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Background: Dogs in close contact with humans can serve as a source of potentially dangerous reassortant influenza viruses (IVs) with zoonotic potential. The dog’s body can serve as a vessel for the emergence of new IVs. These new viruses can become a source of infection for other animals and humans. The potential for zoonotic transmission of IVs from dogs to humans poses a public health risk. Aim: Study of the circulation of IVs in the dog population in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods: Biosamples (oropharyngeal swabs and blood serum) from dogs were collected from veterinary clinics in Almaty in 2023–2024. Samples were screened using RT-PCR, HI assay, and ELISA. Results: RT-PCR analysis of 355 nasopharyngeal swabs showed the presence of influenza A virus (IAV) in 32 samples (9.01% of the total number of samples analyzed). When subtyping IAV H1N1 RNA was detected in 19 swabs (5.35%). IAV subtype could not be determined in 13 PCR-positive samples (3.66%). The genetic material of IAV H3N2, H5, H7, and H9, as well as coronavirus, bocavirus, and adenovirus has not been identified. In a serological analysis of 180 blood sera using ELISA, antibodies to IAV were detected in 5.56% (n = 10). The results of the HI assay showed the presence of antihemagglutinins to A/H1N1pdm in 6.11% (11 samples), to A/H3N2 in 9.44% (17 samples), and no antibodies to IAV H5, H7, and type B were detected. Conclusion: There is no information about human infection with any canine influenza virus. However, many cases of infection in dogs with human IAVs H1N1, H1N1pdm09, and H3N2 have been described. When dogs are co-infected with different IAVs, new recombinant IAVs may emerge that can infect humans and other animals. Therefore, ongoing global surveillance of animal populations is necessary to monitor the evolution and circulation of viruses dangerous to public health. This is also important for timely preparation for the emergence of a new zoonotic influenza virus that has pandemic potential for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To conduct serological studies of influenza infection rate during an epidemic., Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Research and Production Centre for Microbiology and Virology, Almaty, Kazakhstan, and comprised data, including blood samples, from patients with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection, bronchitis and pneumonia during 2018-21 from various healthcare institutions in the Almaty region. Serological tests on blood serums were carried out sing haem agglutination inhibition assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using Graph Pad Prism 9., Results: Of the 779 blood samples, 392(50.3%) came from women and 387(49.7%) from men. The overall age range was 0-80 years. Serological analyses using haem agglutination inhibition assay showed the presence of anti-hemagglutinins against pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in 292(37.5%) samples, influenza A/H3N2 virus in 340(43.6%) and type B virus in 53(6.8%). Antibodies against two subtypes of influenza A virus and type B virus were simultaneously identified in 25(3.2%) cases, whereas against influenza A (H1N1+H3N2) viruses in 69(8.9%). In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, antibodies against influenza A/H1N1pdm virus were detected in 108(13.9%) cases, against A/H3N2 virus in 105(13.5%) and type B virus in 65(8.3%). Antibodies simultaneously against two subtypes of influenza A virus were identified in 46(5.9%) of blood serums, and against influenza A and B viruses in 60(7.7%)., Conclusion: Co-circulation of influenza A and B viruses was observed, confirming the role of influenza viruses in the epidemic process.