Prof. faisal khalil ebrahim hamouda :: Publications:

Field outbreak of acute upper respiratory disease problem was highly spread among Egyptian equine population at Kaluobia and Sharkia governorates from December 1999 to April 2000 in 108 (51 donkeys, 41 horses and 16 mules) of 205 (96 donkeys, 78 horses and 31 mules) equine of different ages and sexes. Clinical examination of diseased equine revealed typical clinical signs of influenza as fever for 1-3 days, anorexia or decrease of appetite, depression, reluctance to move, rhinitis with congestion of nasal mucosae, initially serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge, listlessness, frequent severe explosive non productive (dry) cough, labored breathing or dyspnea, dilated nostrils, conjunctivitis and lung abnormality on auscultation of the chest. The characteristic features of equine influenza in susceptible animals (harsh cough, high temperature and rapid spread), history and epidemiological characteristic of the disease were sufficient to permit a tentative clinical diagnosis while definitive diagnosis was best accomplished through viral isolation and serological investigation. The trials of virus detection from nasal swabs of diseased equine by inoculation into embryonated chicken embryos revealed detection of the influenza A subtype 2 virus (A/equi/2), meanwhile virus isolation from tissue specimens of sacrificed donkeys was failed. Serological investigation (HI) revealed significant seroconversion in paired sera taken from diseased and convalescent equine. Some epidemiological parameters, hematological, serum biochemical and bacteriological analysis were investigated and discussed in the light of the pertinent literature, also clinical symptomatic treatment and lines of control were applied. Finally it could recommended that a thorough serological and virological surveillance and a complete epizootiological investigation should be undertaken allover Egypt to clarify the situation of the disease and the virus during interepizootic period and is the virus present and circulate among equine population or other reservoir subclinically during that period in Egypt? and causes new epidemics when the immunity is breakdown or is the importation of clinically or subclinically infected equine is the cause of appearance of new epidemics in Egypt ?. Trial to prepare vaccine from the circulating virus type due to anecdotal information suggests that equine influenza outbreaks have occurred previously in Egypt at 1989 and presumably will do so in the future until there is no effective vaccines prepared and used in vaccination of Egyptian equine.