Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Apr 2025)

Macroepidemiological trends of Influenza A virus detection through reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-rtPCR) in porcine samples in the United States over the last 20 years

  • Daniel C. A. Moraes,
  • Guilherme A. Cezar,
  • Edison S. Magalhães,
  • Rafael R. Nicolino,
  • Kinath Rupasinghe,
  • Srijita Chandra,
  • Gustavo S. Silva,
  • Marcelo N. Almeida,
  • Bret Crim,
  • Eric R. Burrough,
  • Phillip C. Gauger,
  • Darin Madson,
  • Joseph Thomas,
  • Michael A. Zeller,
  • Rodger Main,
  • Mary Thurn,
  • Paulo Lages,
  • Cezar A. Corzo,
  • Mattew Sturos,
  • Hemant Naikare,
  • Rob McGaughey,
  • Franco Matias Ferreyra,
  • Jamie Retallick,
  • Jordan Gebhardt,
  • Sara McReynolds,
  • Jon Greseth,
  • Darren Kersey,
  • Travis Clement,
  • Angela Pillatzki,
  • Jane Christopher-Hennings,
  • Beth S. Thompson,
  • Melanie Prarat,
  • Dennis Summers,
  • Craig Bowen,
  • Joseph Boyle,
  • Kenitra Hendrix,
  • James Lyons,
  • Kelli Werling,
  • Andreia G. Arruda,
  • Mark Schwartz,
  • Mark Schwartz,
  • Paul Yeske,
  • Deborah Murray,
  • Brigitte Mason,
  • Peter Schneider,
  • Samuel Copeland,
  • Luc Dufresne,
  • Daniel Boykin,
  • Corrine Fruge,
  • William Hollis,
  • Rebecca C. Robbins,
  • Thomas Petznick,
  • Kurt Kuecker,
  • Lauren Glowzenski,
  • Megan Niederwerder,
  • Daniel C. L. Linhares,
  • Giovani Trevisan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1572237
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Influenza A virus (IAV) in swine is a major respiratory pathogen with global significance. This study aimed to characterize the macroepidemiological patterns of IAV detection using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-rtPCR) assays, including subtype identification, in samples submitted between January 2004 and December 2024 to veterinary diagnostic laboratories (VDLs) participating in the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS). A secondary objective was establishing an IAV monitoring capability to inform stakeholders of weekly changes in IAV detection patterns. Of the 372,659 samples submitted, 31% tested positive for IAV RNA via RT-rtPCR. The most frequent sample types were oral fluids (44.1%) and lung tissue (38.7%). Submissions from the wean-to-market category had a higher positivity rate (34.4%) than those from the adult/sow farm category (26.9%). IAV detection followed a seasonal pattern, with peaks in spring and fall and lower positivity rates in summer. Of the total of 118,490 samples tested for IAV subtyping using RT-rtPCR, the most frequently detected subtypes were H1N1 (33.1%), H3N2 (25.5%), H1N2 (24.3%), H3N1 (0.2%), mixed subtypes (5.4%), and partial subtype detection (11.5%). Mixed IAV subtypes were detected in individual samples—including lung tissue, nasal swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavage—indicating co-infection with two or more IAV strains. For IAV forecasting, a combined model using dynamic regression and a neural network outperformed individual models in 2023, achieving the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and an improved overall skill score. This study highlights the importance of using laboratory submission data for IAV surveillance and macroepidemiological analysis. The findings provide valuable insights into IAV dynamics and highlight the need for standardized monitoring systems in VDLs to enhance understanding of IAV in swine populations across the United States.

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