Abstract
Influenza viruses, since time immemorial, have been the major respiratory pathogen known to infect a wide variety of animals, birds and reptiles with established lineages. They belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae and cause acute respiratory illness often during local outbreaks or seasonal epidemics and occasionally during pandemics. Recent studies have identified a new genus within the Orthomyxoviridae family. This newly identified pathogen, D/swine/Oklahoma/1334/2011 (D/OK), first identified in pigs with influenza-like illness was classified as the influenza D virus (IDV) which is distantly related to the previously characterized human influenza C virus. Several other back-to-back studies soon suggested cattle as the natural reservoir and possible involvement of IDV in the bovine respiratory disease complex was established. Not much is known about its likelihood to cause disease in humans, but it definitely poses a potential threat as an emerging pathogen in cattle-workers. Here, we review the evolution, epidemiology, virology and pathobiology of influenza D virus and the possibility of transmission among various hosts and potential to cause human disease.
Highlights
Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae, which consists of four generas: Alphainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza A virus (IAV)), Betainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza B virus (IBV)), Gammainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza C virus (ICV)) and Deltainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza D virus (IDV)) [1,2,3]
Recent studies show the ability of influenza D virus (IDV) to replicate and be transmitted among ferrets, which are the model for human influenza virus infection, and guinea pigs [72]
The influenza A viruses have been reported to be of significant concern owing to its ability to infect a wide range of hosts, and gaining the potential to jump the species barrier
Summary
Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae, which consists of four generas: Alphainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza A virus (IAV)), Betainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza B virus (IBV)), Gammainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza C virus (ICV)) and Deltainfluenzavirus (Species: Influenza D virus (IDV)) [1,2,3]. Mitra et al performed viral metagenomic sequencing on the nasal swab samples obtained from cattle with acute BRD in Mexico and the USA, and revealed that the most commonly detected viruses were the bovine rhinitis A and B virus, and bovine coronavirus along with IDV [38]. This gives some evidence of IDV as one of the pathogens in BRD, more related studies are required to clearly understand the pathogenesis of IDV in context of BRD. Unlike ICV that is typically cultured at 33 ◦C in experimental settings, the IDV shows optimal growth at both 33 ◦C and 37 ◦C further suggesting that IDV is not restricted to an elevated temperature for replication [36]
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