A comparative evaluation of seven commercial human influenza virus antigen detection kits for the diagnosis of equine influenza.
Authors: Kawanishi Nanako, Kinoshita Yuta, Reedy Stephanie E, Garvey Marie, Kambayashi Yoshinori, Bannai Hiroshi, Tsujimura Koji, Yamanaka Takashi, Cullinane Ann, Chambers Thomas M, Nemoto Manabu
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Evaluating Human Influenza Kits for Equine Influenza Diagnosis Equine influenza remains a significant respiratory pathogen in horse populations, yet no rapid antigen detection (RAD) kits are currently licensed specifically for EIV diagnosis, creating a diagnostic gap in point-of-care testing and disease control efforts. Researchers conducted a comparative evaluation of seven commercially available human influenza RAD kits against EIV isolates representing multiple strains and subtypes circulating in equine populations, assessing both sensitivity and cross-reactivity across different virus variants. Performance varied considerably between kits, with some demonstrating inadequate sensitivity for reliable field use and others showing better detection capacity across the EIV strains tested—findings that highlight the unsuitability of direct human influenza assays for equine diagnostics. These results underscore the pressing need for EIV-specific RAD kits that maintain broad reactivity to emerging variants whilst ensuring reliable sensitivity at the point-of-care, particularly given the regulatory importance of rapid diagnosis in controlling horse movement and managing outbreaks. Practitioners currently relying on human influenza kits for presumptive EIV testing should be aware of their diagnostic limitations, and veterinarians should prioritise laboratory confirmation using PCR or viral culture when point-of-care results are inconclusive.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Practitioners currently lack validated rapid diagnostic kits specifically designed for equine influenza, limiting point-of-care testing capabilities for quick clinical decisions
- •Human influenza antigen detection kits show variable performance with EIV and should not be relied upon as confirmed diagnostic tools without validation
- •There is an unmet clinical need for development and commercialization of EIV-specific rapid antigen detection kits to improve disease control and horse movement management
Key Findings
- •Seven commercial human influenza virus antigen detection kits were evaluated for cross-reactivity with equine influenza virus strains
- •No rapid antigen detection kits specifically designed for equine influenza are currently available commercially
- •Study addresses need for sensitive and broad-reactive point-of-care diagnostic tools for EIV detection in equids