@article{616e35da844c46e29f3ab42d44b5b82c,
title = "Influenza A viruses are likely highly prevalent in South African swine farms",
abstract = "Growth in pork production during the last decade in South Africa has escalated the risk of zoonotic pathogen emergence. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate evidence for transmission of influenza A virus between pigs and swine workers. Between February and October 2018, samples from swine workers and pigs were collected from three farms in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Workers nasal washes and serum samples, and swine oral secretion samples (rope sampling method) were studied for evidence of swine influenza A virus infection using molecular and serological methods. Among 84 human nasal washes and 51 swine oral secretion specimens, 44 (52.4%) and 6 (11.8%) had molecular evidence of influenza A virus. Microneutralization assays with enrolled workers{\textquoteright} sera against swine H1N1 and H3N2 viruses revealed a high prevalence of elevated antibodies. Multivariate risk factor analysis showed that male workers from the age-group quartile 23–32 years, who self-reported a recent history of exposure to someone with influenza disease and seldom use of personal protective equipment were at highest risk of molecular detection of influenza A virus. These pilot study data suggest that influenza A viruses are likely highly prevalent in South African swine farms. South Africa would benefit from periodic surveillance for novel influenza viruses in swine farms as well as education and seasonal influenza vaccine programmes for swine workers.",
keywords = "epidemiology, influenza A virus, one health, swine influenza, zoonoses",
author = "{El Zowalaty}, {Mohamed E.} and Anfal Abdelgadir and Borkenhagen, {Laura K.} and Ducatez, {Mariette F.} and Bailey, {Emily S.} and Gray, {Gregory C.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by Professor Gregory C. Gray's discretionary funding, Professor Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty's discretionary funding, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennesse, USA for Dr. Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty, and by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (contract number HHSN272201400008C). Dr. Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty is an awardee of an NIH/NIAID/CEIRS (contract no. HHSN272201400008C) travel and research program to St. Jude CEIRS, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Dr. M.E. El Zowalaty would like to acknowledge the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) program and training committee and the Centre for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis (CRIP) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA for receiving the CEIRS program award. The authors thank the participants and farm owners for their contributions to the study. The authors thank Keith D. Perret, DVM from the Epidemiology Section, KwaZulu‐Natal Veterinary Services and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, Maria Gaudino, from Ecole Nationale V{\'e}t{\'e}rinaire de Toulouse, France, staff and students for their help and technical assistance. The authors also thank Richard J. Webby, Ph.D., from the Division of Virology, St. Jude Children Research Hospital for his support and comments. Authors thank Young G. Sean, Ph.D., from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for his help and collaboration in generating the location map used in this manuscript. Funding Information: This work was supported by Professor Gregory C. Gray's discretionary funding, Professor Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty's discretionary funding, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennesse, USA for Dr. Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty, and by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (contract number HHSN272201400008C). Dr. Mohamed Ezzat El Zowalaty is an awardee of an NIH/NIAID/CEIRS (contract no. HHSN272201400008C) travel and research program to St. Jude CEIRS, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Dr. M.E. El Zowalaty would like to acknowledge the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) program and training committee and the Centre for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis (CRIP) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA for receiving the CEIRS program award. The authors thank the participants and farm owners for their contributions to the study. The authors thank Keith D. Perret, DVM from the Epidemiology Section, KwaZulu-Natal Veterinary Services and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Maria Gaudino, from Ecole Nationale V{\'e}t{\'e}rinaire de Toulouse, France, staff and students for their help and technical assistance. The authors also thank Richard J. Webby, Ph.D., from the Division of Virology, St. Jude Children Research Hospital for his support and comments. Authors thank Young G. Sean, Ph.D., from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for his help and collaboration in generating the location map used in this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",
year = "2022",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1111/tbed.14255",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "69",
pages = "2373--2383",
journal = "Transboundary and Emerging Diseases",
issn = "1865-1674",
number = "4",
}