Virginia: Dog Flu

[hawkeye]

Dog Flu Prompts Closure of Animal Shelter

August 15 - It appears that the dreaded dog flu has re-emerged in Virginia as numerous cases of the virus have been reported.</p>
<p>According to health officials in Fairfax County at least 6 cases of H3N8 virus, have been reported, resulting in the closure of a kennel in the area.</p>
<p>Currently as many as 26 dogs are in quarantine at the Fairfax county Animal Shelter as they were also exposed to the virus that has killed one animal already.</p>
<p>The virus is highly contagious amongst dogs, but humans can not contract it.</p>
<p>"It's a situation where we do need to alert the public. Now it's out there, and people need to look for symptoms," said Lucy Caldwell, Fairfax police spokeswoman.</p>
<p>The virus, presents with flu like symptoms, including; fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, nasal discharge, and thirst.</p>
<p>Owners of dogs exhibiting any of these symptoms are urged to contact their vets immediately.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

....but humans can not contract it.

But a highly human-compatible mammal can:

ACH95660 565 Swine HA H3N8 China 2006/01/06 Influenza A virus (A/swine/Anhui/01/2006(H3N8))
ACH95671 565 Swine HA H3N8 China 2005/12/15 Influenza A virus (A/swine/Chibi/01/2005(H3N8)

.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

good point, or even mix with H1N1

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

While there are some HA genetic differences, 2 canine cases in Florida (2003 & 2004) share some genes with swine that the other canine sequences do not.

.

 

[gjs47]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Undiagnosed hemorrhagic illness in Dogs in Florida (From ProMed)

Is this related?

 

[Niko]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

But a highly human-compatible mammal can:



.

The article to go with above..

http://www.springerlink.com/content/4155623pv58v0438/



Brief Report

Isolation and molecular characterization of equine H3N8 influenza viruses from pigs in China
Jiagang Tu¹, Hongbo Zhou¹, Taozhen Jiang¹, Chun Li¹, Anding Zhang¹, Xuebo Guo¹, Wei Zou¹, Huanchun Chen¹ and Meilin Jin¹
<table> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td>(1) </td> <td>Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Wuhan, People?s Republic of China</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Received: 11 February 2009 Accepted: 24 March 2009 Published online: 26 April 2009

Abstract
During 2004?2006 swine influenza virus surveillance, two strains of H3N8 influenza viruses were isolated from pigs in central China. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of eight gene segments revealed that the two swine isolates were of equine origin and most closely related to European equine H3N8 influenza viruses from the early 1990s. Comparison of hemagglutinin (HA) amino acid sequences showed several important substitutions. One substitution caused the loss of a potential glycosylation site, and two substitutions, located at the cleavage site and adjacent to the receptor-binding pocket, respectively, had been reported previously in canine H3 HAs. This expansion of host range of equine H3N8 influenza viruses with mutations in the HA protein might raise the possibility of transmission of these viruses to humans.
J. Tu and H. Zhou contributed equally to the work.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

Just to add to the evidence that influenza "knows how to get around":

In the 2006 Alaska wild bird H5N1 testing, while they found no "H5N1" positive birds, they did find some carrying H5N1 internal segment genes - inside H3N8 infected birds.

.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

Deadly Dog Flu Spreads

Deadly Dog Flu | Discovery News Video Aug. 18, 2009 --

Canine influenza, the potentially deadly H3N8 virus commonly known as dog flu, is spreading.

So far the virus has led to the death of one dog last week, closed down the kennel at Virginia's Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and, according to experts, is now affecting dogs in at least four other states: Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

While the reason for the shelter outbreak, which killed a 15-year-old whippet owned by a clinical technician and sickened 26 dogs, remains unknown, it's possible that one or more infected dogs from Philadelphia or D.C. introduced the illness to Virginia.

"Dogs often move in and out of shelter systems over long distances, such as via breed and rescue groups," Edward Dubovi, director of the virology center at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, told Discovery News.

"Boarding kennels and even elite doggie day care centers can also result in cases, since, as for kennel cough spread, the virus is highly contagious and dogs may catch it from one another," added Dubovi.

He first isolated the canine influenza virus in 2004, after University of Florida researchers sent him fluid and tissue samples from greyhound race dogs that had died from a then mysterious respiratory illness at a Florida racetrack.

Dubovi and his team determined the cause was the H3N8 equine flu virus, which jumped from horses to dogs. In addition to spreading from dog to dog, canines can also catch it from humans, who may have come into contact with infected animals.

The illness has not yet sickened any people.


http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/08/18/dog-canine-virus.html

 

[gsgs]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

don't mix eurasian swine with North-American dogs...

wasn't 1918 a reassortment of pre-existing (human,equine ?) H3N8
and mixture of avian genes from Northamerica, and Eurasia ?

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

I was looking for bird flu in Indonesia and I found this article:


Translation google

19/8/2009 7:12 WIB


After the A H5N1 and H1N1, Appears More Flu H3N8 Dogs


Rudi Zein - Newsroom, yet finished with the virus H5N1 or bird flu and swine flu or A H1N1, is now back with the feared emergence of H3N8 flu that has dog attack in a number of cities in the United States.

In some cities in the U.S. such as in New York and New Jersey, as many as 26 chickens sick dog found suspected H3N8 virus infection. City of Philadelphia, the H3N8 flu attack humans.

To ELSHINTA, Wednesday (19 / 8) morning is, Expert Biomulekuler Airlangga University Surabaya, East Java, Dr. dr. CA Nidom the H3N8 virus is also a sub-type of influenza A virus such as H5N1 and A H1N1. However, diakuinya, not much information available about the H3N8 virus and to this day have not learned more from the virus.

"It seems the news that leads to the new findings in several places," said Nidom.

Nidom added, based on existing data, influenza A virus attacks a wide range of species, including marine mammals or spesias. However, for dogs and cats before the new report found that the two animals that were infected by H5N1, and there is no information for the infected sub-sub type of the other. (der)


http://www.elshinta.com/v2003a/readnews.htm?id=77265

 

[alert]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

. City of Philadelphia, the H3N8 flu attack humans.


http://www.elshinta.com/v2003a/readnews.htm?id=77265

I don't think so. That would have been major news around here. We have had a couple of kennels in Philadelphia with H3N8 in dogs, but not in humans.

 

[gsgs]

Re: Va: Dog Flu

Re: Va: Dog Flu

While there are some HA genetic differences, 2 canine cases in Florida (2003 & 2004) share some genes with swine that the other canine sequences do not.

.

I can't verify this

 12 >A/equine/Miami/1/1963(H3N8)               
  1:157,170,152,464,146,414,108, 83   A/dog/Thailand-Suphanburi/KU-08/04(H5N1)///
  2:  0,  0,  0,---,  0,  0,117,  0   A/dog/Switzerland/2005(H1N1)///
  3:  0,  0,  0,229,  0,439,  0,  0   A/canine/Korea/GCVP01/2007(H3N2)///
  4: 63, 69, 72,---, 60,  0, 30, 36   A/canine/Jacksonville/2005///
  5:  0,  0,  0, 87,  0,  0, 28,  0   A/canine/Texas/1/2004///
  6:  0,  0,  0, 88,  0, 78,  0,  0   A/canine/Iowa/13628/2005///
  7:  0,  0,  0, 89,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/dog/Jacksonville/C3/2005///
  8:  0,  0,  0, 88,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/dog/Miami/E3/2005///
  9: 61, 64, 66, 88, 60, 78, 31, 38   A/canine/Florida/43/2004///
 10: 59, 63, 65, 85, 56, 75, 29, 36   A/canine/Florida/242/2003///
 11: 62, 71, 72, 90, 62, 78, 38, 41   A/equine/Gansu/7/2008(H3N8)
 12:  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/equine/Miami/1/1963(H3N8)
 13: 63, 69, 72,---, 60,  0, 30, 36   A/canine/Miami/2005///
 14: 24, 25, 23,401, 17,466,157, 11   A/equine/Kentucky/1a/1975(H7N7)
 15:177,182,177,406,178,470,152,171   A/equine/Lexington/1/1966(H7N7)

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

This was written by Dr Niman in 2005


H3N8 in Greyhounds in Northeast a Recombinant / Reassortant?

Recombinomics Commentary
May 13, 2005

>> "We think what we've seen is what began in Florida in December. It's almost certainly an influenza virus. The greyhounds are vaccinated, but not for this strain??

"We're catching up with it. When we started, the critically ill dogs passed away. But the less ill dogs have responded great to the medicine and the trainers are being made aware of what to do. We veterinarians don't call this `kennel cough.' We have to be careful when we try to identify what it is. I can tell you that what they had in Florida has been identified as a strain of influenza, and what the dogs have had up here is very similar." <<

The initial H3N8 isolate from Florida, A/canine/Florida/43/04(H3N8) was isolated in early 2004. The above comments indicate the outbreak in Florida for this season was also influenza, suggesting it also is H3N8. The isolate from last season was 96-99% homologous with equine influenza in all eight genes.

This season the number of greyhound fatalities is markedly higher, suggesting the virus may have changed. The number of fatalities is highest in New England where human flu was widespread. A second wave of influenza infections caused by the virulent California/7 H3N2 strain was in the northeast, raising the possibility that the latest outbreak of fatal infections may be an H3N8 that has recombined or reassorted with California/7 H3N2.

Having two H3 viruses co-circulating creates additional opportunities for emerging viruses. This may have contributed to the unprecedented number of fatalities among greyhounds in the northeast.

Atypical influenza outbreaks in the spring of 1918 preceded the deadly pandemic outbreak in the fall. The signs of unusual spring influenza activity appear to be erupting worldwide in the northern hemisphere. More information on the serotype of the influenza infecting greyhounds in the northeast would be useful, along with sequence information on isolates from this season as well as last season. The most recent H3N8 isolate from the United States at GenBank is A/equine/Kentucky/5/02(H3N8).

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05130506/H3N8_Recombinant_Reassortant.html

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

Influenza A virus subtype H3N8

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


H3N8 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus that is endemic in birds, horses and dogs.


History

H3N8 is suspected of causing a human influenza pandemic in either 1889 or 1900. Sources differ; some say the 1889 pandemic was caused by H2N2. The experts also differ on exactly how sure we can be that either were involved.

A 1997 study found H3N8 was responsible for over one quarter of the influenza infections in wild ducks.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_A_virus_subtype_H3N8

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

July 2, 2009, 11:31 am


10 Things to Know About the H3N8 Dog Flu


By Cynda Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Micah Albert for The New York Times

Who?s at risk from canine influenza?


Dr. Cynda Crawford, clinical assistant professor in the Maddie?s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, recently answered dozens of readers? questions on the Consults blog, ?The Dog Flu Virus: Are You or Your Pet At Risk?? Many readers had questions about flu symptoms, how the virus is spread and whether their pets should receive the newly approved vaccine for the disease. Here are 10 things Dr. Crawford believes everyone should know about canine influenza and the risks to pets and people.

What is canine influenza?

Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by a novel influenza virus that was first discovered in 2004. We do not use the general term ?dog flu? because it could refer to any flu-like illness in dogs due to various causes. Rather, canine influenza is a specific disease caused by a particular subtype, H3N8, of the influenza A virus.

Where does canine influenza occur?


Canine influenza has been documented in 30 states and the District of Columbia. At this time, the canine influenza virus is very prevalent in many communities in Colorado, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. There is no evidence that canine influenza H3N8 is currently infecting dogs in other countries.

What type of infection does canine influenza virus cause?

Like influenza viruses that infect other mammals, canine influenza virus causes an acute respiratory infection in dogs. It is one of several viruses and bacteria that are associated with canine infectious respiratory disease, or what?s commonly referred to as ?kennel cough.? The canine influenza virus can cause respiratory disease by itself or along with other canine respiratory pathogens.

Unlike human influenza, canine influenza is not a ?seasonal? infection. Infections can occur year round.

What are the symptoms and clinical signs of canine influenza?

Like influenza viruses in other species, canine influenza virus causes a flu-like illness consisting of cough, sneezing and nasal discharge (?runny nose?). Fever can also occur, but it is usually transient and rarely noticed by pet owners. There are no clinical signs that distinguish canine influenza from other respiratory infections. That is why diagnostic tests must be performed to determine the cause of respiratory infections in dogs (see below).

Virtually all dogs exposed to the canine influenza virus become infected; about 80 percent develop a flu-like illness, while another 20 percent do not become ill. Fortunately, most dogs recover within two weeks without any further health complications. However, some dogs progress to pneumonia, which is usually due to secondary bacterial infections.

While the death rate for canine influenza is very low, the secondary pneumonia can be life-threatening in some cases. There is no evidence that dogs of particular age or breed are more susceptible to developing pneumonia from canine influenza.

Who is susceptible to canine influenza?

Because canine influenza is due to a virus that is novel to the canine population, dogs lack preexisting immunity to the virus. Dogs of any breed, age or vaccination status are therefore susceptible to infection. It is likely that dogs that have recovered from infection retain immunity to re-infection for an undetermined time period, although studies have not verified for how long.

Canine influenza is most likely to spread in facilities where dogs are housed together and where there is a high turnover of dogs in and out of the facility. Dogs in shelters, boarding and training facilities, day care centers, veterinary clinics, pet stores and grooming parlors are at highest risk for exposure to the virus, especially if these facilities are located in communities where the virus is prevalent. Dogs that mostly stay at home and walk around the neighborhood are at low risk.

Canine influenza virus does not infect people, and there is no documentation that cats have become infected by exposure to dogs with canine influenza. Nor is there any evidence that the canine virus can infect birds.

How is canine influenza transmitted?

As with other respiratory pathogens, the most efficient transmission occurs by direct contact with infected dogs and by aerosols generated by coughing and sneezing. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs. Fortunately, the virus is easily inactivated by washing hands, clothes and other items with soap and water.


http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121457

 

[gsgs]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

 81 >A/BM18                                              
  1:174,182,180,490,161,490,146,169   A/equine/Lexington/1/1966(H7N7)
  5:110,150,131,489,150,491,148, 67   A/equine/Kentucky/1a/1975(H7N7)
  6:130,156,152,448,156,413, 77, 91   A/equine/Gansu/7/2008(H3N8)
 29:124,156,146,454,154,419, 79, 78   A/swine/Chibi/01/2005/12/15(H3N8)
 74:103,147,130,455,140,430, 63, 56   A/equine/Miami/1/1963(H3N8)
 80: 35, 38, 36, 32, 31, 45, 32, 32   A/Index/early swine
 81:  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/BM18
 82: 32, 21, 26, 51, 24, 38, 15, 17   A/Index/early human

 80 >A/Index/early swine                                  
  1:178,179,182,488,156,487,134,184   A/equine/Lexington/1/1966(H7N7)
  5:120,160,130,488,152,487,136, 92   A/equine/Kentucky/1a/1975(H7N7)
  6:135,164,153,451,158,416, 84,107   A/equine/Gansu/7/2008(H3N8)
 29:132,164,144,459,160,414, 88,103   A/swine/Chibi/01/2005/12/15(H3N8)
 74:113,153,129,459,141,428, 74, 81   A/equine/Miami/1/1963(H3N8)
 80:  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/Index/early swine
 81: 35, 38, 36, 32, 31, 45, 32, 32   A/BM18
 82: 58, 57, 58, 76, 49, 70, 37, 42   A/Index/early human

 82 >A/Index/early human                                  
  1:172,182,180,483,164,494,143,171   A/equine/Lexington/1/1966(H7N7)
  5:112,151,133,484,154,495,145, 83   A/equine/Kentucky/1a/1975(H7N7)
  6:129,159,151,448,158,415, 83,107   A/equine/Gansu/7/2008(H3N8)
 29:125,158,145,455,160,420, 85, 91   A/swine/Chibi/01/2005/12/15(H3N8)
 74:106,149,131,452,146,428, 67, 71   A/equine/Miami/1/1963(H3N8)
 80: 58, 57, 58, 76, 49, 70, 37, 42   A/Index/early swine/~1935
 81: 32, 21, 26, 51, 24, 38, 15, 17   A/BM/1918
 82:  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  0   A/Index/early human/~1935

 

[Snicklefritz]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

From CDC

Influenza A Virus (H3N8) in Dogs with Respiratory Disease, Florida
Sunchai Payungporn,* P. Cynda Crawford,? Theodore S. Kouo,* Li-mei Chen,* Justine Pompey,* William L. Castleman,? Edward J. Dubovi,? Jacqueline M. Katz,* and Ruben O. Donis*
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; ?University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA; and ?Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
In 2004, canine influenza virus subtype H3N8 emerged in greyhounds in the United States. Subsequent serologic evidence indicated virus circulation in dog breeds other than greyhounds, but the virus had not been isolated from affected animals. In 2005, we conducted virologic investigation of 7 nongreyhound dogs that died from respiratory disease in Florida and isolated influenza subtype H3N8 virus. Antigenic and genetic analysis of A/canine/Jacksonville/2005 (H3N8) and A/canine/Miami/2005 (H3N8) found similarity to earlier isolates from greyhounds, which indicates that canine influenza viruses are not restricted to greyhounds. The hemagglutinin contained 5 conserved amino acid differences that distinguish canine from equine lineages. The antigenic homogeneity of the canine viruses suggests that measurable antigenic drift has not yet occurred. Continued surveillance and antigenic analyses should monitor possible emergence of antigenic variants of canine influenza virus.

Read the entire research at:

http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/902.htm

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Virginia: Dog Flu

First dog influenza case confirmed in Augusta County (Virginia)

By Jody Lawrence/staff ? jlawrence@newsleader.com ? October 23, 2009

With the H1N1 influenza strain grabbing the headlines across the nation, it may be easy to overlook Bowser coughing in the corner.

But now, pet owners should be on the alert for flu symptoms in their canine companions.

A relatively new contagious respiratory disease of dogs, caused by a Type-A influenza virus identified as H3N8, has been discovered in a dog at the Cedar Crest animal clinic in Augusta County.


According to William Olkowski, a board-certified canine/feline specialist in Augusta County, this is the first case of the virus in the county. In the last 10 months there have been six other cases confirmed in Virginia ? before that there had been none reported.


?The concern for dog owners, as well as veterinarians, is that this canine influenza viral infection can?t be easily differentiated from other more common respiratory ailments,? Olkowski said. Dogs come in coughing and sneezing, he said, and we can?t tell by looking at them if they have the virus. The symptoms are the same as a cold or the common kennel cough.

http://www.newsleader.com/article/2...og+influenza+case+confirmed+in+Augusta+County