Fatal H3N8 Infections Widespread in Greyhounds in Florida
Recombinomics Commentary
May 14, 2005
>> According to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, the respiratory illness has seven out the state's 18 dog tracks under full quarantine. That includes the Daytona Beach Kennel Club.....
Veterinary researchers at the University of Florida announced last month that this new respiratory illness is the first scientific report of the equine influenza virus jumping from horses to another species. It's the likely cause of death to eight racing greyhounds from Jacksonville who died in January, a University of Florida spokeswoman said last month. <<
The jump of H3N8 was reported last year when A/canine/Florida/43/04(H3N8) was isolated and sequenced in a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Florida and the CDC in Atlanta. The isolate, from a fatal infection of a greyhound in Florida, was 96-99% homologous to equine influenza in all 8 genes. Last season the infections were largely limited to Florida, but now infections are nationwide. Tracks in the northeast near Boston are particularly hard hit, with over 30 fatal infections at two tracks.
Reports of infections in companion dogs would be a concern because the virus is readily transmitted from dog to dog. H3N8 has the same hemagglutinin serotype as the common human H3N2 influenza.
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