Aims:
The goal is to increase scientific cooperation and practical research on influenza in Finland and abroad. Within Evira, the aim is to increase cooperation between the different people responsible for the influenza research on different animal species. Over time the pathogenic importance of influenza viruses on different animal species has increased and it is considered necessary to increase the preparedness. The experience and knowledge acquired from the mapping of influenza strains will be used in the project. New information is gathered actively from viruses originating from different species. The infection routes of viruses are studied by molecular genetic means. The intent is to harmonise the diagnostics both between the influenza viruses of different species and also within the EU and even globally.
During 2007 - 2010 the FLU-LAB-NET community (Development and Enhancement of Laboratory Networks for Avian Influenza) functioned as a three-year EU-project . This project improve the flow of information between the laboratories in the different countries. The network consisted of participants from over 40 countries in the EU and global participants from countries outside the EU. In the project, and in previous research, the occurrence of the influenza A viruses in poultry and wild birds has been mapped.
The discovery of swine influenza in Finnish pig farms in the spring of 2009 set big challenges for method development. The cause of the epidemic was found to be a virus of the H1N1 subtype; related strains have been isolated during the last decades around Europe.
The spread of the pandemic influenza virus A(H1N1)v in conjunction with the problems occurring simultaneously in the Finnish pig farms added pressure for method development. This new virus contains influenza virus genes from pigs, birds and humans and is therefore the first of its kind. The influenza A(H1N1) virus has since, in addition to infecting humans, infected pigs, turkeys and even dogs and cats in different parts of the world. The clinical symptoms have so far been mild in these animals.
From autumn 2001 onwards Evira has participated as a partner in the three-year ESNIP3 project (The European Surveillance Network for Influenza in Pigs) funded by EU 7th framework programme. Most important goals of ESNIP3 project are to characterise the influenza viruses occurring in pigs in the member countries, to harmonise the methods and to organise reference tests. The project will end in 2013.
Results:
Samples from wild birds have been collected since 2005. At the moment the project is taking samples from about 400 birds annually for analyses for avian influenza viruses. Research has been carried out in cooperation with the Haartman Institute of the University of Helsinki and is part of M.Sc. Erika Lindh’s doctoral thesis work. During that time a total of about 60 influenza virus strains have been isolated, and most of them have been typified genetically. No highly pathogenic strains have been isolated. Most of the duck strains have been of subtype H3N8, and also H5N2, H6N5, H6N8, H4N5, H1N1, H9N2, H4N8, H11N4 and H12N5 subtypes have been isolated from wild water fowl. H13 and H16 subtypes have been isolated from herring gulls. In 2009, 23 strains isolated from wild birds were typified. The work requires continual method development and improvement.
The monitoring of influenza in poultry is carried out by studying the occurrence of H5 and H7 antibodies per type of production. 1500 - 2000 samples are analysed annually. Over the years antibodies have only been found on one farm. On this farm, influenza virus has not been detected by way of virological studies.
With the aid of funding from the Flu-Lab-Net project we have taken part in both project meetings and scientific conferences related to influenza and presented our results. One scientific article on avian influenza viruses has been published and the manuscript for another is being prepared.
During the second half of 2009, a group was founded at Evira’s Veterinary Virology Research Unit which handles matters and problems related to the diagnostics of influenza viruses. By doing this, we aim at improving the flow of information and to increase the expertise in case of possible outbreaks of disease.
Key words:
influenza A, avian influenza, swine influenza
Responsible project leader:
Huovilainen, Anita, Senior Researcher, Evira, Veterinary Virology Research Unit
Person at Evira responsible for the project:
Huovilainen, Anita, Senior Researcher, Veterinary Virology Research Unit
Research group:
Huovilainen, Anita, Senior Researcher, Evira, Veterinary Virology Research Unit;
Ek-Kommonen, Christine, Senior Researcher, Evira, Veterinary Virology Research Unit;
Nokireki, Tiina, Senior Researcher, Evira, Veterinary Virology Research Unit;
Lindh, Erika, Researcher, Haartman Institute;
Vapalahti, Olli, Professor, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences
In cooperation with:
University of Helsinki, Haartman Institute;
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine;
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences;
University of Lapland, Arctic Centre;
Members of the FLU-LAB-NET project from around the world, about 40 participating countries;
ESNIP 3 project partners including 24 research institutes or businesses mainly from the EU.
Project status:
Previous
Year of commencement:
2009
Year of completion:
2013
Publications:
Lindh, E., Ek-Kommonen, C., Väänänen, V.-M., Alasaari, J., Vaheri, A., Vapalahti, O., Huovilainen, A.
Molecular Epidemiology of Outbreak-Associated and Wild-Waterfowl-Derived Newcastle Disease Virus Strains in Finland, Including a Novel.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2012: Vol. 50, No. 11, pp. 3664-73.
Lindh E, Huovilainen A, Rätti O, Ek-Kommonen C, Sironen T, Huhtamo E, Pöysä H, Vaheri A, Vapalahti O. Orthomyxo-, paramyxo- and flavivirus infections in wild waterfowl in Finland. Virology Journal 28, 5:35, 2008.
Influenza A viruses in Finnish wild birds. Lindh E, Ek-Kommonen C, Jonsson M, Isomursu M, Vapalahti O, Huovilainen A. 7th International Symposium on Avian Influenza: Avian influenza in poultry and wild birds. April 5-8, 2009. Athens, Georgia, USA.
Alm-Packalén K, Huovilainen A. Hevosinfluenssan rokotuskattavuus ei riittävä. Ajankohtaista eläintautitutkimuksesta, Suomen eläinlääkärilehti 2009, 115, 2.
Kaartinen L, Alm-Packalen K, Huovilainen A. Vuosi 2009 oli vilkas influenssavuosi. Ajankohtaista eläintautitutkimuksesta, Suomen eläinlääkärilehti 2010, 116,1.
Project is financed by:
Evira;
University of Helsinki;
Flu-Lab-Net EU project;
ESNIP3 project