Veterinary microbiology
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Veterinary microbiology · Nov 2017
Meta AnalysisRefinement of the equine influenza model in the natural host: A meta-analysis to determine the benefits of individual nebulisation for experimental infection and vaccine evaluation in the face of decreased strain pathogenicity.
Equine Influenza (EI) is an important respiratory disease of horses caused by H3N8 equine influenza viruses (EIV). Vaccination is a key strategy to prevent or control this disease. However, EIV undergoes continuous antigenic drift and whilst numerous EI vaccines are commercially available worldwide, an accurate evaluation of their efficacy is frequently required through clinical trials conducted in the natural host. ⋯ Experimental infection by individual nebulisation improved the clinical and virological parameters induced by recent FC2 strains, when compared with conventional room nebulisation. In conclusion, individual nebulisation offers a better control of the challenge dose administered and a greater homogeneity of the response measured in control animals. This in turn, helps maintain the number of animals per group to the minimum necessary required to obtain meaningful results in vaccine efficacy studies, which adheres to the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) principles.