• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Vet Microbiol . Detection of equine influenza virus gene in the air around infected horses

tetano

Editor, Senior Moderator
Vet Microbiol


. 2025 Jan 11:302:110388.
doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2025.110388. Online ahead of print. Detection of equine influenza virus gene in the air around infected horses

Manabu Nemoto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nanako Kawanishi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Yoshinori Kambayashi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Hiroshi Bannai[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Takashi Yamanaka[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Koji Tsujimura[SUP] 2 [/SUP]



Affiliations
Abstract

Equine influenza virus (EIV) can be transmitted by inhalation of aerosolized droplets, direct contact, and contaminated fomites. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports of the recovery of EIV from the air surrounding infected horses. Here, we evaluated whether EIV can be recovered from the air in the stalls of experimentally infected horses by using an air sampler. Furthermore, we examined whether rapid molecular test kits with reaction times of less than 30 min can detect EIV from air samples for potential field application. Two horses kept in individual stalls were experimentally infected with EIV. Air samples were collected daily by using an air sampler until 13 days post-inoculation (dpi). Viral genes were detected in 26 out of 28 air samples from both horses at 1-13 dpi by real-time RT-PCR. A rapid molecular test kit based on real-time RT-PCR detected viral genes in 23 air samples from one horse at 1-9 and 12 dpi, and from the other at 1-13 dpi. These findings confirm that horses infected with EIV shed the virus into the air. Air sampling is safe for humans and horses and avoids the potential for injury when nasopharyngeal swabs need to be collected from untrained or aggressive horses. EIV RNA was detected in the air samples by using real-time RT-PCR or the rapid molecular test kit before the horses showed clinical signs. Thus, air samplers can detect EIV RNA as early as possible through routine testing in locations such as quarantine facilities.

Keywords: Air sampling; Challenge study; Equine influenza; Horse.

 
Back
Top Bottom