Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pandemic H1N1 flu antibodies found in dogs in southern Spain
By Jurado-Tarifa, Estefanía et al.·Published in Zoonoses and public health·2020·Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serosurvey of pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus in dogs in Andalusia (southern Spain).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog in southern Spain was tested for exposure to the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus after concerns about the virus spreading to pets. Out of 750 dogs tested between 2013 and 2016, only one adult dog showed antibodies against the virus, indicating it had been exposed. This suggests that dogs in this region have a low risk of contracting or transmitting the H1N1 virus to humans. Overall, the findings indicate that while dogs can be exposed to this virus, the chances are quite limited.
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Abstract
In April 2009, a new influenza A virus (IAV) subtype (A(H1N1)pdm09) spread worldwide and triggered the first human influenza pandemic of the 21st century. Since then, exposure to the pandemic H1N1 IAV has been confirmed in different animal species. Serological evidence and clinical infection with A(H1N1)pdm09 have been reported in canines, but the information available about the role of dogs in the epidemiology of this IAV subtype is still very limited in Europe. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09 in dogs in southern Spain, a region with endemic seasonal circulation in human. Sera from 750 companion dogs were collected during the period 2013-2016. Antibodies against pandemic H1N1 IAV were analysed using the haemagglutination inhibition test. Positive samples were also tested by single radial haemolysis assay. Seropositivity was only confirmed by both methods in one (0.13%; 95% CI: 0.00-0.38) adult animal sampled in 2013. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of A(H1N1)pdm09 exposure in dogs in Spain. The low seroprevalence obtained indicates a limited exposure history to A(H1N1)pdm09 IAV in dogs in this country and suggests a low risk of transmission of this zoonotic IAV subtype between humans and dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32772511/