Repository logo
 

Increased risk of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza infection in UK pig industry workers compared to a general population cohort.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Fragaszy, Ellen 
Ishola, David A 
Brown, Ian H 
Enstone, Joanne 
Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pigs are mixing vessels for influenza viral reassortment, but the extent of influenza transmission between swine and humans is not well understood. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether occupational exposure to pigs is a risk factor for human infection with human and swine-adapted influenza viruses. METHODS: UK pig industry workers were frequency-matched on age, region, sampling month, and gender with a community-based comparison group from the Flu Watch study. HI assays quantified antibodies for swine and human A(H1) and A(H3) influenza viruses (titres ≥ 40 considered seropositive and indicative of infection). Virus-specific associations between seropositivity and occupational pig exposure were examined using multivariable regression models adjusted for vaccination. Pigs on the same farms were also tested for seropositivity. RESULTS: Forty-two percent of pigs were seropositive to A(H1N1)pdm09. Pig industry workers showed evidence of increased odds of A(H1N1)pdm09 seropositivity compared to the comparison group, albeit with wide confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted odds ratio after accounting for possible cross-reactivity with other swine A(H1) viruses (aOR) 25·3, 95% CI (1·4-536·3), P = 0·028. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was common in UK pigs during the pandemic and subsequent period of human A(H1N1)pdm09 circulation, and occupational exposure to pigs was a risk factor for human infection. Influenza immunisation of pig industry workers may reduce transmission and the potential for virus reassortment.

Description

Keywords

Humans, influenza, occupational exposure, serology, swine, zoonoses, Adult, Aged, Animal Husbandry, Animals, Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Influenza, Human, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Exposure, Orthomyxoviridae Infections, Swine, Swine Diseases, United Kingdom, Workforce, Young Adult

Journal Title

Influenza Other Respir Viruses

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1750-2640
1750-2659

Volume Title

10

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/H014306/1)
This work was supported by joint funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Medical Research Council (MRC), and the Wellcome Trust (WT) [(BBSRC/MRC/WT) BB/H014306/1; (MRC/WT) MC_U122785833; (MRC) G0800767 and G0600511]; Alborada Trust (to J.L.N.W.); the RAPIDD programme of the Science & Technology Directorate (to J.L.N.W.); US Department of Homeland Security (to J.L.N.W.); and the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health (to J.L.N.W.). DAI is supported by a fellowship from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (PDF-2012-05-305) (this research is independent and the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Health or NIHR).