Activities in 2009 Equine influenza Dr J. Mumford Dept Veterinary medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom Tel.: (+44-1223) 76.49.64; Fax: (+44-1223) 76.46.67 E-mail: jam50@hermes.cam.ac.uk PP Dr. D. Elton Animal Health Trust, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, United Kingdom Tel.: (+44-1638) 75.06.59 ext. 1262; E-mail: debra.elton@aht.org.uk Summary of general activities related to the disease 1. 2. Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease at your laboratory Test For No. samples tested Total positive HI Antibody 1426 63 NP-ELISA Antigen 1051 26 Egg isolation Live virus 16 14 Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents The laboratory supplies reference viruses and ferret antisera. Activities specifically related to the mandate of OIE Reference Laboratories 3. International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the production and testing of vaccines The laboratory has participated in a ring trial test of blinded nasal swab extracts, organised by the Irish Equine Centre (Michelle Quinlivan and Prof Anne Cullinane (OIE Expert for Equine Influenza). A panel of blinded equine sera of known antibody titres, post infection and post vaccination, were supplied to the Irish equine Centre for standardisation of their SRH assay. 4. Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines – 5. Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control A quantitative RT-PCR probe-based assay has been developed and validated in house for use in the diagnostic laboratory, using a panel of over 200 nasal swabs from previous experimental challenge studies. This assay has also been used successfully to detect viral RNA in equine tracheal tissue. Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 1 Equine influenza 6. Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease control Surveillance data has been collected and also compiled from submissions to the AHT via the International Collating Centre. Virus isolates from the UK, Germany and USA were subjected to sequence analysis and antigenic characterisation using a panel of ferret sera. Data was circulated to the Equine Influenza Expert Surveillance Panel for the meeting held in Florida, USA, February 2010 to review the need to update vaccine strains. Information on eth global disease situation was provided to the International Movement of Horses Committee meeting, Hong Kong, December 2009. 7. Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Members Assistance and expertise was provided to India, including antigenic and genetic characterisation of outbreak strains and analysis of sera. Also potential vaccine preparations were quantified by single radial diffusion assay (SRD). 8. Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Members – 9. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Members We have provided EIV diagnostic services to France. 10. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies DE was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the ISIRV meeting on Neglected Influenza Viruses (Florida, February 2010). 11. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies Reference strains and sera have been supplied to the National Institute for Medical Research, for a collaborative project with Takashi Yamanaka. 12. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences) Presentations at international conferences and meetings Poster - MacRae S., Wright N., Bryant N., Rash A., Slater J., Daly J., Elton D., Paillot R. Targeting of innate immunity: First investigation of the equine influenza virus PB1-F2. III European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Berlin, Germany, 10-13 September 2009. Poster - MacRae S., Paillot R., Slater J., Digard P., Daly J.M., Elton D. Establishment of in vitro systems to model equine influenza virus infection and cytokine responses in the natural host. III European Veterinary Immunology Workshop, Berlin, Germany, 10-13 September 2009. Oral presentation- Bryant N. Equine influenza in the UK. Equine Influenza and Herpesviruses – State of the Art, October 16th Seminaris Hotel, Berlin, Germany. Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals Bryant NA, Paillot R, Rash AS, Medcalf E, Montesso F, Ross J, Watson J, Jeggo M, Lewis NS, Newton JR, Elton DM (2010) Comparison of two modern vaccines and previous influenza infection against challenge with an equine influenza virus from the Australian 2007 outbreak. Vet Res. 2010 Mar-Apr;41(2):19. Epub 2009 Oct 29. 2 Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 Equine influenza Bryant NA, Rash AS, Russell CA, Ross J, Cooke A, Bowman S, MacRae S, Lewis NS, Paillot R, Zanoni R, Meier H, Griffiths LA, Daly JM, Tiwari A, Chambers TM, Newton JR, Elton DM.Antigenic and genetic variations in European and North American equine influenza virus strains (H3N8) isolated from 2006 to 2007 (2009) Vet Microbiol. 2009 Jul 2;138(1-2):41-52. Epub 2009 Mar 1. 13. Inscription of diagnostic kits on the OIE Register i) Did you participate in expert panels for the validation of candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for which kits? – ii) Did you submit to the OIE candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for which kits? – _______________ Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 3