Journal of Environmental Biology

Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus in a swine farm house in Sicily, Italy

Author Details

A. Guercio

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy

G. Purpari

(Corresponding author)

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, Italy

e-mail: giuseppa.purpari@izssicilia.it

P.G. Conaldi

Istituto Mediterraneo Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione (IS.ME.T.T.), 90134 Palermo, Italy

V. Pagano

Istituto Mediterraneo Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione (IS.ME.T.T.), 90134 Palermo, Italy

A. Moreno

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia, 25124 Brescia, Italy

P. Giambruno

Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale, 90100 Palermo, Italy

L. Di Trani

Istituto Superiore di Sanit? , 00161 Roma, Italy

G. Vaccari

Istituto Superiore di Sanit? , 00161 Roma, Italy

E. Falcone

Istituto Superiore di Sanit? , 00161 Roma, Italy

A. Boni

Istituto Superiore di Sanit? , 00161 Roma, Italy

P. Cordioli

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia, 25124 Brescia, Italy

Publication Data

Paper received:

18 August 2010

Revised received:

05 January 2011

Accepted:

07 March 2011

Abstract

This report describes a pandemic A/H1N1 (H1N1 pdm) virus outbreak occurred in December, 2009 in a swine farm used as research facility (Istituto Mediterraneo Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione) for preclinical studies, located in Sicily, Italy. All the 13 pigs of the farm, showed cough, fever, inappetence and weakness. At the same time, an unvaccinated worker of the stabling showed influenza-like symptoms. RNAv extracted from two swabs collected from infected pigs resulted positive by Real Time RT-PCR for Influenza A virus. Furthermore, after growth on embryonated eggs, viral isolates were identified by Real Time RT-PCR specific for H1N1 pdm virus and characterized antigenically. Sequencing of the whole genome was also performed. All sera taken from animals and from the worker were tested by a competitive Influenza A ELISA and by the haemoagglutination inhibition test. Serological findings confirmed the circulation of influenza virus H1N1 pdm in pigs and the presence of specific antibodies against H1N1 pdm in human serum. The results of this study seem to support a H1N1 pdm transmission from man to animals showing the importance of serological and virological investigation to control the pig farms and the importance of close cooperation between the different authorities like veterinarian and human public.

Key words

Swine, Pandemic influenza, A/H1N1 virus, Sequencing, Zoonosis

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