A low pathogenic H5N2 influenza virus isolated in Taiwan acquired high pathogenicity by consecutive passages in chickens

H5N2 viruses were isolated from cloacal swab samples of apparently healthy chickens in Taiwan in 2003 and 2008 during surveillance of avian influenza. Each of the viruses was eradicated by stamping out. The official diagnosis report indicated that the Intravenous Pathogenicity Indexes (IVPIs) of the isolates were 0.00 and 0.89, respectively, indicating that these were low pathogenic strains, although the hemagglutinin of the strain isolated in 2008 (Taiwan08) had multibasic amino acid residues at the cleavage site (PQRKKR/G). In the present study, these H5N2 viruses were assessed for their intravenous and intranasal pathogenicity for chickens. It was examined whether Taiwan08 acquires pathogenicity through consecutive passages in chickens. Intravenous pathogenicity of Taiwan08 depended upon the age of the chickens used for the IVPI test; all of the eight-week-old chickens intravenously inoculated with Taiwan08 showed clinical signs but survived for ten days post inoculation (IVPI=0.68), whereas all the six-week-old chickens died (IVPI=1.86). Taiwan08-P8, which were passaged in chickens for eight times, killed all the eight-week-old chickens (IVPI=2.36). The four-week-old chickens died after intranasal inoculation of Taiwan08-P8, indicating that Taiwan08 must have become highly pathogenic during circulation in chicken flocks. These results emphasize the importance of a stamping out policy for avian influenza even if the IVPI of the causal virus is low.     

鸭源禽流感病毒的分离和鉴定

从南京鸡鸭加工厂、孝陵卫鸭场及迈皋桥鸭场共采制１１３个泄殖腔拭子,用鸡胚尿囊腔接种传代法分离到４株禽流感病毒（ＡＩＶ）,每个样品均有ＮＤＶ混感。纯化后的分离株利用电镜负染技术观察到典型的ＡＩＶ粒子。琼扩试验证明４个分离株均为Ａ型流感病毒。经血凝素亚型分析,４株均属于Ｈ９亚型。致病性试验结果表明,４株鸭源禽流感病毒对鸡均表现为较低的致病力。本研究提示环境（特别是水体）保毒是ＡＩＶ得以长期存在和传播的重要因素和媒介。     

Pathogenicity of avian influenza viruses isolated from wild mallard ducks and domestic turkeys

Groups of turkeys were exposed to different isolates of avian influenza virus from wild mallard ducks and domestic turkeys by the intracerebral, intravenous, intratracheal, and intra-airsac routes, and pathogenicity indices were calculated. For the intracerebral pathogenicity study, body weight was also measured. For intravenous, intratracheal, and intra-airsac pathogenicity studies, necropsy lesions were scored and serological responses were recorded. Only the intracerebral pathogenicity index and body weight gain post intracerebral infection demonstrated any differences between isolates. The other procedures failed to demonstrate any pathogenicity whatsoever. There was a correlation (R = 0.73) between intracerebral pathogenicity index and reduced weight gain postinfection. These studies suggest that growth suppression may be an objective measure of pathogenic potential of influenza viruses found to be nonpathogenic by other methods.     

Pathogenicity in quails and mice of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from ducks

In our study, the pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza A viruses circulating in waterfowls in Southern China was investigated. Three H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses isolated from ducks, A/Duck/Guangdong/383/2008(DK383), A/Duck/Guangdong/378/2008(DK378) and A/Duck/Guangdong/212/2004(DK212) were inoculated at 10(6) fifty-percent egg infectious doses (EID(50)) into ducks, quails and mice and showed varying levels of pathogenicity. In ducks, the mortality rates ranged from 0 to 60% and the mean death time (MDT) was 0-6.7 days post-inoculation (DPI). While the viruses were highly pathogenic in quails, resulting in 83.3-100% mortality and the MDT of 2.3-3 DPI, they were completely lethal in mice (100% mortality). The viruses replicated in many organs of ducks and quails and were found in the brain, and kidney, lung and spleen of the mice. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that DK383 and DK378 viruses of clade 2.3.2 belonged to genotype 11, while DK212 virus of clade 9 was genotype 3. Our study illustrated H5N1 influenza viruses within Clade 2.3.2 and 9 from duck in Southern China had very highly pathogenicity to Japanese quails and BALB/c mice, but viruses within Clade 2.3.2 had more highly lethality than those of clade 9 to Muscovy ducks. Therefore, they had posed a continued challenge for disease control and public health.     

禽流感病毒河北株的分离鉴定

禽流感（Ａｖｉａｎ Ｉｎｆｌｕｅｎｚａ）是由 Ａ型流感病毒引起的一种禽类的病毒性传染病,被国际兽疫局确定为Ⅰ类烈性传染性病。该病毒属正粘病毒科,几乎所有的野生与家养禽类均可感染。１８７８年在意大利的鸡群中首次暴发,其后许多国家和地区都相继报道ＡＩＶ存在的事实,近几年,我国在不同地区都分离到禽流感病毒,广泛存在的主要是Ｈ９亚型病毒,且多为中等以下毒力的毒株。本试验采集病料主要针对河北省养鸡业较为发达的几个县市的七个小型养鸡场,选择未注过流感疫苗,临床症状出现产蛋下降和呼吸道症状严重的鸡只,剖杀,采集病变明显的脏器,如胰、肝、肺、脾、气管、肾、泄殖腔及其干酪样物等,剪碎研磨,加抗生素处理后,接种９－１０日龄鸡胚,弃掉２４小时内死亡的鸡胚,收集２４－７２小时死亡鸡胚的尿囊液,盲传三代,并做血凝试验,对于ＨＡ阳性的样品,进一步做ＨＩ试验,结果有２株禽流感病毒为Ｈ９亚型;进一步测定其神经氨酸酶活性,结果为Ｎ２。取１： １０稀释的尿液０．２ｍｌ肌肉接种８只８周龄ＳＰＦ鸡测其致病力指数,观察１０天内鸡只发病情况,结果第三天鸡群精神稍有沉郁,其中一只出现歪脖的神经症状,采用英国中心兽医实验室静脉致病指数（ＩＶＰＩ）测定计算方法     

Australian surveillance for avian influenza viruses in wild birds between July 2005 and June 2007

Objective   To identify and gain an understanding of the influenza viruses circulating in wild birds in Australia.
Design   A total of 16,303 swabs and 3782 blood samples were collected and analysed for avian influenza (AI) viruses from 16,420 wild birds in Australia between July 2005 and June 2007. Anseriformes and Charadriiformes were primarily targeted.
Procedures   Cloacal, oropharyngeal and faecal (environmental) swabs were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the AI type A matrix gene. Positive samples underwent virus culture and subtyping. Serum samples were analysed using a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for influenza A virus nucleoprotein.
Results   No highly pathogenic AI viruses were identified. However, 164 PCR tests were positive for the AI type A matrix gene, 46 of which were identified to subtype. A total of five viruses were isolated, three of which had a corresponding positive PCR and subtype identification (H3N8, H4N6, H7N6). Low pathogenic AI H5 and/or H7 was present in wild birds in New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Antibodies to influenza A were also detected in 15.0% of the birds sampled.
Conclusions   Although low pathogenic AI virus subtypes are currently circulating in Australia, their prevalence is low (1.0% positive PCR). Surveillance activities for AI in wild birds should be continued to provide further epidemiological information about circulating viruses and to identify any changes in subtype prevalence.     

福建省鸭禽流感病毒分离株（A/Duck/Fujian/FQ107/2007〔H9N2〕）全基因测序及遗传进化分析

为了解一株可引起产蛋鸭产蛋异常的H9N2亚型禽流感病毒A/Duck/Fujian/FQ107/2007（H9N2）（以下简称Dk/FQ107/07）分离株的分子特性及其遗传进化地位,运用RT-PCR方法对其基因组进行扩增,克隆至pMD18-T载体后测序。结果显示,Dk/FQ107/07病毒株的血凝素（haemagglutini,HA）蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸组成为-PARSSR↓GLF-,其静脉接种指数（intravenous pathogenicity index,IVPI）为0.04,符合低致病性禽流感病毒特征;Dk/FQ107/07株HA基因与A/chicken/Shantou/5269/2005（H9N2）同源性最高,为98.9%,和我国首次哺乳动物流感病毒分离株A/Swine/HongKong/9/98（H9N2）有较近的遗传进化关系,三者均属于经典的H9N2/Y280群系;神经氨酸酶（neuraminidase,NA）基因与中国大陆首次分离株A/chicken/Beijing/1/1994（H9N2）相比,在63、64、65位点上缺失3个氨基酸（T、E、I）;核蛋白（nucleoprotein,NP）基因与高致病性鸭源禽流感分离株A/Duck/Fujian/1734/05（H5N1）和A/Duck/Fujian/9713/2005（H5N1）在同一遗传进化分支上,而从聚合酶（polymerase PA,PA）基因的遗传进化分析发现其基因属于H9N2/Y439群系。由此可见,Dk/FQ107/07可能是由不同禽流感病毒基因亚群间发生自然重排的产物。     

10株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒血凝素基因的序列分析

为了解中国目前H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(avian influenza virus,AIV)血凝素(HA)基因的遗传变异情况,对中国不同地区分离的10株H9N2亚型AIV的HA基因进行扩增、克隆和测序,并对所获得的HA全序列进行同源性和遗传进化分析。结果表明,10个分离株的裂解位点均为RSSR↓GLF,符合低致病性AIV的分子特征;10个分离株有7~9个潜在糖基化位点,由于基因突变有些HA基因出现了新的糖基化位点;与参考株相比,发现了4个抗原表位的突变,这些表位的突变可能引起病毒致病性的改变;受体结合位点除198位有变异外,其他位点均较保守;6株病毒234位氨基酸均为L,具有与哺乳动物唾液酸α,2-6受体结合的特征;10个分离株HA基因与国内疫苗株的核苷酸及氨基酸序列同源性分别为90.4%~99.2%和92.2%~98.7%;10个分离株同属于欧亚谱系中的A/duck/Hong Kong/Y280/97群,但差异显著,为此本试验又将其分为4个不同的亚群。人工感染排毒试验结果表明,BJ15和NJ17分离株在鸡体内具有较强的复制能力,排毒周期较长且排毒量也较大,而S145N的漂变导致在145-147位氨基酸多出1个糖基化位点NGT,可能是分离株复制能力增强的原因。     

Isolation and characterization of influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in chicken in Bhutan

We characterized Influenza A/H5N1 virus that caused the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens in Bhutan in 2010. The virus was highly virulent to chicken, killing them within two days of the experimental inoculation with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.88. For genetic and phylogenetic analyses, complete genome sequencing of 4 viral isolates was carried out. The isolates revealed multiple basic amino acids at their hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, similar to other "Qinghai-like" H5N1 isolates. The receptor-binding site of HA molecule contained avian-like amino acids ((222)Q and (224)G). The isolates also contained amino acid residue K at position 627 of the PB2 protein, and other markers in NS 1 and PB1 proteins, highlighting the risk to mammals. However, the isolates were sensitive to influenza drugs presently available in the market. The sequence analysis indicated that the Bhutan viruses shared 99.1-100% nucleotide homology in all the eight genes among themselves and 2010 chicken isolate from Bangladesh (A/chicken/Bangladesh/1151-11/2010) indicating common progenitor virus. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Bhutan isolates belonged to sub-clade 2.2.3 (EMA 3) and shared common progenitor virus with the 2010 Bangladesh virus. Based on the evidence of phylogeny and molecular markers, it could be concluded that the outbreaks in Bhutan and Bangladesh in 2010 were due to independent introductions of the virus probably through migratory birds.     

Type A influenza viruses in waterfowl in Ohio and implications for domestic turkeys

Because ducks are considered an important reservoir for type A influenza virus, and type A influenza viruses had not been recovered from ducks in Ohio, a 3-year virus surveillance study was conducted in Ohio waterfowl and waterfowl passing through Ohio to determine if domestic turkeys were at risk of exposure to avian influenza (AI) viruses from the waterfowl reservoir. The prevalence of AI infections in ducks during the fall migration averaged about 5.9%. The 55 waterfowl-origin type A influenza viruses recovered from ducks during fall 1986, 1987, and 1988 represented 23 different hemagglutinin-neuraminidase sub-type combinations of type A influenza viruses. Virus recovery frequencies ranged from 3.6% to 7.8% between years, from 2.0% to 8.2% between study sites, from 0.0% to 16.7% for sampling days, and from 0.0% to 14.3% among species of ducks sampled.     

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 in Mute swans in the Czech Republic

In order to determine the actual prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in wild birds in the Czech Republic extensive surveillance was carried out between January and April 2006. A total of 2101 samples representing 61 bird species were examined for the presence of influenza A by using PCR, sequencing and cultivation on chicken embryos. AIV subtype H5N1 was detected in 12 Mute swans (Cygnus olor). The viruses were determined as HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) and the hemagglutinin sequence was closely similar to A/mallard/Italy/835/06 and A/turkey/Turkey/1194/05. Following the first H5N1 case, about 300 wild birds representing 33 species were collected from the outbreak region and tested for the presence of AIV without any positive result. This is the first report of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 in the Czech Republic. The potential role of swan as an effective vector of avian influenza virus is also discussed.     

The NS segment of H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) enhances the virulence of an H7N1 AIV in chickens

Some outbreaks involving highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtypes H5 and H7 were caused by avian-to-human transmissions. In nature, different influenza A viruses can reassort leading to new viruses with new characteristics. We decided to investigate the impact that the NS-segment of H5 HPAIV would have on viral pathogenicity of a classical avian H7 HPAIV in poultry, a natural host. We focussed this study based on our previous work that demonstrated that single reassortment of the NS-segment from an H5 HPAIV into an H7 HPAIV changes the ability of the virus to replicate in mammalian hosts. Our present data show that two different H7-viruses containing an NS-segment from H5–types (FPV NS GD or FPV NS VN) show an overall highly pathogenic phenotype compared with the wild type H7–virus (FPV), as characterized by higher viral shedding and earlier manifestation of clinical signs. Correlating with the latter, higher amounts of IFN-β mRNA were detected in the blood of NS-reassortant infected birds, 48 h post-infection (pi). Although lymphopenia was detected in chickens from all AIV-infected groups, also 48 h pi those animals challenged with NS-reassortant viruses showed an increase of peripheral monocyte/macrophage-like cells expressing high levels of IL-1β, as determined by flow cytometry. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of the NS-segment in viral pathogenicity which is directly involved in triggering antiviral and pro-inflammatory cytokines found during HPAIV pathogenesis in chickens.     

一株H3亚型野鸟源禽流感病毒血凝素基因序列分析

为了解野鸟在传播禽流感病毒中的作用,贵州省动物疫病预防控制中心定期从威宁草海采集候鸟和留鸟的新鲜粪便,用RT-PCR方法检测病原核酸。监测到1份流感病毒阳性样本,对其血凝素(HA)基因进行了克隆和测序。结果发现,该病毒属于H3亚型,所获得的HA基因1794 bp,包含有完整的阅读框架,编码566个氨基酸残基,包括6个潜在的糖基化位点,遗传进化分析结果显示其属于欧亚禽源分支。另外,HA受体结合位点上的氨基酸序列具有禽源特有的保守性,分别是154A、206E、210L、241G、242Q和244G。推导的HA裂解位点有典型的低致病特征(PEKQTR/GLF)。结果表明,贵州省野鸟中存在低致病性H3亚型禽流感病毒。     

(Highly pathogenic) avian influenza as a zoonotic agent

Zoonotic agents challenging the world every year afresh are influenza A viruses. In the past, human pandemics caused by influenza A viruses had been occurring periodically. Wild aquatic birds are carriers of the full variety of influenza virus A subtypes, and thus, most probably constitute the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses. Whereas avian influenza viruses in their natural avian reservoir are generally of low pathogenicity (LPAIV), some have gained virulence by mutation after transmission and adaptation to susceptible gallinaceous poultry. Those so-called highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) then cause mass die-offs in susceptible birds and lead to tremendous economical losses when poultry is affected. Besides a number of avian influenza virus subtypes that have sporadically infected mammals, the HPAIV H5N1 Asia shows strong zoonotic characteristics and it was transmitted from birds to different mammalian species including humans. Theoretically, pandemic viruses might derive directly from avian influenza viruses or arise after genetic reassortment between viruses of avian and mammalian origin. So far, HPAIV H5N1 already meets two conditions for a pandemic virus: as a new subtype it has been hitherto unseen in the human population and it has infected at least 438 people, and caused severe illness and high lethality in 262 humans to date (August 2009). The acquisition of efficient human-to-human transmission would complete the emergence of a new pandemic virus. Therefore, fighting H5N1 at its source is the prerequisite to reduce pandemic risks posed by this virus. Other influenza viruses regarded as pandemic candidates derive from subtypes H2, H7, and H9 all of which have infected humans in the past. Here, we will give a comprehensive overview on avian influenza viruses in concern to their zoonotic potential.     

Renal pathology in specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated with a waterfowl-origin type A influenza virus

Five-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated intravenously with a waterfowl-origin type A influenza virus (A/mallard/Ohio/184/86) had swollen and mottled kidneys on days 3, 5, and 7 postinoculation (PI) and multiple raised nodules on days 5, 10, and 20 PI. Histologically, the kidneys had multifocal heterophilic tubulointerstitial nephritis with epithelial necrosis on day 3 PI, lymphoplasmacytic tubulointerstitial nephritis on day 5 PI, and fibrosing interstitial nephritis with cortical lobular collapse, atrophic tubules, glomerular aggregates, and interstitial lymphoid follicles and aggregates on days 7, 10, and 20 PI. Heterophilic intratubular medullary-cone nephritis was present in dead or moribund chickens on days 3 and 5 PI. Furthermore, the presence of mild multifocal heterophilic tubulointerstitial nephritis on day 20 PI suggests that a waterfowl-origin strain of type A influenza virus of low pathogenicity has the potential to produce acute and chronic active nephritis in the chicken and that the kidney is a potential site for influenza viral persistence. The acute, subacute, and chronic histopathologic renal lesions of this influenza virus in chickens are similar to lesions reported for some nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis viruses and avian nephritis picornavirus.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒A/Guangxi/1/2005株抗药机制的研究

为研究H5N1亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)的抗药机制,本研究选取Clade2.3.4亚群中一株对金刚烷胺敏感的人源AIV A/Guangxi/1/2005(H5N1)(S-GX05),用抗流感病毒药物金刚烷胺对其进行定向诱导,筛选出一株抗药性病毒株,命名为R-A/Guangxi/1/2005(R-GX05)。通过全基因测序并与S-GX05全基因序列进行对比,结果显示S-GX05只在其M2蛋白中有一个氨基酸位点发生突变,即A30P;抗药性鉴定这两株病毒的半数药物抑制浓度(IC50)分别为0.9μM和48.9μM,表明R-GX05对金刚烷胺表现出一定程度的抗性。动物实验证实,这两株病毒对BALB/c小鼠的致病性基本一致,均表现出高致病性,其MLD50分别为4.7 log10 EID50和5.0 log10 EID50,两株病毒在小鼠体内各组织脏器中的分布及增殖能力也基本相同。这些结果表明,S-GX05在药物压力下产生抗药性后,并未引起其它生物学特性的改变。A30P的发现为进一步从分子水平上研究H5N1亚型AIV的抗药机制及新型抗流感新药的研发奠定了基础。     

Effects of different NS genes of avian influenza viruses and amino acid changes on pathogenicity of recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 viruses

To examine the effects of the NS1 and NEP genes of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) on pathogenicity in mice, we generated recombinant PR8 viruses containing 3 different NS genes of AIVs. In contrast to the reverse genetics-generated PR8 (rPR8) strain and other recombinant viruses, the recombinant virus rPR8-NS(0028), which contained the NS gene of A/chicken/KBNP-0028/2000 (H9N2) (0028), was non-pathogenic to mice. The novel single mutations of 0028 NS1 to corresponding amino acid of PR8 NS1, G139D and S151T increased the pathogenicity of rPR8-NS(0028). The replacement of the PL motifs (EPEV or RSEV) of pathogenic recombinant viruses with that of 0028 (GSEV) did not reduce the pathogenicity of the viruses. However, a recombinant virus with an EPEV-grafted 0028 NS gene was more pathogenic than rPR8-NS(0028) but less than rPR8. The lower pathogenicity of rPR8-NS(0028) might be associated with the lower virus titer and IFN-β level in the lungs of infected mice, and be attributed to G139, S151 and GSEV-PL motif of NS1 gene of 0028. In conclusion we defined new amino acid residues of NS1 related to mice pathogenicity and the presence of pathogenic NS genes among low pathogenic AIVs may encourage continuous monitoring of their mammalian pathogenicity.     

Pathogenicity of H5N8 virus in chickens from Korea in 2014

In 2014, two genetically distinct H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses were isolated from poultry and wild birds in Korea. The intravenous pathogenicity indices for the two representative viruses were both 3.0. Mortality of chickens intranasally inoculated with the two H5N8 viruses was 100% with a mean death times of 2.5 and 4.5 days. Mortality rates of the contact groups for the two H5N8 viruses were 33.3% and 66.6%. Our study showed that transmissibility of the novel H5N8 viruses was different from that of previously identified H5N1 HPAI viruses, possibly due to genetic changes.