Zoonotic infections and genomic evolution of novel reassortant swine influenza A viruses in Spain.

Paloma A Encinas Brady O'Boyle Alexander Maksaiev Martha I Nelson Adolfo García-Sastre Gustavo Del Real

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV) circulates widely in European pig populations and continues to diversify through frequent introductions from humans, followed by reassortment within swine. Spain represents a particularly dynamic ecological setting due to the coexistence of intensive white⍰pig production, extensive Iberian⍰pig systems, and abundant wild boar populations. This study provides an integrated analysis of IAV evolution and genomic diversity in swine in Spain between 2019 and 2022, expanding on previous surveillance from 2016 to 2019. Sampling across 24 provinces yielded 66 new whole⍰genome sequences from Iberian and white pigs. We identified 18 genotypes, including 11 novel reassortants not detected in our previous survey. Several genotypes, such as H1huN2 G21 and G22, H3N2 G23, and the unusual H3N1 G12, were exclusive to the country. Some genotypes were detected across white pigs, Iberian pigs, and wild boar in Toledo and Badajoz, suggesting viral flow among swine populations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed ongoing introductions of H1N1pdm09 from humans into pigs, generating at least five reassortant genotypes (G10, G16-G19). These lineages incorporated pandemic internal cassettes and, in some cases, human⍰seasonal N2 segments, highlighting the continued role of humans as a source of viral incursions. Conversely, four zoonotic infections (H1N1v) detected in Spain between 2022 and 2026 were linked to genotypes circulating in white pigs, underscoring the bidirectional nature of IAV transmission at the human swine interface. Overall, this study demonstrates that Spain provides ecological conditions conducive to IAV diversification, reassortment, and zoonotic risk. The findings reinforce the need for sustained One Health surveillance. Novel swine influenza virus (SIV) genotypes exclusive to SpainPhylogenetic analysis of genomic segments of zoonotic variants of swine origin detected in Spain since 2022Shared circulation of influenza A compatible with interbreed transmission among domestic pigs and wild boar.

Supporting text Virus Host Location

Evidence records

5 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
2 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type
1 records
OVE11261
Key finding

Influenza A virus genomes were detected and sequenced from Iberian and white pigs sampled across 24 provinces in Spain between 2019 and 2022.

Virus
Host
Location
Supporting text

This study provides an integrated analysis of IAV evolution and genomic diversity in swine in Spain between 2019 and 2022, expanding on previous surveillance from 2016 to 2019. Sampling across 24 provinces yielded 66 new whole⍰genome sequences from Iberian and white pigs.

Method
whole‑genome sequencing
Sample type
swine samples
Geographic raw
Spain
Country inferred
ESP
Evidence type
1 records
OVE11264
Key finding

Shared influenza A virus genotypes were detected across white pigs, Iberian pigs, and wild boar in Toledo and Badajoz, indicating ecological circulation among swine populations.

Virus
Host
Location
Supporting text

Some genotypes were detected across white pigs, Iberian pigs, and wild boar in Toledo and Badajoz, suggesting viral flow among swine populations.

Method
molecular genotyping | phylogenetic analysis
Geographic raw
Toledo | Badajoz
Transmission Evidence
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type
1 records
OVE11265
Key finding

Four human H1N1v infections detected in Spain between 2022 and 2026 were genomically linked to influenza A genotypes circulating in white pigs, indicating animal-to-human spillover.

Virus
Host
Location
Supporting text

Conversely, four zoonotic infections (H1N1v) detected in Spain between 2022 and 2026 were linked to genotypes circulating in white pigs.

Method
whole-genome sequencing | phylogenetic analysis
Study design
genomic surveillance and phylogenetic linkage analysis
Transmission direction
animal-to-human
Geographic raw
Spain
Country inferred
ESP
Genomic Evolution
2 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type
2 records
OVE11263
Key finding

Introductions of H1N1pdm09 from humans into pigs generated at least five reassortant influenza A virus genotypes in Spain that incorporated pandemic internal cassettes and, in some cases, human seasonal N2 segments.

Virus
Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Phylogenetic analyses revealed ongoing introductions of H1N1pdm09 from humans into pigs, generating at least five reassortant genotypes (G10, G16-G19). These lineages incorporated pandemic internal cassettes and, in some cases, human⍰seasonal N2 segments.

Event type
reassortment
Genes or segments
internal gene cassette | N2 segment
OVE11262
Key finding

Eleven novel reassortant genotypes of influenza A virus were identified among 18 total genotypes detected in swine in Spain.

Virus
Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

We identified 18 genotypes, including 11 novel reassortants not detected in our previous survey.

Event type
reassortment