Canine influenza virus H3N8 (CIV H3N8)

Canine influenza virus H3N8 is an RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family, subtype Influenza A virus H3N8, responsible for causing highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs. This strain originated from equine H3N8 influenza, adapted to infect dogs around 2004 in the USA, and is commonly known as the “original” canine influenza virus strain. It is characterized by its two major surface proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), specifically of the H3 and N8 subtypes. The virus rapidly spreads between dogs, especially in environments where dogs congregate, but current evidence suggests minimal risk of cross-species (dog-to-human or dog-to-horse) infection[1][2][6][7][9][10].

Other names

Canine influenza virus (H3N8)CIV H3N8Dog flu virus H3N8H3N8 canine influenza virus

Inhibition of viral neuraminidase (for antiviral drugs like oseltamivir; targets the NA protein, not the virus as a whole)