Isolation of A/Equi-2 virus during 1987 equine influenza epidemic in India

Processing of nasal materials from clinical cases during the 1987 influenza epidemic in Northern and Central India resulted in the isolation of two haemagglutinating agents; one each from donkeys and horses at Bhiwani in Haryana State and Ludhiana in Punjab State, respectively. These were typed as Influenza A/Equi-2 viruses by haemagglutination inhibition test. The two isolates were designated as A/Equi-2/Bhiwani/1/87 and A/Equi-2/Ludhiana/1/87. The Bhiwani/87 isolate was confirmed to have H3N8 antigenic structure and was indistinguishable from the Miami/63 strain of A/Equi-2 virus. However, the A/Equi-2 Ludhiana/87 isolate was closely related to the Fontainebleau/79 strain of A/equi-2 virus.