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
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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.
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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
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