstrakt: |
Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68−74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05−2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5−14-year-olds and OR 8.13, 95% CI: 2.75−24.1 (p < 0.001) for ≥15-year-olds compared to horses <5 years old. The mean SRH value was 78.2 mm2 (median = 88 mm2, interquartile range = 0−121 mm2) with only 9% of the horses having an SRH value > 150 mm2, considered sufficient to protect against clinical disease and virus shedding. Comparative screening of a subset of the horses (n = 118) with a 2019 H3N8 virus (A/equine/Worcestershire/2019) revealed a significantly greater seropositivity (p = 0.0001) than A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 consistent with exposure of the population during a widespread outbreak of EI in the region in 2019. In conclusion, there was an insufficient level of protection against EI in the region and introduction of a vaccination programme with vaccines containing recently circulating virus is recommended to mitigate against further outbreaks of EI in Nigeria. |
