title: Serological evidence of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in pigs, West and Central Africa.
abstract: Besides birds, pigs are another important reservoir of influenza A viruses that can be transmitted to human, as highlighted by the emergence and spread of the pandemic (H1N1) virus (pdm/09) in 2009. Surveillance in pigs is therefore necessary for public health and influenza pandemic preparedness. Nevertheless, there is a serious lack of data on influenza in Africa, especially in swine. We therefore collected serum samples from pigs in Nigeria (2009, 2012) and Cameroon (2011) in which the presence of anti-influenza A neutralizing antibodies was investigated. Our serological survey suggests that, before the 2009 pandemic, only rare swine and human H3N2 or human H1N1 infections occurred in Nigeria in swine. However, in 2011-2012, 27.4% of pigs in Nigeria and 5.6% in Cameroon had antibodies against H1N1 viruses. Higher antibody titres against pdm/09 suggested that pigs were exposed to this or a similar virus, either by multiple introductions or sustained circulation, and that reactivity against American and European swine H1N1 viruses resulted from cross-reaction.
authors: Institute of Immunology, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé/Laboratoire National de Santé, 20A rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors: Chantal J
authors: CJ
authors: Snoeck
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors: Olusoji J
authors: OJ
authors: Abiola
authors: Institute of Immunology, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé/Laboratoire National de Santé, 20A rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors: Aurélie
authors: A
authors: Sausy
authors: District Hospital Bali, North West Regional Delegation of Public Health, Bamenda, Northwest Province, Cameroon.
authors: Mbah P
authors: MP
authors: Okwen
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors: Ayoade G
authors: AG
authors: Olubayo
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors: Ademola A
authors: AA
authors: Owoade
authors: Institute of Immunology, Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé/Laboratoire National de Santé, 20A rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Electronic address: claude.muller@crp-sante.lu.
authors: Claude P
authors: CP
authors: Muller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Africa; Influenza A; Neutralizing antibodies; Pandemic virus; Swine