Flu From Horses Racing Among Dogs

Science News Online ^ | 10-13-2005 | Ben Harder

[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.

[deadhead]

"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!"

Thanks for the tip, apackof2....Lucy loves walks and car rides. I am leery, but will give it a try. LOL, maybe I should go buy a muzzle!

[Republic]

LOVE YOUR PICTURE of our PRESIDENT! LOL!!! Perfectomundo! YA CAN'T LOOK AT IT WITHOUT PRODUCING A GREAT BIG SHEE-IT EATIN GRIN!

[kstewskis]

Doggie perfume.

With the windows rolled all the way down for the ride home!

[pa mom]

My vet (today) said to be sure you trust your groomer. Would they turn away a sick dog? If you hear a dog coughing, reschedule.

[airedale]

I'm in Los Angeles and my dogs vet and several of my friends dogs vets have indicated that it's already out here. My vet said they had 3 cases already. She did say it seemed to be affecting older dogs, very young dogs and those with compromised immune systems.

[airedale]

I'm in Los Angeles and my dogs vet and several of my friends dogs vets have indicated that it's already out here. My vet said they had 3 cases already. She did say it seemed to be affecting older dogs, very young dogs and those with compromised immune systems.

[airedale]

I'm in Los Angeles and my dogs vet and several of my friends dogs vets have indicated that it's already out here. My vet said they had 3 cases already. She did say it seemed to be affecting older dogs, very young dogs and those with compromised immune systems.

[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."

They do and I did.

They took my location and etc, but when I told them the (fire) ants were already all over it they said it was to 'far gone' to be of any use to them.

[blam]

Oops. I just realized something...this, Mobile Greyhound Park is not but about five miles from my house.

A lot of people around here adopt these Greyhounds after they are to old to race.

[ntnychik]

Has Piper been to the track lately?

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks for the pings (I've been a little behind lately)!

[Trust but Verify]

The greyhound kennel my niece wors at was quarantined, along with all the kennels at that particular track, for a month. They had no animals get sick.

Fortunately, if a dog does get sick, chances are slim they will die. You might have a huge vet bill, but Fido should be fine.

[Trust but Verify]

Retired greyhounds make fabulous pets. My sister had three of them, two have died in the past year and the remaining dog is so depressed they are considering getting another. Funny thing is, they seem to favor their own breed. They have two chihuahas and a german shorthair, but the greyhound still pines for his lost mates.

[blam]

"Fortunately, if a dog does get sick, chances are slim they will die. You might have a huge vet bill, but Fido should be fine."

Thanks for the info.

[Lazamataz]

We're all gonna die!!!!

[najida]

decaff Laz,
decaff

[Lazamataz]

ICannotDrinkDecafBecauseIfIDrinkDecafIMightFallAsleepAndThenTheUnderwear
GnomesWillGetMeTheyStealMyUnderpantsAndTakeThemAwayBecauseTheFirstStep IsToStealUnderpantsThenTheSecondStepIs"?"ThenTheThirdStepIsProfitAnd TheyAlwaysComeInAt330InTheMorningAndIHaveToStayAwakeEveryDayAllDay AndIHaveNeverSleptSince1972SoNoDecafNoDecafEVER!

[najida]

Alrighty then....

Thorazine :)

[Oorang]

Yes, eventually, one way or another.

[Enough_Deceit]

What!?! No picture of your lovely BC? Take care and God bless.