Equine influenza virus (EIV) (EIV)

Equine influenza virus (EIV) is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family, primarily represented by the H3N8 subtype in modern outbreaks (Merck Veterinary Manual, 2023). It infects the upper and lower respiratory tracts of horses, leading to symptoms such as fever, coughing, and nasal discharge (World Organisation for Animal Health, 2024). While the virus itself is the causative agent, therapeutic strategies focus on specific viral components like Hemagglutinin (HA) for vaccine development and Neuraminidase (NA) for antiviral intervention (PubMed, PMID: 31235547). Neuraminidase inhibitors like oseltamivir can be used to limit viral spread by preventing the release of new virions from infected host cells (NCBI, 2022). Management of EIV is critical in the equine industry due to its potential for rapid transmission and significant economic impact (ScienceDirect, 2021).

Other names

Horse fluEquine fluInfluenza A virus (H3N8)Influenza A virus (H7N7)

Neuraminidase inhibitors (e.g., oseltamivir) block the viral neuraminidase enzyme, preventing the cleavage of sialic acid receptors and the release of progeny virions (PubMed, PMID: 21183404). M2 ion channel blockers (e.g., amantadine) inhibit the acidification of the viral interior, preventing uncoating (NCBI, 2023). Vaccines induce neutralizing antibodies against the Hemagglutinin protein to prevent viral entry (WOAH, 2024).