Arch Environ Occup Health . Ambient hydrogen sulfide exposure increases the severity of influenza A virus infection in swine

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Arch Environ Occup Health


. 2021 Mar 22;1-13.
doi: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1896986. Online ahead of print.
Ambient hydrogen sulfide exposure increases the severity of influenza A virus infection in swine


Cristina M Santana ¹ , Phillip Gauger ¹ , Amber Vetger ¹ , Drew Magstadt ¹ , Dong-Suk Kim ¹ , Denusha Shrestha ² , Chandrashekhar Charavaryamath ² , Wilson K Rumbeiha ³



Affiliations

• PMID: 33750267
• DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1896986

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is common in concentrated pig feed operations from the decomposition of manure. Ambient H₂S is a respiratory tract irritant and an environmental stressor for caretakers and pigs. Influenza A virus (IAV), a zoonotic pathogen, has caused prior pandemics. The effects of H₂S or IAV alone on the respiratory system have been investigated, but their interaction has not. We hypothesized that exposure to environmentally-relevant H₂S concentrations increases the pathogenicity of IAV infection in swine. Thirty-five, three-week old pigs of mixed sex were exposed to breathing air or H₂S via inhalation 6 hours daily for 12 days. After 7 days, pigs were inoculated with H3N2 IAV (or a placebo). Results showed that ambient H₂S increased the severity of respiratory distress and lung pathology. H₂S also suppressed IL-IL-1?, IL-6 and IL-8 cytokine response in BALF and increased viral loads and nasal shedding.

Keywords: Hydrogen sulfide; environmental stressor; influenza A virus; pigs; zoonotic disease.