Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research  2016;5(2):117-124

doi:10.7774/cevr.2016.5.2.117

Influenza virus vaccine for neglected hosts: horses and dogs.

Woonsung NA 1 ; Minjoo YEOM ; Huijoon YUK ; Hyoungjoon MOON ; Bokyu KANG ; Daesub SONG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Influenza A virus; H3N8 subtype; H3N2 subtype; Disease transmission; Infectious; Influenza vaccine

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

This study provides information regarding vaccine research and the epidemiology of influenza virus in neglected hosts (horses and dogs). Equine influenza virus (EIV) causes a highly contagious disease in horses and other equids, and outbreaks have occurred worldwide. EIV has resulted in costly damage to the horse industry and has the ability of cross the host species barrier from horses to dogs. Canine influenza is a virus of equine or avian origin and infects companion animals that live in close contact with humans; this results in possible exposure to the seasonal epizootic influenza virus. There have been case reports of genetic reassortment between human and canine influenza viruses, which results in high virulence and the ability of transmission to ferrets. This emphasizes the need for vaccine research on neglected hosts to update knowledge on current strains and to advance technology for controlling influenza outbreaks for public health.