The Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU VDL) is now offering laboratory tests for the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.  The virus emerged in humans in early 2009 and has spread through human populations worldwide.  While spreading of the virus has been primarily within humans, occasionally sick individuals have passed the virus to animals (pigs, turkeys, ferrets).  More recently a pet cat was found to be infected with the pandemic H1N1 virus presumably from the owner who had influenza-like illness.  Although it is unknown whether or not other companion animals are also susceptible to the pandemic H1N1 virus, influenza should be on your differential list for respiratory diseases of pets.

Sampling and submission:

Nasal swabs, nasal washes, tracheal swabs, tracheal washes or lung lavage from acutely affected animals with fever, inappetence and lethargy should be submitted for virus detection.  Samples collected from animals exhibiting coughing may not be optimal for virus testing.  Samples of lung and mid- to distal trachea, both formalin-fixed and fresh, can also be collected from deceased animals for virus testing.

When swabs are submitted, samples should be collected on a dried polyester fiber swab (e.g., Dacron) or flocked swab (e.g., Copan) and placed in a viral transporting medium or physiological saline (0.5ml).   Washes or lavage fluids should be submitted in a sterile snap-cap or screw-cap plastic tube (≥ 5ml in capacity).  Swabs, washes, lavage and fresh tissues should be sent overnight on ice.  Formalin-fixed tissue can be sent at ambient temperature.

Antibody testing requires serum submission.  Serology will have the most diagnostic significance if both acute and convalescent samples are submitted.