Serological and molecular investigation of canine influenza virus in Plateau State, Nigeria

Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by the Influenza A Virus (IAV), characterized cough, sneeze, nasal secretions, and inappetence. Infections can be mild, severe or fatal. Aquatic birds constitute natural reservoir for IAV, which transmitted to terrestrial birds, including poultry. IAV has also emerged in other mammalian species, humans, swine, horses, dogs. epidemics are recent development. Commonly detected (CIV) strains A/H3N2 A/H3N8 from avian equine influenza, respectively. Nigeria’s agro-ecology witnessed widespread circulation since 2006, outbreaks 2018/2019 raise possibility inter-species transmission To investigate canine Plateau State, we collected 113 swabs 270 sera samples clinics, live dog markets, during vaccination campaigns. After extracting nucleic acid with Qiagen kit, RT-PCR analysed matrix gene. Sera were screened Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay before subtyping cross-section H3 antibody Hemagglutination Inhibition. No gene was amplified extracted swabs. Though few reactive nucleoprotein, none positive A/H3. The H3N8 strain virus first an epidemic 1999 United States. Subsequently, avian-origin H3N2 CIV China South Korea 2005. Past arose single cross-species subtype intermediate host reservoir. Even though this limited investigation did not detect potential remains because persistent avian, Nigeria, requires more extensive virological serological surveillance.