Epidemiology of equine influenza in the Maghreb area

Kareche, Hadda; Daly, Janet M.; Laabassi, Farouk

Abstract

Equine influenza (EI) is one of the most contagious respiratory infections in horses, donkeys and mules, caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV). It remains a disease with a strong economic stake for the equine industry. This review focuses on the epidemiological situation of EIV in the Maghreb area, which includes Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. There is serological evidence for extensive circulation of EIV in the Maghreb area since the early 1970s, but reports of detailed investigation of outbreaks are scarce with no documented isolation or molecular characterization of EIV from Tunisia. Isolates of EIV were obtained from outbreaks in Algeria in 1971/1972 and 2011. Similarly, in Morocco, isolates were obtained from outbreaks in 1997 and 2004. The viruses isolated in 2004 showed evidence of ‘evolutionary stasis’, with haemagglutinin and non-structural protein 1 sequences most similar to those of viruses isolated decades earlier. In conclusion, effective surveillance of equids in the Maghreb region, where there is potential for virus re-emergence, should be encouraged.

Citation

Kareche, H., Daly, J. M., & Laabassi, F. (2022). Epidemiology of equine influenza in the Maghreb area. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 89, Article 101868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101868

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 25, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 6, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 26, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 7, 2023
• Journal: Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 0147-9571
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-1667
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 89
• Article Number: 101868
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101868
• Keywords: Infectious Diseases; General Veterinary; General Medicine; Immunology; Immunology and Allergy; Microbiology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/10366934
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0147957122001254?via%3Dihub