Abstract
Objectives: The “European surveillance network for influenza in pigs (ESNIP) 3” continues a surveillance network previously established during concerted actions ESNIP 1 and ESNIP 2. Running from 2010-2013, ESNIP 3 represents the only organised surveillance network for influenza in pigs in Europe and seeks to strengthen formal interactions with human and avian surveillance networks. Materials and Methods: The project consortium comprises 24 participants, contributing a variety of specialism’s and skills ensuring multi-disciplinary cutting-edge outputs. Most partners are actively working with swine influenza virus (SIV) experimentally and in the field. Three work packages aim to increase knowledge of the epidemiology and evolution of SIV in European pigs to inform changes in disease trends and variation in contemporary viruses through organised field surveillance programmes. Results: An inventory of the programmes that are currently active in fifteen of the partners showed that passive surveillance was primarily used. Detected virus strains will be characterised by antigenic cartography (informing better evidence-based approaches for selection of vaccine strains) and genetically through full genome sequencing using the latest technology. The virus bank and electronic database will be expanded and formally curated with relevant SIV isolates together with information for global dissemination within and out with the consortium to the wider scientific and veterinary community. Conclusions: All data will improve SI diagnosis by updating reagents employed in the recommended techniques to define minimum datasets for standardised epidemiological analyses. These approaches will aid pandemic preparedness and planning for human influenza whilst providing an evidence base for decisions relating to veterinary health.
Info
Conference Abstract, 2012
UN SDG Classification
DK Main Research Area
Science/Technology
