Equine influenza in the Netherlands during the winter of 1978-1979; antigenic drift of the A-equi 2 virus.
Influenza virus A-equi 2(Heq2Neq2) caused an epizootic in the Netherlands in the winter of 1978-1979. Horses vaccinated with A/Equi/Praha/56 (HEq1Neq1) and A/Equi/Miami/63 (Heq2Neq2) were also infected and showed clinical signs. The virus involved showed a marked antigenic drift from the prototype and vaccine strain A/Equi/Miami/63 (Heq2Neq2). Infection of ferrets with the Dutch/79 isolates gave rise to high haemagglutination-inhibition antibody titres to a number of A-Equi 2-1963, 1968 and 1979 viruses. The incorporation of this virus into future influenza vaccines should be considered.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D000956:Antigens, Viral