SEROSURVEILLANCE OF EQUINE H3 INFLUENZA VIRUS IN HORSES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

摘要

As part of ongoing influenza virus surveillance in Nigeria, sixty serum samples were collected from resident polo horses at Ibadan Polo Club, Southwestern Nigeria and analyzed by Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test for antibodies to the subtype H3equine influenza virus. The results of this study showed a generally low HI antibody titre when compared with the control antiserum used which had a titre of 640. Forty-five samples (75%) had HI titres between 10 and 80 while 13 samples (21.67%) were between 160 and 320. Only one sample (1.67%) had a titre of 5,120 while one was negative. These findings indicate a low antibody level, which may fail to protect these valuable horses in cases of exposure to virulent strains of H3 sub-type viruses. Also lowantibody level indicates little or no current circulation of H3 influenza vims in the population. Thus surveillance efforts should continue to be intensified with regards to influenza. The indiscriminate importation and transportation of horses should be avoided.