Hemagglutination-inhibition antibodies against human type A and B influenza viruses in captive and free-ranging cervids of CroatiaHÄmagglutinationshemmende Antikörper gegen humane Typ-A- und-B-Influenzaviren bei Cerviden in KroatienLes anticorps d'inhibition d'hémagglutination contre les souches du virus A et B de la grippe humaine B chez les Cervidés de Croatie

The method of hemagglutination inhibition on U microplates was used to examine 117 cervid sera for the presence of antibodies against two strains of human influenza virus A (A/Johannesburg/82/96, subtype H1N1; A/Sydney/05/97-RESVIR-13, subtype H3N2) and human influenza virus B/Beijing/184/93-like strain. All influenza virus strains used in the study have been circulating in most European countries for some 20 years. A positive titer of hemagglutination inhibition antibodies (≥1∶20) for virus A/Johannesburg/82/96(H1N1) strain was recorded in 61 (52.1%), for virus A/Sydney/05/97-RESVIR-13 (H3N2) strain in 76 (65.0%), and for virus B/Beijing/184/93-like strain in 85 (72.6) cervid sera. Out of 117 cervid sera, 44 sera were collected from free-ranging cervids killed during hunting season, and 73 sera from live captive cervids. The sera were collected during the years 2000 (January, May and October), 2001 (February, June and September) and 2002 (February). Results of the study provide preliminary data on the presence of antibodies to human influenza A (subtypes H1N1 and H3N2) and B viruses in Croatian cervids.