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Equine Influenza Diagnosis: Sample Collection and Transport
Thomas M Chambers1, Stephanie E Reedy2
1Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. tmcham1@uky.edu.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 15, 2020
Summary
Accurate equine influenza diagnosis requires more than clinical signs. Nasopharyngeal swabs are superior to nasal swabs for collecting respiratory secretions needed for effective equine influenza virus detection and characterization.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Equine Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Clinical signs alone are insufficient for diagnosing equine influenza in horses.
- Similar clinical presentations can occur with other equine infectious respiratory diseases.
- Detection of subclinical cases is crucial for surveillance and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of diagnostic specimens for equine influenza virus confirmation.
- To emphasize the need for superior specimen collection methods for accurate diagnosis.
- To describe effective methods for obtaining nasopharyngeal swab specimens.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of diagnostic specimen types for equine influenza virus detection.
- Evaluation of nasal swabs versus nasopharyngeal swabs in horses.
- Description of techniques for nasopharyngeal swab collection.
Main Results:
- Nasopharyngeal swabs yield more equine influenza virus than nasal swabs.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs are superior diagnostic specimens for equine influenza.
- Specimen quality is critical for virus isolation and antigenic characterization.
Conclusions:
- Effective diagnosis of equine influenza virus infection depends on adequate respiratory secretion specimens.
- Nasopharyngeal swabbing is the preferred method for obtaining superior diagnostic specimens in horses.
- Accurate diagnosis and strain characterization are vital for vaccine development and disease control.
