Characterization of a Canadian mink H3N2 influenza A virus isolate genetically related to triple reassortant swine influenza virus.
In 2007, an H3N2 influenza A virus was isolated from Canadian mink. This virus was found to be phylogenetically related to a triple reassortant influenza virus which emerged in Canadian swine in 2005, but it is antigenically distinct. The transmission of the virus from swine to mink seems to have occurred following the feeding of animals with a ration composed of uncooked meat by-products of swine obtained from slaughterhouse facilities. Serological analyses suggest that the mink influenza virus does not circulate in the swine population. Presently, the prevalence of influenza virus in Canadian farmed and wild mink populations is unknown. The natural occurrence of influenza virus infection in mink with the presence of clinical signs is a rare event that deserves to be reported.
Gagnon
Carl A
CA
Service de Diagnostic, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. carl.a.gagnon@umontreal.ca
Spearman
Grant
G
Hamel
Andre
A
Godson
Dale L
DL
Fortin
Audrey
A
Fontaine
Guy
G
Tremblay
Donald
D
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002170:Canada; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008907:Mink; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013552:Swine
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral