Genetic and serologic surveillance of canine (CIV) and equine (EIV) influenza virus in Nuevo León State, México

Claudia B Plata-Hipólito; Sibilina Cedillo-Rosales; Nelson Obregón-Macías; Carlos E Hernández-Luna; Cristina Rodríguez-Padilla; Reyes S Tamez-Guerra; Juan F Contreras-Cordero

doi:10.7717/peerj.8239

Genetic and serologic surveillance of canine (CIV) and equine (EIV) influenza virus in Nuevo León State, México

PeerJ. 2019 Dec 17:7:e8239. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8239. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Claudia B Plata-Hipólito¹, Sibilina Cedillo-Rosales², Nelson Obregón-Macías³, Carlos E Hernández-Luna⁴, Cristina Rodríguez-Padilla¹, Reyes S Tamez-Guerra¹, Juan F Contreras-Cordero¹

Affiliations

¹ Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.
² Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Virología, Escobedo, Nuevo León, México.
³ Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Departamento de Grandes Especies, Escobedo, Nuevo León, México.
⁴ Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Química, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.

Abstract

Background: Despite the uncontrolled distribution of the Influenza A virus through wild birds, the detection of canine influenza virus and equine influenza virus in Mexico was absent until now. Recently, outbreaks of equine and canine influenza have been reported around the world; the virus spreads quickly among animals and there is potential for zoonotic transmission.

Methods: Amplification of the Influenza A virus matrix gene from necropsies, nasal and conjunctival swabs from trash service horses and pets/stray dogs was performed through RT-PCR. The seroprevalence was carried out through Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system using the M1 recombinant protein and polyclonal antibodies anti-M1.

Results: The matrix gene was amplified from 13 (19.11%) nasal swabs, two (2.94%) conjunctival swabs and five (7.35%) lung necropsies, giving a total of 20 (29.41%) positive samples in a pet dog population. A total of six (75%) positive samples of equine nasal swab were amplified. Sequence analysis showed 96-99% identity with sequences of Influenza A virus matrix gene present in H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 subtypes. The phylogenetic analysis of the sequences revealed higher identity with matrix gene sequences detected from zoonotic isolates of subtype H1N1/2009. The detection of anti-M1 antibodies in stray dogs showed a prevalence of 123 (100%) of the sampled population, whereas in horses, 114 (92.68%) positivity was obtained.

Conclusion: The results unveil the prevalence of Influenza A virus in the population of horses and dogs in the state of Nuevo Leon, which could indicate a possible outbreak of equine and Canine Influenza in Mexico. We suggest that the prevalence of Influenza virus in companion animals be monitored to investigate its epizootic and zoonotic potential, in addition to encouraging the regulation of vaccination in these animal species in order to improve their quality of life.

Keywords: Canine Influenza Virus (CIV); Equine Influenza Virus (EIV); Matrix gene (M); Polyclonal antibodies.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Grant No. 557222 from the National Council for Science and Technology, Mexico (CONACYT) and grant CN391-15-PAICYT from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México. Claudia Bernardette Plata Hipólito was the recipient of a fellowship from CONACYT, México. There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.