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Background: Dogs in close contact with humans can serve as a source of potentially dangerous reassortant influenza viruses with zoonotic potential. The dog's body can serve as a vessel for the emergence of new influenza viruses. These new viruses can become a source of infection for other animals and humans. The potential for zoonotic transmission of influenza viruses from dogs to humans poses a public health risk. Aim: Study of the circulation of influenza viruses in the dog population in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods: Biosamples (oropharyngeal swabs, blood serum) from dogs were collected from veterinary clinics in Almaty in 2023-2024. Samples were screened using RT-PCR, HI assay and ELISA. Results: RT-PCR analysis of 355 nasopharyngeal swabs showed the presence of influenza A virus in 32 samples (9.01% of the total number of samples analyzed). When subtyping IAV H1N1 RNA was detected in 19 swabs (5.35%). IAV subtype could not be determined in 13 PCR-positive samples (3.66%). The genetic material of IAV H3N2, H5, H7, H9, as well as coronavirus, bocavirus and adenovirus has not been identified. In a serological analysis of 180 blood sera using ELISA, antibodies to IAV were detected in 5.56% (n=10). The results of the HI assay showed the presence of antihemagglutinins to A/H1N1pdm in 6.11% (11 samples), to A/H3N2 in 9.44% (17 samples), and no antibodies to IAV H5, H7 and type B were detected. Conclusion: There is no information about human infection with any canine influenza virus. However, many cases of infection of dogs with human IAVs H1N1, H1N1pdm09 and H3N2 have been described. When dogs are co-infected with different IAVs, new recombinant IAVs may emerge that can infect humans and other animals. Therefore, ongoing global surveillance of animal populations is necessary to monitor the evolution and circulation of viruses dangerous to public health. This is also important for timely preparation for the emergence of a new zoonotic influenza virus that has pandemic potential for humans. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(8.000): 1896-1904]

ABSTRACT: This study described the results of a surveillance program monitoring circulation of influenza A viruses among domestic pigs (Sus domesticus) in Kazakhstan during 2018-2021. PCR data derived from 2,513 samples (nasopharyngeal swabs) collected from swine on large pig complexes and peasant farms located in different regions of Kazakhstan revealed that about 5% of samples were positive for influenza A virus RNA. This result suggested low levels of influenza A virus circulation in Kazakhstan. Subtyping of a set of samples revealed that the main strains circulating in 2018-2019 were A/H1N1 and A/H3N2.Surveillance conducted in 2020-2021 identified only A/H1N1 viruses in swine. The PCR data were confirmed by isolation of six strains: five influenza A/H1N1 viruses and one A/H3N2 virus.

Influenza A viruses (IAV) cause persistent epidemics and occasional human pandemics, leading to considerable economic losses. The ecology and epidemiology of IAV are very complex and the emergence of novel zoonotic pathogens is one of the greatest challenges in the healthcare. IAV are characterized by genetic and antigenic variability resulting from a combination of high mutation rates and a segmented genome that provides the ability to rapidly change and adapt to new hosts. In this context, available scientific evidence is of great importance for understanding the epidemiology and evolution of influenza viruses. The present review summarizes original research papers and IAV infections reported in dogs all over the world. Reports of interspecies transmission of equine influenza viruses (EIV) H3N2 from birds to dogs, as well as double and triple reassortant strains resulting from reassortment of avian, human and canine strains have amplified the genetic variety of canine influenza viruses. A total of 146 articles were deemed acceptable by PubMed and the Google Scholar database and were therefore included in this review. The largest number of research articles (n=68) were published in Asia, followed by the Americas (n=44), Europe (n=31), Africa (n=2) and Australia (n=1). Publications are conventionally divided into three categories. The first category (largest group) included modern articles published from 2011 to the present (n=93). The second group consisted of publications from 2000 to 2010 (n=46). Single papers of 1919, 1931, 1963, 1972, 1975, and 1992 were also used, which was necessary to emphasize the history of the study of the ecology and evolution of the IAV circulating among various mammalian species. The largest number of publications occurred in 2010 (n=18) and 2015 (n=11), which is associated with IAV outbreaks observed at that time in the dog population in America, Europe and Asia. In general, these findings raise concerns that dogs, may mediate the adaptation of IAVs to zoonotic transmission and therefore serve as alternative hosts for genetic reassortment of these viruses. The global concern and significant threat to public health from the present COVID-19 pandemic confirms the necessity for active surveillance of zoonotic viral diseases with pandemic potential. [Open Vet J 2022; 12(5.000): 676-687]