Serologic evidence of exposure to influenza D virus among persons with occupational contact with cattle.
Influenza D virus (IDV), a novel influenza virus with proposed classification: family Orthomyxoviridae, genus Influenzavirus D, species Influenza D virus, has been associated with influenza-like illness in cattle and swine. More recently, anti-IDV antibodies have also been detected in small ruminants. A seroprevalence of approximately 1.3% has been estimated for the general human population.



To gain insights on the zoonotic potential of IDV to human adults with occupational exposure to cattle in north central Florida.



A cross-sectional serological study was performed on human serum samples from 35 cattle-exposed and 11 non-cattle-exposed adults to screen for IDV antibodies using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays.



A seroprevalence of 91% was detected via HI assay, and 97% by MN assay among individuals working with cattle in Florida. Among non-cattle-exposed individuals, seropositivity determined via MN assay (only) was lower (18%).



IDV poses a zoonotic risk to cattle-exposed workers, based on detection of high seroprevalence (94-97%). Whereas it is still unknown whether IDV causes disease in humans, our studies indicate that the virus may be an emerging pathogen among cattle-workers.
Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Sarah K
SK
White
Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Wenjun
W
Ma
Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Clinton J
CJ
McDaniel
Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Gregory C
GC
Gray
Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: jlednicky@phhp.ufl.edu.
John A
JA
Lednicky
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections; D018117:Thogotovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses
D000914:Antibodies, Viral
Influenza; Influenza D virus; Occupational health; Zoonoses