Affiliation:
1. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Departamento de Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico
2. Grupo de Investigación del Departamento de Medicina y Zootecnia de Cerdos, Facultad de Medicina y Zootecnia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico
3. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco Villahermosa Tabasco Mexico
4. Unidad de Investigación de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico
Abstract
AbstractAimsThis study aimed to identify exposure to human, swine, and avian influenza A virus subtypes in rural companion and hunting dogs, backyard pigs, and feral pigs.Methods and ResultsThe study took place in a region of southeastern Mexico where the sampled individuals were part of backyard production systems in which different domestic and wild species coexist and interact with humans. We collected blood samples from pigs and dogs at each of the sites. We used a nucleoprotein enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to determine the exposure of individuals to influenza A virus. Haemagglutination inhibition was performed on the positive samples to determine the subtypes to which they were exposed. For data analysis, a binomial logistic regression model was generated to determine the predictor variables for the seropositivity of the individuals in the study. We identified 11 positive individuals: three backyard pigs, four companion dogs, and four hunting dogs. The pigs tested positive for H1N1 and H1N2. The dogs were positive for H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. The model showed that dogs in contact with backyard chickens are more likely to be seropositive for influenza A viruses.ConclusionsWe demonstrated the essential role hunting dogs could play as intermediate hosts and potential mixing vessel hosts when exposed to human and swine‐origin viral subtypes. These results are relevant because these dogs interact with domestic hosts and humans in backyard systems, which are risk scenarios in the transmission of influenza A viruses. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to implement epidemiological surveillance of influenza A viruses in backyard animals, particularly in key animals in the transmission of these viruses, such as dogs and pigs.
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,General Veterinary,General Immunology and Microbiology,Epidemiology