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Flu From Horses Racing Among Dogs
Science News Online ^ | 10-13-2005 | Ben Harder

Posted on 10/13/2005 4:48:41 PM PDT by blam

Flu from horses is racing among dogs

Ben Harder

A highly contagious influenza virus that has killed greyhounds and made other dogs ill may have first jumped to canines from a single infected horse, a genetic analysis suggests. The equine flu that sparked the epidemic appears to have evolved recently to spread readily among dogs.

The first signs of the virus' horse-to-dog leap emerged at a racetrack in Florida in January 2004. A respiratory illness there killed 8 greyhounds and sickened 14 others. Virologists identified the cause as an influenza A virus of type H3N8, which had been known to infect horses but not dogs or people.

That virus has since infected dozens of dogs that were housed together at racetracks or animal shelters in several states. A research team led by Ruben O. Donis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has found the same virus in blood samples taken from dogs as far back as 2000, but not in dogs tested earlier.

When the scientists compared the genetic sequences of three viral specimens from the dogs, they found only minor variations. In one important gene, however, all three differed from the equine flu, the scientists report in an upcoming issue of Science.

Those data suggest that the canine flu comes from a common ancestral virus that mutated in that gene around the time it began spreading among dogs.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: among; canineflu; dogs; flu; horses; outbreak; racing; workingdogs
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Watch your dogs!
1 posted on 10/13/2005 4:48:43 PM PDT by blam
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To: HairOfTheDog

I think we covered this subject earlier but, I like the way it is explained here.


2 posted on 10/13/2005 4:49:39 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam

I was at the vet today and she said this flu is related to the avian flu, too.


3 posted on 10/13/2005 4:50:55 PM PDT by pa mom
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To: blam

From horses, to dogs, to fleas, to cats, to humans.


4 posted on 10/13/2005 4:51:30 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
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To: blam
From what I have read, the dog flu is now in N.Y. Was going to bring my dog to the groomer for a bath and a much needed nail clipping, but I am now hesitant. Do you think I am overreacting?
5 posted on 10/13/2005 4:52:54 PM PDT by deadhead (God Bless Our Troops and Veterans)
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To: blam; Chieftain

Yeah, and where is the info on how it is/has spread now? Is there any change in the demographics or migration patterns to the general dog population?

This is not helpful if it means I am to quarantine my doggie for what>>2 months? 10 years? How is it spread?


6 posted on 10/13/2005 4:53:51 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie
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To: blam; ecurbh; CindyDawg; PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain; Duchess47; FrogInABlender; Beaker; ...
Ping!

Ping!


Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

7 posted on 10/13/2005 4:54:26 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: blam; All
Crosslinked to my "general odd diseases" post:
 Strange new disease outbreaks
 
Additional, excellent references here:
 Avian Flu Surveillance Project
 
 Avian Flu Preparedness Project

8 posted on 10/13/2005 5:04:03 PM PDT by backhoe
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To: deadhead
Do you think I am overreacting?

No.

9 posted on 10/13/2005 5:13:26 PM PDT by Oorang ( A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. -Goethe)
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To: Oorang

Thanks, Oorang.


10 posted on 10/13/2005 5:15:43 PM PDT by deadhead (God Bless Our Troops and Veterans)
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To: deadhead

You just never know, better to be safe than sorry. I know it's more of a hassle to groom at home, my dog is 82 pounds, it's always an adventure!


11 posted on 10/13/2005 5:19:04 PM PDT by Oorang ( A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. -Goethe)
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To: deadhead
" Do you think I am overreacting?"

I don't know...I have the same/similar questions. I have horses and cows living all around me...and, I found a dead Blue Jay in my yard yesterday.(West Nile Virus?)

We have big problems with EEE down here.

12 posted on 10/13/2005 5:20:05 PM PDT by blam
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To: deadhead
Do you think I am overreacting?

No

13 posted on 10/13/2005 5:37:35 PM PDT by apackof2 (There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works. Will Rogers)
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To: Oorang

Don't mind bathing my dog, but she has hated that nail clipping since she was a pup....


14 posted on 10/13/2005 5:41:06 PM PDT by deadhead (God Bless Our Troops and Veterans)
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To: blam; apackof2; Oorang
You have all convinced me, I will keep my dog away from areas where there is a possibility that she could be infected. My dog, Lucy is now 10. Two years ago she had a stroke, though she is doing great now, don't want to risk her getting this flu.

I did read that the percentage of deaths of those infected with the flu is about 8%, I don't want to take any chances.

That nail clipping, she hates it! Guess I will have to try again, have not tried since she was a pup....she hates it!

15 posted on 10/13/2005 5:50:44 PM PDT by deadhead (God Bless Our Troops and Veterans)
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To: deadhead

My Maddie always hated to have her nails clipped also, most dogs do. So now I clip them before she gets out of the car to go on our walk. She just wants to go on her walk and knows that we'll go as soon as her nails get clipped!
Now she has gotten use to it and its simple


16 posted on 10/13/2005 7:20:03 PM PDT by apackof2 (There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works. Will Rogers)
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To: blam

 


17 posted on 10/13/2005 7:22:40 PM PDT by Fintan (If this tagline lasts longer than 4 hours, please consult a physician.)
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To: blam
I guess we need to keep our dogs away from horses too?

I'm not a horse owner, but my BC has been around them...it takes all I can to keep her from rolling in the manure!


18 posted on 10/13/2005 7:27:32 PM PDT by kstewskis ("I don't know what I know, but I know that it's big".....Jerry Fletcher)
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To: kstewskis

..it takes all I can to keep her from rolling in the manure!


Doggie perfume.


19 posted on 10/13/2005 7:30:38 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: blam

Blam maybe you should call your county or city health department. I am serious (not series). They may have some sort of collection program for dead birds so that they can be tested for the West Nile Virus.


20 posted on 10/13/2005 7:35:59 PM PDT by PennsylvaniaMom (Shiny things distract me :))
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