Kuchinski Kevin S, Tyson John, Lee Tracy, Detmer Susan, Berhane Yohannes, Burns Theresa, Prystajecky Natalie A, Himsworth Chelsea G
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Public Health Laboratory, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2025 May;72(3):293-300. doi: 10.1111/zph.13205. Epub 2024 Dec 29.
In December 2021, influenza A viruses (IAV) were detected in a population of farmed mink in British Columbia, Canada. Circulation of IAVs in farmed mink populations has raised public health concerns due to similarities between mustelid and human respiratory physiology, potentially facilitating spillover of zoonotic influenzas from livestock.
Oropharyngeal specimens were collected from mink as part of a surveillance program for SARS-CoV-2. Diagnostic RT-qPCR testing was performed using a multiplex assay targeting SARS-CoV-2, IAV, influenza B virus and respiratory syncytial virus. Whole viral genome sequencing was conducted on IAV-positive specimens, followed by phylogenetic analysis with other animal and human IAV genome sequences from large global databases.
IAVs were detected in 17 of 65 mink by RT-qPCR. Based on genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, these IAVs were subtyped as H3N2s that originated from reassortment of swine H3N2 (clade 1990.4 h), human seasonal H1N1 (pdm09) and swine H1N2 (clade 1A.1.1.3). This reassortant has been subsequently observed in swine in several Midwest American states, as well as in swine and turkeys in Ontario, suggesting its spillover into farmed mink in British Columbia was incidental to its broader dissemination in North American swine populations.
These detections reaffirm the need for extensive genomic surveillance of IAVs in swine populations to monitor reassortments that might become public health concerns. They also highlight the need for closer surveillance of IAVs in mink to preserve animal health, protect agricultural interests, and monitor potential zoonotic threats.
2021年12月，在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省的一群养殖水貂中检测到甲型流感病毒（IAV）。由于鼬科动物与人类呼吸生理的相似性，IAV在养殖水貂种群中的传播引发了公众对健康的担忧，这可能会促进人畜共患流感从家畜向人类的传播。
作为SARS-CoV-2监测项目的一部分，从水貂身上采集口咽拭子样本。使用针对SARS-CoV-2、IAV、乙型流感病毒和呼吸道合胞病毒的多重检测方法进行诊断性逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）检测。对IAV阳性样本进行全病毒基因组测序，然后与来自大型全球数据库的其他动物和人类IAV基因组序列进行系统发育分析。
通过RT-qPCR在65只水貂中的17只检测到IAV。基于基因组测序和系统发育分析，这些IAV被亚型化为H3N2，其起源于猪H3N2（1990.4 h分支）、人类季节性H1N1（pdm09）和猪H1N2（1A.1.1.3分支）的重配。随后在美国中西部的几个州的猪以及安大略省的猪和火鸡中也观察到了这种重配体，这表明它传播到不列颠哥伦比亚省的养殖水貂中是其在北美猪群中更广泛传播的偶然事件。
这些检测结果再次证明有必要对猪群中的IAV进行广泛的基因组监测，以监测可能引起公共卫生问题的重配情况。它们还强调需要对水貂中的IAV进行更密切的监测，以保护动物健康、维护农业利益并监测潜在的人畜共患威胁。
